UK Museums: 63 Brilliant Museums and Galleries Worth the Trip
Forget dusty glass cases and being shushed by a bloke in a peaked cap. Britain's museums are some of the best days out you'll find anywhere, and loads of the big national ones won't cost you a penny to walk through the door. Dinosaur skeletons, real warships, coal mines you can go down, Victorian streets where you can buy a bag of sweets with old pennies: it's all here.
This guide rounds up Jamie's top 50 museums across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, plus a fistful of extra cracking places to make every section a proper list. We've grouped them by what they do best, so whether the kids are mad on rockets, you fancy a quiet wander past a Van Gogh, or Grandad wants to climb inside a tank, you can jump straight to the good stuff.
Pick a section, find one near you, and make a day of it.
History museums
The British Museum Two million years of human history under one enormous glass roof in Bloomsbury, and free to get in. The Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and the Sutton Hoo helmet are the headliners. You can't see it all in a day, so pick three galleries, grab a map and save the rest for next time. See The British Museum →
National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh's Chambers Street treasure house mixes Scottish history with natural world, science and fashion galleries. Dolly the Sheep stands stuffed and proud, and the Grand Gallery is a stunner. Before you leave, head up to the rooftop terrace for one of the best free views of the castle and Old Town. See National Museum of Scotland →
St Fagans National Museum of History Picture a hundred acres of Welsh life through the ages, with farmhouses, a chapel, a workmen's institute and a row of miners' cottages all moved stone by stone from across Wales. Kids love the old bakery and the Celtic roundhouses. Wear comfy shoes and allow a full day just outside Cardiff. See St Fagans National Museum of History →
Ashmolean Museum Opened in 1683, the Ashmolean is often called Britain's first public museum, and it still punches well above its weight. Expect Egyptian treasures, Anglo-Saxon gold, Pre-Raphaelite paintings and Guy Fawkes' lantern. The rooftop restaurant is a lovely spot for lunch, and the Pitt Rivers is a short walk away. See Ashmolean Museum →
The Roman Baths Steaming green water, a bubbling sacred spring and Roman stonework right in the middle of Bath. The audio guide brings it all alive, and the curse tablets tossed into the spring by grumpy Romans are a real giggle. You can't swim here, but the modern spa round the corner lets you soak in the same water. See The Roman Baths →
Museum of Liverpool Sitting bang on the Pier Head waterfront, this striking white building tells the story of the city: football rivalry, the docks, the Overhead Railway, and of course the Beatles. Little Liverpool is a cracking play gallery for under-sixes. Pair it with a walk along the Albert Dock afterwards. See Museum of Liverpool →
World Museum Liverpool's World Museum squeezes a planetarium, an aquarium, a bug house and a serious Egyptian collection into one grand building on William Brown Street. Dinosaurs and space rocks keep younger ones happy while you sneak a look at the ancient treasures. The Walker Art Gallery is right next door. See World Museum →
Ulster Museum Next to Belfast's Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum covers art, nature and Irish history under one roof. Say hello to Takabuti the Egyptian mummy, see gold from a sunken Spanish Armada ship, and take time over the thoughtful Troubles gallery. Follow it with a stroll round the Palm House. See Ulster Museum →
Museum of London Now rebranded as the London Museum, this is the place to get under the skin of the capital, from Roman Londinium to the Swinging Sixties. It's in the middle of a big move to the old Smithfield market buildings, so check what's open before you go. The Docklands branch is a great taster meanwhile. Explore London →
York Castle Museum Walk down Kirkgate, a recreated Victorian street complete with shops, a police cell and cobbles, then poke round the old debtors' prison where highwayman Dick Turpin spent his final nights. It's daft fun and properly fascinating. Clifford's Tower sits right opposite, so you can tick off two in one go. See York Castle Museum →
People's History Museum Manchester's museum of democracy is far more gripping than it sounds. Huge trade union banners, suffragette sashes and stories of ordinary folk who fought for the vote fill the galleries. It's a short stroll from Spinningfields, and a smart pick for teenagers who think history is all kings and queens. Explore Manchester →
The Yorkshire Museum Set in York's Museum Gardens beside the ruins of St Mary's Abbey, this one is all about Roman, Viking and medieval Yorkshire. Look out for the Middleham Jewel and some cracking Roman finds. The gardens are perfect for a picnic and a breather away from the busy streets outside. See The Yorkshire Museum →
Science museums
Big ideas, hands-on galleries and plenty of buttons to press. These are the ones that send kids home asking a hundred questions.
