The best museums United Kingdom

This is a great place to discover whisky. Several tours are available, in 50 min, 90 min and 90 min + dinner. In addition to the guided tour, there are one or more commented tastings. You will learn to savour and identify the contents of your dram, the traditional whisky unit, in a room housing the world's largest private collection. No less than 3,400 different bottles are pampered there and it is a delight to walk through it to contemplate its old labels.

People have been coming here since 1835 to admire Edinburgh through the lorgnette of a periscope whose panoramas are projected onto a large table-screen. This visit is particularly popular with children, who appreciate the fun aspect. On six floors, a maze of attractions and exhibitions also provides a whole world of optical illusions and curiosities based on sounds, lights, mirrors and tunnels, for fans of the genre. At the top, the Outlook Tower also offers beautiful views of the surrounding area, including the castle, which is just across the street.

This museum dedicated to the war strikes hard. As soon as you cross the threshold, an exhibition of war machines: tanks, combat aircraft suspended from the ceiling, dwarf submarines or a bus used during the First World War to transport British troops to battle. Soon, all these machines gave way to rooms dedicated to the history of the two world wars, the reconstruction of a trench or an air raid shelter. The focus is on the men and women, known or unknown, who have been involved in these conflicts.

Officially created in 1934 by the king George VI, this museum is the largest maritime museum in the world. The collections gather a large number of objects related to the maritime history of Britain: sea charts, manuscripts, scale models, ship plans, navigation instruments... The museum also has a large collection of personalities' portraits linked to the British maritime history as well as the world's largest library of marine construction works with nearly 100,000 works.

At Wimbledon, the arrival of summer marks the imminent start of this legendary tournament. Take the opportunity to visit this legendary venue and discover the traditions that have made Wimbledon the most coveted title in tennis. Immerse yourself in the history of the tournament, explore the backstage area and admire the center court. Soak up the iconic atmosphere of this prestigious tournament and explore the exhibitions that showcase the legends of tennis.

A fascinating museum of anthropology and archaeology, this museum is right next to the Oxford Museum of Natural History and can be accessed through its entrance. It opened its doors in 1884, when General Pitt Rivers, an influential figure in the development of evolutionary archaeology and anthropology, decided to leave its collections to Oxford University. It is still possible to see objects from all regions of the world. It is also an educational and research institution. We love its typically Victorian atmosphere.

The National Museum of the Roman Legion is located inside the remains of the fortress, built in 75 AD and which protected the region for more than 200 years. Caerleon was then known as "Isca". We discover the history of the powerful Roman Empire through reconstructions and the exhibition of objects resulting from archaeological excavations, bringing together weapons and domestic objects. An interesting and free visit!

No doubt one of the world's top football venues. Here the Red Devils are more than stars, they are true gods. The stadium, called "Theatre of Dreams", houses a museum that recounts the history of this club whose extraordinary results were the result of the Queen's ennobled, Sir Alex Ferguson. Guided tours are also organized.

City fans refusing to enter Old Trafford can still visit the Etihad Stadium across the city (www.mancity.com).

From the first train to the Eurostar, the whole world of rail travel is detailed in this national museum. You can get up close to more than 300 vehicles, including the world's fastest steam engine, Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express, but also royal luxury carriages and the first locomotives of the Industrial Revolution. In all, three centuries of history and a compilation of a million rail-related objects, such as photos, artworks, posters and decorations. Some of the industrial heritage of Liverpool and Manchester.

This museum is dedicated to aerospace, an industry in which Bristol specializes. The local star is, of course, the Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, designed and built here. It was the last Concorde to fly, and could cross the Atlantic in just three hours. You can see the interiors, but other aircraft are also on display. And don't forget the Red Arrows simulator! The attraction is housed on a former World War I base, renovated and refitted to accommodate it.

The Museum of the famous Scottish University is dedicated to the prestigious institution and its powerful heritage. There are three areas to visit: Wardlaw Museum (exhibition on the history of the university), Bell Pettigrew (natural sciences) and the Collection Centre where many valuable objects accumulated over the centuries are on display, such as 15th century ceremonial sceptres, a 16th century astrolabe, an 18th century telescope and many others.

This elegant castle on the other side of Stornoway Bay was built between 1847 and 1857 for Sir James Matheson, who then owned all of Lewis thanks to his fortune built on the Chinese opium trade. Since 2016, following an extension of the site, there is a museum on the history and culture of the Outer Hebrides. It describes its people and their relationship to the land and sea. The Gaelic approach is predominant, but the texts are also translated into English.

This imposing modernist citadel on the edge of the Area has a national reputation. Over 8500 objects are listed on four floors, with the central theme of war, tournaments, hunting, defence and eastern weapons. In this respect, the Royal Armouries are part of the same museum family as the Tower of London in the capital. There are medieval armour, spears, swords, rifles, but also guns, guns, game and samurai attire.

