The best specialized museums Southwest

Jane Austen, the subtle author, is analyzed and recounted here, thanks to an exhibition reconstructing her life. It's an opportunity to learn more about the woman who, under the guise of writing great romances, firmly criticized the Regency era and its conventions. In fact, she spent several years living and writing in Bath. After your visit, don't miss The Regency Tea Room for a traditional cream tea. If you're visiting in September, don't miss the Jane Austen Festival.

This is one of the few museums of American decorative arts established on British soil. The objects on display bear witness to the way of life of settlers across the Atlantic from the ^17th to the ^19th century, and the visit aims to build bridges between these two civilizations. Founded in the 1950s by two Bath-based Americans, the museum is housed in the magnificent Claverton Manor, which is well worth a visit in its own right. Also worth seeing are the sumptuous gardens, including the American Arboretum.

M Shed is Bristol's museum of popular culture. Housed in a very long shed on the water's edge, its colorful, interactive exhibition traces the city's social history, and the people and events that have shaped it over the centuries. Nearly 3,000 original objects, 150 films and thousands of photos tell the story of the war years, the industrial sector, means of transport through the ages and cultural events. An interesting exhibition both for its exhibits and for the venue itself.