Local History & Local Culture Museums in the UK

High Street, Avebury, Wiltshire  
Alexander Keiller Museum, founded by Alexander Keiller in the 1930s, contains the prehistoric collections from the Avebury complex of monuments, which are of similar age to... more

The Mall East, Armagh, Co Armagh  
A visit to Armagh County Museum is an ideal way to experience a flavour of the orchard county. Discover a rich and varied legacy revealed in... more

Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire  
Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean is one of the oldest museums in the world - and one of Britain´s finest. It is a treasure house of... more

Churchgate, Spalding, Lincolnshire  
Ayscoughfee Hall Museum is a medieval town house on the banks of the River Welland. Built in 1451 by a wool merchant, it is now the... more

Spiceball Park Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire  
Banbury´s stunning new canal-side museum. Exciting modern `hands-on´ displays tell of Banbury´s origins and historic past. The Civil War; the plush manufacturing industry; the Victorian market... more

Main Street, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria  
Beatrix Potter Gallery has the largest collection of Beatrix Potter´s published work, including most of the original watercolour illustrations and manuscripts from the `Peter Rabbit´ series... more

The Shambles, Load Street, Bewdley, Worcestershire  
Bewdley Museum is housed in a historic and unusual 18th century Butchers Shambles and Brass Foundry. This unique museum provides a fascinating insight into the growth... more

Big Pit, Blaenafon, Torfaen  
The Big Pit: National Coal Museum offers an insight into the life of South Wales miners and their communities and is unique to Wales. The guided... more

Tipton Road, Dudley, West Midlands  
Black Country Living Museum was established in 1975 to collect, preserve, research and display items relating to the social and industrial history of the Black Country.... more

Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire  
This Victorian Bodelwyddan Castle is the Welsh home of the National Portrait Gallery. It also houses furniture from the Victoria and Albert Museum and sculptures from... more

Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, Greater Manchester  
The Bolton Museum, Art Gallery & Aquarium, houses an impressive collection of fine and decorative art dating from the 18th to the 20th century. This includes... more

Brampton Park, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire  
At the Borough Museum & Art Gallery, Newcastle´s long history can be traced through the Roman period, its medieval castle, Royal Charters and industries to the... more

Barnard Castle, Durham  
The first sight of The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle never ceases to amaze. Purpose built in the 19th century by John Bowes and his French... more

Killin, Perth & Kinross  
Breadalbane Folklore Centre - a special part of Scotland - and a special place to stop. Where the river splashes over The Falls of Dochart, it... more

Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, East Sussex  
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is famous for its collection of 20th century furniture, glass, textiles and jewellery, including examples by leading designers. There is an... more

Kingsley Road, Bideford, Devon  
The Burton Art Gallery & Museum was originally opened by local businessman Thomas Burton and his friend, artist Hubert Coop in 1951, in memory of Burton´s... more

Moss Street, Bury, Greater Manchester  
Bury Art Gallery & Museum opened in 1901 thanks to the generosity of the children of local paper manufacturer Thomas Wrigley. To commemorate Queen Victoria´s Diamond... more

Butlin Farm, Claydon, Banbury, Oxfordshire  
Local Banbury shops, display centre. Victorian kitchen and work shops. Traction engine, steam roller, stationary engines, tractors etc. War and craft memorabilia, typewriters, sewing machines, jars,... more

Newport, Isle of Wight  
Carisbrooke Castle Museum is situated inside the Castle, this independent local history museum exhibits material relating to Carisbrooke Castle and the Isle of Wight. The wide... more

St Peter Port, Guernsey  
The history of the magnificent Castle Cornet spans eight centuries when it stood guard over St Peter Port. The story of the castle is told using... more

Coliseum, Terrace Road, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion  
The Ceredigion Museum & Gallery opened in 1982, and is housed on the ground floor of the old Coliseum building. Described as `one of the most... more

Queen's Hall, Granby Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire  
Charnwood Museum features a wide range of exhibits, which reflect local history and industries. Permanent exhibitions are in four areas: `Coming to Charnwood´, `The Natural World... more

Leek Road, Cheddleton, Leek, Staffordshire  
Beside the Caldon canal. Two water wheels on the River Churnet drive flint-grindingpans in the two mills. Museum collection of machinery used in the preparation of... more

Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Essex  
Chelmsford Museum & the Essex Regiment Museum was founded in 1835. This local history Museum features `The Story of Chelmsford´ exhibition. The history of Chelmsford and... more

Clarence Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire  
Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum houses Cheltenham´s Arts and Crafts Movement collection of furniture, textiles, ceramics, carvings, silver and jewellery, recognised as an outstanding collection of... more