This lighthouse museum at Kinnaird Head will capture the hearts of lighthouse lovers and absolute neophytes alike. This is Scotland's first lighthouse (built in 1789) and is adjacent to a 450 year old castle. Its location in an exceptional and atypical place, the special life of the keepers whose history has been told here, the engineering developed to save lives, the largest collection of lenses in the world, the tea room in the lighthouse, all play in its favour...

As soon as you enter, the legendary Bristol Boxhite aeroplane flies overhead. Housed in a magnificent Edwardian building, the museum is home to archaeological collections, ceramics and porcelain from all over the world, exhibits from ancient and modern civilizations and an impressive natural history section. And don't miss the contemporary art gallery, featuring works by some of the world's most renowned artists. A museum well worth a visit.

It's the ideal place for offbeat photos, if you love all things eccentric! We plunge into the heart of a dark and unusual cabinet of curiosities. It's a totally different experience, far removed from the usual tourist spots. Taxidermy, fetuses in jars, butterflies and exotic insects, the skeleton of a giant anteater, dodo bones... In a setting like this, it's easy to feel like Poe or Baudelaire. You can round off your visit with a cocktail at The Absynth Parlour, the museum's bar.

If you hadn't grasped yet, the stars of Liverpool are still the Beatles. This is the temple dedicated to them, built on the equally mythical Albert Dock. There are many who come here telling the story of the four boys in the wind. Their entire universe is set in a playful and didactic way. A suite of rooms gives you the unique path and atmosphere that colle them to the skin: costumes, studios, reconstructions, instruments and even the famous Yellow Submarine or the white piano consecrated by the song Imagine of John Lennon… If you don't know much about their career, it's an excellent introduction. If you're already a @ fan, let's know you'll learn one thing or two anyway. This museum is deliciously kitsch and a reproduction of the Cub Accueille welcomes visitors, beer less… The Merseybeat movement also has a voice in the chapter and its date of the American sailors is not forgotten. Multilingual audioguide available.

This is the National Aviation Museum in Scotland. It takes place on the former Royal Air Force base in East Fortune. The location is not insignificant, as it was in service for both World Wars and is one of the best preserved in the whole of the United Kingdom. The story of the conquest of the sky is told in the presence of its main witnesses, aircraft of all types and all periods. Several hangars focus on different aspects of the industry with, among others, the famous Spitfire, Meteor, Tornado and Jaguar for the military side; and the Twin Pioneer, Jetstream 31 or Boeing 707 for the civil side. A whole section is also reserved for the famous Concorde, the unfortunate plane of Europe. The museum also explains the mechanisms of flight, construction techniques, the invention of parachutes, and many others. You will also be able to play the role of a jet-setter by discovering the planes in which the stars flew when commercial flights first saw the light of day. Children (and adults alike!) will appreciate the very concrete aspect of the museum, but also its interactive terminals, which invite them to better understand how planes fly, the skills of the pilots, the art of a successful landing... You can even learn how to build an airplane in your house! It's a good opportunity to visit something that is a little different from the heritage of the region and allows you to set foot in a real cockpit.

The V&A Dundee finally opened its doors on September 15, 2018. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kum, the building blends seamlessly into the cityscape and is not unlike the cliffs of the East End. The museum showcases the best of Scottish design, from fashion to furniture to architecture, in its diverse "Scottish design" gallery. It includes a reproduction of a room designed by the interior designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Temporary exhibitions complete the offer and the space.

It is one of the must-see visits for lovers of religion and ancient books. In addition to the history of the house and its famous inhabitants - James Mosmann, royal jeweller, who made the Scottish crown; John Knox, father of the Scottish religion and key figure in history - it tells the story of the Humanities and first impressions. There is a collection of books by great humanists, a bible from 1521 and John Knox's History of the Reformation within the Realme of Scotland. The place also hosts the Scottish Storytelling Association.

All Harry Potter fans visit Warner Bros. Studios! To get there, the easiest and cheapest way is to take a train to Watford, then the free Harry Potter shuttle bus when you show your entrance ticket. A magical, unforgettable behind-the-scenes tour awaits you: the saga's iconic sets, costumes, objects and accessories, not to mention models, animatronics and special effects. And don't forget to try a glass of beer!

This magnificent fortress-like building was built as a prison in 1823, on the site of an old castle destroyed in 1409. Prisoners lived here until it was closed in 1868. Here you can learn about prison life in the 19th century and the history of the convicts who had to endure it. Some claimed that it was the most comfortable penitentiary in Scotland... In its centre, the small historical museum tells the story of the town's past, its people and its traditions.

