Museums & Art Galleries in Southern England

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 Stonehenge.... more

Church Street, Alton, Hampshire

The Allen Gallery houses an outstanding collection of ceramics, nearly 1900 items dating from 1250 to the present day. Also on display are the unique Elizabethan Tichborne spoons, 12... more

Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean is Europe’s oldest public museum and one of Britain’s finest. Following a major £61 million redevelopment, the Ashmolean has just opened the new Rick... 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... more

The Mansion, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Bletchley Park, was home to the famous codebreakers of the Second World War. The full story did not emerge until 30 years after the war had ended - among the ciphers that were broken... more

Church Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire County Museum & The Roald Dahl Children´s Gallery, houses displays that cover the diverse natural, social and cultural history of Buckinghamshire. In addition to... more

Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre is one of the leading steam museums in the country, housing some 35 steam locomotives both diesel and multiple units. Slip back in time to the golden... more

Maritime Museum, Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu, Hampshire

Bucklers Hard Village is one of England´s most attractive and unusual villages. It was created in the early 18th century by the 2nd Duke of Montagu, who planned to build a free port,... 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... 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 range of... more

Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire

The Chiltern Open Air Museum was founded in 1976 and has since rescued more than 30 historic buildings by re-erecting them on the 45 acre site of woods and parkland. All buildings can... 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 the 1950s. Experience the... 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 history collections - how... more

Clarence Esplanade, Portsmouth, Hampshire

The D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery was opened in 1984 to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings in 1944. It houses the magnificent and colourful `Overlord... 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 the prototype Mosquito and there is... more

Antelope Walk, Dorchester, Dorset

The Dorset Teddy Bear Museum is devoted to the wonderful world of the teddy bear and traces the history of the teddy bear from its birth to the present day. Visit Edward Bear and his... more

108 Fisherton Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Set within the medieval city of Salisbury, Fisherton Mill houses the South of England's largest independent Art Gallery. The Gallery exhibits work by leading artists, sculpture and... more

Peninsula Barracks, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire

The Gurkha Museum is situated in the former Rifle Depot at Peninsula Barracks. The Museum commemorates the services of the Gurkhas to the British Crown since 1815. Most of the... more

Chawton, Alton, Hampshire

Jane Austen´s House is a pleasant seventeenth century house in the pretty village of Chawton in Hampshire not far from her birthplace of Steventon. The museum houses an attractive... more

Pylands Lane, Bursledon, Southampton, Hampshire

Manor Farm Country Park covers an area of 400 acres. A mixture of woodland, riverside, open space and a farm. Offering an extensive network of trails along with points of interest,... more

Leisure Park, Churchill Way West, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Milestones, winner of the Social and Industrial History Award under the National Heritage Museum of the Year scheme. Atmospheric street scenes with shops from the late Victorian period... more

900 Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Milton Keynes Gallery is the city´s purpose-built gallery for exhibitions of international contemporary art. Now considered an important addition to the British network of contemporary... more

30 Pembroke Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Established in 1965, Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK´s leading public galleries renowned for the quality of its exhibitions, activities and publications. Working with artists from... more

Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hampshire

The Museum of Army Flying: Flying Soldiers! The heroic story of the army in the air from 19th century observation balloons to attack helicopters! The Museum is home to a national... more

9a Hatfield Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire

The Museum of St Albans tells the story of St Albans from the departure of the Romans to the present day. Find out how the town developed around a great medieval abbey from a market... more

John Montagu Building, Beaulieu, Hampshire

This world renowned National Motor Museum collection was started in 1952 and now features 250 vehicles which tell the story of motoring from 1895 to the present. On display are some of... more

The Walter Rothschild Building, Akeman Street, Tring, Hertfordshire

The Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum was once the private collection of Lionel Walter, 2nd Baron Rothschild and is now part of The Natural History Museum. It houses more than 4000... more

Roche Court, Salisbury, Wiltshire

Sculpture Park and education centre, where work is shown inside and out providing a survey of sculpture for the enjoyment of the public.... more

High Street, Lyndhurst, Hampshire

The New Forest Museum & Visitor Centre, situated in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, is the ideal location to visit for those looking to enjoy the New Forest, which has been designated one of... more