Natural History Museum That cathedral-like building on Cromwell Road is worth the trip on its own. Inside, Hope the blue whale skeleton dives from the ceiling of Hintze Hall, and the dinosaur gallery has an animatronic T. rex. Entry is free, but book a slot in busy holidays and get there early. See Natural History Museum →
Science Museum Rockets, steam engines, the Apollo 10 command module and Wonderlab, a ticketed gallery packed with live shows and experiments for kids. Next door to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, so you can easily do both if little legs hold out. Pack snacks: the café queues can be long. See Science Museum →
Science and Industry Museum Built on the site of the world's oldest surviving passenger railway station, this Castlefield museum celebrates Manchester as the place that kick-started the industrial age. Huge mill engines roar into life, and the textile machines are mesmerising. Check which galleries are open, as parts have been under restoration. See Science and Industry Museum →
Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Standing under the giant Lovell Telescope in the Cheshire countryside is a jaw-dropper. The exhibitions explain how astronomers listen to the universe, there's a planet trail through the gardens, and the First Light pavilion tells the full story. Great for curious kids and anyone who grew up on Patrick Moore. See Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre →
Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum Four floors of science at Millennium Point, from a working steam engine to a planetarium and a science garden outside. Younger kids can play at being a vet or a dentist, while older ones get stuck into how the human body works. It's a handy rainy-day rescue in central Birmingham. See Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum →
Oxford University Museum of Natural History A soaring glass-and-iron roof, dinosaur skeletons and the remains of the famous Oxford dodo make this a treat. It's a light-filled space where you can actually touch some specimens. Walk through the back door and you're straight into the Pitt Rivers, which makes for a perfect double bill. See Oxford University Museum of Natural History →
Art galleries
From old masters to mind-bending modern installations, plus a couple of design museums too.
The National Gallery Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Constable's Hay Wain and Turner's Fighting Temeraire all hang in this grand building on Trafalgar Square, free to wander. Rather than trying to see everything, grab a floor plan and hunt down five favourites. The National Portrait Gallery is just round the back if you've still got energy. See The National Gallery →
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) The V&A is the world's great museum of art and design, packed with fashion, furniture, jewellery and sculpture. The Cast Courts, full of giant plaster copies of famous monuments, are a proper wow. Free to enter, and the garden courtyard is a lovely spot for a sit-down in summer. See Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) →
Tate Modern A former power station on the South Bank turned into Britain's best-known modern art gallery. The vast Turbine Hall hosts a different giant installation every year, and the free collection includes Picasso, Warhol and Rothko. Head up to the viewing level, then stroll over the Millennium Bridge to St Paul's. See Tate Modern →
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Glasgow's much-loved red sandstone palace mixes Dalí's Christ of St John of the Cross with a Spitfire hanging from the ceiling, stuffed animals and Scottish Colourists. Catch a free organ recital if you can. Kelvingrove Park outside is perfect for a stretch, and the Riverside Museum is a short hop away. See Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum →
Fitzwilliam Museum Behind the grand columns on Trumpington Street sits the University of Cambridge's treasure chest: Egyptian coffins, Monet, Titian, armour and fine pottery. It's calm, gorgeous and free. Combine it with a punt on the Cam or a wander through the colleges for a classic Cambridge day. See Fitzwilliam Museum →
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Home to one of the world's best Pre-Raphaelite collections and part of the glittering Staffordshire Hoard, the largest haul of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found. The Edwardian Tearooms are a treat. Check which galleries are open before you go, as the building has been through a long programme of repairs. See Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery →
