Museums & Art Galleries in Southern England

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... 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... 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... more

900 Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

MK Gallery is the city´s purpose-built gallery for exhibitions of international contemporary art. Its free, regularly changing exhibition programme includes both emerging and... 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.... 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

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... 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... 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... more

Old Bedford Road, Luton, Bedfordshire

Situated in beautiful Wardown Park.At the Wardown Park Museum you can explore the development of Luton from pre-history to the present day. Highlights include the Luton Life... 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... more

Salisbury Hall, London Colney Town, 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... 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... 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... 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

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... 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... 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... 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

Pallington Lakes, Pallington, Dorchester, Dorset

'Sculpture by the Lakes' near Dorchester is a place where the visitor can share in the beauty of nature harmonised with the art of man. Set in 26 acres of pools, lakes, ponds... 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... more

High Street, Winchester, Hampshire

Westgate Museum dominates the upper end of Winchester High Street. It Was constructed in the 12th century with later additions. Displays feature Winchester´s rich history.... more

Newland Park, Gorelands Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire

The Chiltern Open Air Museum: Looking for somewhere to go with the kids this summer? Why not take them time travelling? Join us at the Chiltern Open Air Museum for a... more

Wool House, Town Quay Road, 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... 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... 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.... more

Quainton Road Station, Quainton, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire Railway Centre: a working Steam Museum with one of the largest railway collections in the UK. Opening Easter to end of October, Steam Trains and the Miniature... more

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

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... 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... more

Eastgate, corner High East Street/Salisbury Street, Dorchester, Dorset

The 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. The museum is set within... more

Old Town Hall, Market Place, Basingstoke, Hampshire

At the Willis Museum, discover Basingstoke´s past from the rich archaeological heritage beneath our feet to a tour through the last 200 years. Meet Pickaxe, a 19th century... 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,... 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... 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... 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... 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

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... 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... more

Clarence Esplanade, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Portsmouth's D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery reveals the dramatic story of ‘Operation Overlord’ (the codename for the Normandy Landings in 1944). Portsmouth was at 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 -... 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,... more

High Street, Selborne, Hampshire

Gilbert White's House & Garden and Oates Collection: Discover three inspiring stories about explorers of the Natural World…… Gilbert White, 18th century naturalist, ... 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... more

Bovington, near Wool, Wareham, Dorset

The Tank Museum brings the history of tanks and tank crews to life, supported by the world’s best collection of armoured vehicles and action packed live displays. As you... 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

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... 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... more

Fletchers House, Park Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire

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