Parks Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire

The Oxford University Museum of Natural History houses Oxford University´s extensive collection of entomological, geological, mineralogical and zoological material of international... more

Fletchers House, Park Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire

The Oxfordshire Museum is set in attractive gardens, and features collections of Oxfordshire´s rich history, and reflect the archaeology, local history, landscape and wildlife of the... more

Parks Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire

Pitt Rivers Museum is famous for its unusual Victorian atmosphere and outstanding collections of unusual and beautiful objects from all over the world. Founded in 1884 with the... more

Mill Meadows, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

The River & Rowing Museum is situated in picturesque Henley-on-Thames. This award-winning Museum has three main themes, with galleries celebrating each one. The River Thames, the town... more

Fort Nelson, Portsdown Hill Road, Fareham, Hampshire

Royal Armouries at Fort Nelson was built in the 1860s, as part of a chain of fortifications protecting the great naval harbour of Portsmouth in Hampshire and its Royal Dockyard from a... more

Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire

Dive into history at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire and go onboard an actual WWII era submarine - HMS Alliance with a veteran submariner to hear his stories about... more

East Cliff, Bournemouth, Dorset

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is in a Victorian villa, built and furnished by Sir Merton and Lady Annie Russell-Cotes. It was gifted to Bournemouth in 1908 and is of... more

Kemble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire

STEAM - Museum of the Great Western Railway is located in a beautifully restored railway building where seven generations of men and women built the great locomotives. STEAM tells the... more

Church Road, Shaw, Newbury, Berkshire

Shaw House was built in 1581 by Newbury clothier Thomas Dolman. This fine Elizabethan building has enjoyed a colourful past from a Duke’s country retreat to a school. It was recently... more

Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire

The Shuttleworth Collection is in a quiet countryside setting on an old fashioned all grass aerodrome with eight hangars. These hangars comprise an aeroplane engineering workshop, a... more

Albert Road South, Southampton, Hampshire

The Solent Sky Museum depicts the history of aviation in the Solent area and Hampshire. An important area for aircraft experimental and development work for civil and military aircraft... more

Civic Centre, Southampton, Hampshire

Southampton City Art Gallery is the most outstanding gallery in the south of England, internationally renowned for its collection of contemporary works by British artists. The... more

Wool House, Bugle Street, Southampton, Hampshire

Southampton Maritime Museum is situated on Town Quay Road. The Wool House was built as a warehouse for the medieval wool trade. It is now a museum telling the story of the Port of... more

Clarence Esplanade, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Southsea Castle, built by Henry VIII in 1544 to protect Portsmouth Harbour. Over the centuries it´s defences were strengthened and in the 19th century a tunnel was built to defend the... more

London Road, Luton, Bedfordshire

The Stockwood Discovery Centre - With interactive display, variety of gardens, children play area, bee gallery and much more, it is a wonderful visitor attraction and museum. Collection... more

The Square, Swanage, Dorset

At the Swanage Museum & Heritage Centre, learn about the history and heritage centre of Little London by the sea. A fascinating insight into how Swanage town and its people (both famous... more

Bovington, near Wool, Wareham, Dorset

The Tank Museum in Bovington Dorset houses the world´s largest and finest collection of armoured fighting vehicles from unique World War 1 tanks to the latest main battle tank of the... more

The Shires, Court Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Trowbridge Museum, housed in a former woollen mill, with displays telling the fascinating story of Trowbridge Town and its people. Working looms still produce cloth, which is sold... more

19 Church Street, Wantage, Oxfordshire

An ideal starting-point for exploring the area. The Museum tells the story of Wantage and the Vale from earliest times to the present, through objects, films and computer interactives.... more

St Michaels, St Albans, Hertfordshire

Verulamium Museum & Hypocaust is on the site of one of the major cities in Roman Britain and set in attractive parkland. On display are some of the finest Roman mosaics and wall... more

Old Bedford Road, Luton, Bedfordshire

At the Wardown Park Museum you can explore the development of Luton from pre-history to the present day. Highlights include the Luton Life Gallery, the nationally important Lace... more