V&A Dundee Designed by Kengo Kuma to look like a cliff face rising from the Tay, the building alone is worth the trip. Inside, the Scottish Design Galleries feature Charles Rennie Mackintosh's restored Oak Room. Pair it with a visit to Captain Scott's ship RRS Discovery, moored just along the waterfront. See V&A Dundee →
The Burrell Collection Shipping magnate Sir William Burrell gave Glasgow thousands of treasures, from Chinese ceramics and medieval stained glass to Degas and Rodin. Reopened after a major refurbishment, the gallery looks out into the trees of Pollok Country Park, where you can also spot Highland cattle. A lovely, peaceful half day. See The Burrell Collection →
National Museum Cardiff In Cathays Park, a stone's throw from City Hall, this grand museum is famous for its Impressionist paintings, including works by Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh. Downstairs, the Evolution of Wales gallery has dinosaurs and woolly mammoths for the kids. Cardiff Castle is a short walk away. See National Museum Cardiff →
The MAC The Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast's lively Cathedral Quarter is a modern home for visual art, theatre and family workshops. Exhibitions change regularly, so there's always something fresh. Afterwards, wander the cobbled lanes around St Anne's Cathedral, where some of the city's best pubs and street art are hiding. Explore Belfast →
Design Museum Housed in the former Commonwealth Institute on Kensington High Street, under a swooping roof, this is all about the everyday things around us: chairs, phones, posters, trainers. The permanent display is free, and the big paid exhibitions are often excellent. Holland Park is right behind it for a breather. See Design Museum →
Walker Art Gallery Liverpool's grand gallery on William Brown Street holds a cracking spread of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, Tudor portraits and modern works, plus a hands-on space for little ones called Big Art for Little Artists. It's right beside the World Museum and St George's Hall, making for an easy cultural loop. See Walker Art Gallery →
Children's museums
Places built with kids in mind, where touching things is the whole point.
The Horniman Museum Up in Forest Hill, the Horniman has a famous overstuffed walrus, an aquarium, a music gallery where you can bang the instruments, and sloping gardens with views over London. There's even a small animal walk. A brilliant, slightly quirky family day away from the central London crowds. See The Horniman Museum →
The Story Museum Oxford is the home of Alice and Narnia, so a museum dedicated to stories makes perfect sense. Kids explore the Whispering Wood, dress up and step into magical rooms inspired by favourite books. It's imaginative, cosy and ideal for under-tens, just off the city centre near Pembroke College. Explore Oxford →
Discovery Museum Newcastle's Discovery Museum tells the story of Tyneside's inventors and shipbuilders. The star is Turbinia, once the fastest ship in the world, filling the entrance hall. There are hands-on science zones for kids and a fascinating look at the city's history. Easy walk from Central Station. See Discovery Museum →
Eureka! The National Children's Museum Built from scratch for children, Eureka! in Halifax lets kids run a pretend town, explore how their bodies work and get busy with sounds and water. It's best for younger ones, roughly up to about eleven. It sits right beside Halifax station, so it's easy to reach without the car. See Eureka! The National Children's Museum →
Milestones Museum Victorian and 1930s streets are recreated indoors in Basingstoke, with a pub, a sweet shop, old vehicles and even a seaside-style arcade. It's a cracking spot for grandparents to share memories while the kids dress up and explore. Being fully indoors makes it a winner on a wet day. See Milestones Museum →
Great North Museum: Hancock Dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, a planetarium and a huge model of Hadrian's Wall make the Hancock a big hit with families. The living planet gallery is crammed floor to ceiling with animals. It's near Haymarket in Newcastle, close to the university, and a natural partner to the Discovery Museum. See Great North Museum: Hancock →
Maritime museums
An island nation was always going to have cracking ships to climb aboard.