29 Little London, Chichester, West Sussex  
Chichester District Museum is housed in an 18th century corn store in the heart of Chichester. The Museum tells the story of Chichester and the surrounding... more

Brunswick Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire  
The City Museum & Art Gallery is a fine Victorian building housing items of national importance since 1860. These include many archaeological finds such as Roman... more

Museum Road, Old Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire  
City Museum & Records Office is dedicated to local history, `The Story of Portsmouth´ display room settings showing life in Portsmouth from the 17th century to... more

The Square, Winchester, Hampshire  
The City of Winchester Museum is situated in the centre of Winchester. The Museum tells the story of the city with its extensive archaeological and local... more

Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley, West Yorkshire  
Cliffe Castle Museum was built in 1833 and originally called Cliffe Hall, it was converted into a museum and art gallery in 1960. Housing displays of... more

Clifton Lane, Rotherham, South Yorkshire  
Clifton Park Museum is situated within Clifton House, built in 1783 as the home of Joshua Walker, the founder of Rotherham Ironworks. Inside is Britain´s finest... more

Southey Works, Greta Bridge, Keswick, Cumbria  
Visit Keswick´s Cumberland Pencil Museum, the home of the first pencil, and the Cumberland Pencil Co, home of pencil perfection since 1832. Walk through a replica... more

Brecon Road, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taff  
Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery was built in 1824, this Georgian castellated mansion was originally home to the Crawshay family and is set in 160... more

PO Box 107, Salisbury Hall, London Colney, St Albans, Hertfordshire  
de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre (inc the Mosquito Aircraft Museum) is a secret wartime site waiting to be discovered by you. It is the home of... more

Blandford Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear  
Discovery Museum is the North East of England´s most popular free museum. Walk through its doors to discover all about life in Newcastle and Tyneside, from... more

North Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria  
The Dock Museum is built over an original Victorian dry dock, this modern Museum tells the history of Barrow-in-Furness. Discover how it grew from a 19th... more

Chequer Road, Doncaster, South Yorkshire  
Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery is a purpose built Museum, opened in 1964 to display various collections of natural history, archaeology, local history and fine and... more

Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, Teesside  
The Dorman Museum was completely refurbished and expanded to give eight galleries filled with different themes, stories and objects. Explore `Earth in Space´ or take a... more

Salthill Road, Fishbourne, Chichester, West Sussex  
This site of Fishbourne Roman Palace was discovered in 1960 when a water main was being laid. Evidence suggests that it was developed from three phases... more

Culdrose Manor, Helston, Cornwall  
Flambards Experience-Victorian Village & Gardens, established nearly 30 years ago as the Cornwall Aircraft Park the Flambards Experience is one of the most popular days out... more

Cultural Quarter, Greaves Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester  
Gallery Oldham is an award-winning building, opened in 2002. It forms the first phase of Oldham´s new Cultural Quarter. The fine and decorative art collection was... more

99/103 Westgate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire  
Gloucester Folk Museum has three floors of splendid Tudor and Jacobean timber-framed buildings along with new buildings housing the Dairy, Ironmonger´s shop and Wheelwright and Carpenter... more

Alford, Aberdeenshire  
The Grampian Transport Museum Trust was formed in 1978 by a group of local enthusiasts. The displays and working exhibits trace the history of road travel... more

Gressenhall, Dereham, Norfolk  
Gressenhall Farm and Workshouse is a great day out whether you want to learn about the lives of Norfolk people in the past or relax and... more

27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, Cheshire  
The Grosvenor Museum houses Chester´s biggest collection of its local and international history, spread over three floors of a classic 19th century building. In the Roman... more

155 High Street, Guildford, Surrey  
Guildford House Gallery, dates back to 1660. This fascinating Grade I listed building opened as an art gallery in 1959, and still retains many of its... more

Guildhall Yard, London  
Guildhall Art Gallery & Roman London´s Amphitheatre was established in 1885. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1941 and the new Art Gallery was... more

Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor, Gwynedd  
This is Gwynedd´s only general museum which displays and cares for the Bangor University collection and the collections of Gwynedd Council Museum Service. The Museum collections... more

Rue de la Patente, St Lawrence, Jersey  
Hamptonne, the museum of country life, is in the winding lanes of St Lawrence.You can get close to 300 years of Jersey´s rural heritage in this... more

Harbour Square, Derry, Co Londonderry  
The Harbour Museum opened in 1995, is situated in the former Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioner´s Office, built in 1882. Collections on display include architectural drawings,... more