Titanic Belfast Standing on the very slipways where Titanic was built, this shimmering building tells the full story, from the shipyards to the sinking and the search for the wreck. There's even a gentle ride through a recreated shipyard. Leave time for SS Nomadic, Titanic's little tender ship, moored nearby. See Titanic Belfast →
National Maritime Museum Greenwich's flagship museum is packed with ship models, navigation instruments, Nelson's bullet-holed coat and fun play galleries for kids. Entry is free. Climb the hill to the Royal Observatory to stand on the Prime Meridian, then visit the Cutty Sark down by the river. See National Maritime Museum →
HMS Belfast Moored on the Thames near Tower Bridge, this Second World War cruiser saw action on D-Day and the Arctic convoys. Climb ladders between nine decks, peek into the mess, the sick bay and the engine rooms, and imagine life on board. Not great for buggies, but kids love clambering about. See HMS Belfast →
National Museum of the Royal Navy Inside Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, this museum tells the story of the Navy from Nelson to the present day. It sits alongside HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, so a dockyard ticket gets you plenty. Take the harbour boat across to Gosport for the submarine museum too. See National Museum of the Royal Navy →
SS Great Britain Brunel's revolutionary iron steamship sits in the Bristol dry dock where she was built. You can walk under the hull beneath a glass sea and explore the cabins, galley and engine room above. Kids love the dress-up area, and the harbourside walk to the city centre is gorgeous. See SS Great Britain →
The Mary Rose Museum Henry VIII's warship sank in the Solent in 1545 and was raised in 1982. Now she sits in a purpose-built museum at the Historic Dockyard, surrounded by thousands of objects found on board, from longbows to nit combs. It's eerie and moving in equal measure. Explore Portsmouth →
Royal Navy Submarine Museum Over in Gosport, you can step inside HMS Alliance, a real Second World War-era submarine, guided by veterans who explain how crews lived in such cramped quarters. It's a fascinating, slightly claustrophobic experience. Pair it with the Explosion Museum nearby or hop the ferry back to Portsmouth. See Royal Navy Submarine Museum →
Military and aviation museums
Tanks, planes and codebreakers, big on noise and bigger on stories.
Royal Armouries Museum Down on Leeds Dock, the Royal Armouries holds the national collection of arms and armour, from Henry VIII's armour to samurai swords. The Hall of Steel, with thousands of weapons on the walls, is a showstopper. Look out for live combat demonstrations, and entry to the collection is free. See Royal Armouries Museum →
Imperial War Museum (IWM London) IWM London in Lambeth tells powerful stories of conflict from the First World War to today, with tanks, aircraft and personal letters side by side. The Holocaust Galleries are deeply moving and best for older children and adults. Free to get in, with the park outside for a quiet moment. See Imperial War Museum (IWM London) →
IWM Duxford On a historic airfield near Cambridge, Duxford is aviation heaven: Spitfires, a Concorde, a Vulcan bomber and the American Air Museum all under huge hangars. On air show days the sky fills with vintage planes. Bring a picnic and allow a whole day, as the site is massive. See IWM Duxford →
The Tank Museum Bovington in Dorset holds a famous collection of tanks, including Tiger 131, the only working Tiger tank in the world. Walk through a First World War trench experience, then see vehicles roar round the arena on event days. Lulworth Cove is close by for an afternoon by the sea. See The Tank Museum →
Royal Air Force Museum The RAF Museum has two sites. Hendon in north London is free and full of aircraft from wooden biplanes to jets, with flight simulators for kids. Its sister site, RAF Museum Midlands at Cosford in Shropshire, has its own huge hangars full of planes. Both make a cracking day for plane spotters. See Royal Air Force Museum →
Bletchley Park This is where Alan Turing and thousands of codebreakers secretly cracked Enigma during the Second World War. The restored huts, the mansion and the interactive displays make the story come alive. Your ticket usually lasts a year, which is handy, because there's more here than you can manage in one day. See Bletchley Park →
National Museum of Flight On a wartime airfield at East Fortune, east of Edinburgh, you'll find a real Concorde you can walk through, plus fighter jets, a Vulcan and the story of Scottish aviation in old hangars. It's a family favourite on a sunny day, and the East Lothian beaches are close by. See National Museum of Flight →
Industrial heritage
Britain built the modern world in mills, mines and shipyards. These museums let you feel the heat and hear the noise.
Black Country Living Museum A whole Black Country town rebuilt in Dudley, where costumed folk teach you to write on slates, bash out chains and fry proper chips in beef dripping. There's a trolleybus, an old-time fairground, and canal boat trips into the limestone caverns run right next door. Fans of Peaky Blinders will recognise a few corners. See Black Country Living Museum →
National Railway Museum Right beside York station, this vast museum is home to famous locomotives, royal trains and a Japanese bullet train. The Great Hall turntable is magnificent, and you can usually climb into some of the cabs. Free to enter, and the Minster and city walls are only a short walk away. See National Railway Museum →
National Waterfront Museum Swansea's maritime quarter is home to this lively museum about Welsh industry and innovation, from copper and coal to computing. Hands-on screens and machines keep kids busy, and there's often a family activity running. Swansea Marina and the beach are right outside, so bring a ball. See National Waterfront Museum →
Beamish, the Living Museum of the North Hop on a tram and travel through the North East in the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s. Go down a drift mine, buy sweets from the old shop, eat fish and chips cooked on a coal range and visit a pit village school. You'll need a full day, and tickets usually work as an annual pass. See Beamish, the Living Museum of the North →
Big Pit National Coal Museum Put on a helmet and lamp, then head 90 metres underground with a former miner as your guide. Big Pit in Blaenavon gives you a powerful sense of what working life was like. The above-ground pithead baths and engine house are just as interesting, and the whole area is a World Heritage Site. See Big Pit National Coal Museum →
Blists Hill Victorian Town Part of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, Blists Hill is a recreated Victorian town where you swap your cash for old money at the bank, then spend it at the bakery, sweet shop and pub. Costumed townsfolk keep you chatting. The famous Iron Bridge is a short drive away. See Blists Hill Victorian Town →
Specialist museums
Quirky collections and single-subject obsessions.
Pitt Rivers Museum Through the back of Oxford's natural history museum lies a dim, crammed treasure cave of objects from all over the world, grouped by type rather than place. Masks, boats, musical instruments and charms fill old wooden cases. Grab a torch from staff if offered: it adds to the adventure. See Pitt Rivers Museum →
Sir John Soane's Museum The architect Sir John Soane left his Lincoln's Inn Fields home exactly as he arranged it, stuffed with classical sculpture, paintings and an Egyptian sarcophagus. Hogarth's Rake's Progress hides behind folding walls. It's small, eccentric and free, so arrive early as numbers inside are limited. Explore London →
London Transport Museum In Covent Garden's old flower market, this museum is packed with buses, trams and Tube trains you can climb aboard. Kids love driving a simulator train, and the poster collection is a design lover's dream. Your ticket usually covers a year of visits, ideal if you're local. See London Transport Museum →
National Football Museum Football fans, this one's for you. Inside the glass Urbis building near Manchester Victoria, the museum is crammed with famous shirts, trophies and match balls. The interactive zone lets you test your shooting and passing skills. Whatever team you follow, you'll find something to cheer or groan about. Explore Manchester →
Riverside Museum Glasgow's transport museum lives in a zigzag building on the Clyde designed by Zaha Hadid. Inside you'll find trams, locomotives, cars, bikes and a recreated old street with shops to explore. The Tall Ship Glenlee is moored right outside, so step aboard for a look below deck. See Riverside Museum →
National Motor Museum Set in the New Forest at Beaulieu, this is a petrolhead's paradise, with pioneering motor carriages, famous racing cars and cars from film and television. Your ticket also covers Palace House and the abbey ruins, and a monorail glides round the grounds. A full day out for all ages. See National Motor Museum →
The Thursford Collection In rural Norfolk, Thursford is crammed with steam engines, fairground rides and mighty mechanical organs, including a famous Wurlitzer that still plays. It's a joyous, noisy slice of fairground history. The site is best known for its big Christmas Spectacular show, so check what's on when you plan. See The Thursford Collection →
Planning your museum day out
A few tips to make the most of it. Lots of the national museums are free, but free doesn't mean empty: book a timed slot online in school holidays and turn up early, when it's calmer and the kids are fresher. Check the website the day before, because galleries sometimes close for refurbishment and big exhibitions sell out.
Don't try to see everything. Pick three or four galleries, build in a café break and leave on a high rather than dragging tired kids round the last floor. Many museums have free family trails or activity backpacks at the front desk, so ask. And where a ticket is paid, ask whether it works as an annual pass, as plenty do. Cities like London, Liverpool and Glasgow let you stack two museums into one day.
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