Moat Brae is the birthplace of Peter Pan... We'd like to write that all is said and done! Opened in 2019, it is the national centre for children's literature and children's stories: a place where imagination is the queen of virtues, where creativity and play are at the heart of everything. The place celebrates Peter Pan and his creator, J.M. Barrie. You will explore Neverland's garden with its pirate ship and Mermaid Lagoon, see the Tinkerbell fairy who inspired the fairy tale. Animations and exhibitions are regularly organised.

Did you know that the London Underground runs under the foundations of buildings and not under the streets, as in Paris for example? This explains why many escalators are used to access the underground platforms. London Underground is the first train to be built underground. 2 million people use the London Underground every day and thousands scatter in the famous red buses. London's transport network is therefore a key issue, as Londoners will confirm. From the oldest subways in the world to the mythical buses, relive the history of these inventions. At the beginning of the visit, you take the elevator back to London in the 1800s, instead of the floors, the latter indicates the years you go back up. And then the route is chronological. A true journey back in time! It is an ideal museum with children. Very interactive: we get on the old buses, we sit in the old subway cars. A feminist approach is also developed throughout the museum with small panels evoking the place of women in the evolution of London's transport system by period. The problems related to transport and urban development are well addressed. Another very successful museum with reconstructions, models, clear panels for all ages. Throughout the museum, the seats are covered with the fabrics that decorate the metro lines and even the walls of the toilets take up the pattern of the different lines.

The Fitzwilliam museum is the art museum of Cambridge University, founded in 1848 by the great collector Richard Fitzwilliam. It takes the form of a neoclassical temple. It is a real little Louvre on its own: Egyptian, Roman, Greek rooms; Italian and Venetian paintings with paintings of Titian or Veronese; 17th century Dutch painting; self-portrait of Rembrandt; landscapes of Van Gogh; 16th and 17th century Flemish painting (Van Dyck, Van Heemskerck, Brueghel le Jeune, Tristan).

With a wealth of permanent collections dedicated to fine arts, contemporary art and decorative arts, the Cardiff National Museum also offers the opportunity to explore the country through its natural history. The visit is a real delight for young and old alike. And free admission is a good argument for wasting a few hours, especially if the weather is rainy.

National Museum of Natural History. On the ground floor is a spectacular botanical, zoological and geological department. Reconstituted natural landscapes, stuffed animals, herbaria and interactive maps show the genesis of the Welsh landscape. The huge skeleton of a humpback whale and the world's largest leatherback turtle will impress the whole family.

National Museum of Art. On the ^first floor, the National Museum of Cardiff also stands out for its very rich collection of works of art from all over the world. The Italian school is well represented, with Botticelli or Tiepolo. Then came Richard Wilson, Thomas Jones and Sir William Goscombe John for the local stamp. Finally, an interesting impressionist collection: Landscape in Auvers under the rain of Van Gogh, painted a few weeks before his death, Cézanne, Les Parisiennes de Renoir, Pissaro, Sisley or even Boudin, Braque, Derain, Vlaminck, Max Ernst and Magritte testify to the eclecticism of the Conservatives' good taste.

The sculpture section is not to be outdone since a copy of Rodin's Baiser and some of the sculptor's originals are on display.

Founded in 1683, it was the first museum open to the public in England. Works of art and archaeology are displayed in a light and airy building. This unjustly overlooked museum presents a fantastic panorama of the history of human civilization, with its first-rate collections and contemporary museography. On the^3rd floor, there are several paintings by the masters of Impressionism and their followers. A collection of paintings by Walter Sickert and the Camden Town Group offers a contemporary vision of English painting.

In April 1824, the House of Commons purchased the painting collection of banker John Julius Angerstein. The thirty-eight paintings destined to form the nucleus of a new national collection were initially displayed in Angerstein's house at 100 Pall Mall, which was soon deemed too small. The National Gallery moved to Trafalgar Square and opened its doors in 1838. From the outset of the project, the aim was to make these works accessible to as many people as possible, with free admission and a central location. In 1869, architect E.M. Barry took on the project of rebuilding the entire gallery: seven new exhibition rooms were opened in 1867, and the gallery continued to expand, acquiring five new galleries in 1907. The new Sainsbury wing, completed in 1991, showcases the entire Renaissance collection. The National Gallery presents over 2,300 works from the Middle Ages to the ^19th century, with the most recent pieces housed in the Tate. The rooms are organized chronologically, and feature paintings, sculptures and photographs of every iconic figure in English history, from the Middle Ages to the present day, from Henry VIII to Queen Elizabeth II, and from Michael Caine to the Beatles. The tour proceeds from top to bottom, starting with the earliest paintings, from the Tudor period on the second floor. This gallery features portraits of Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth^I and William Shakespeare. Next come portraits from the reigns of the Stuarts and Hanover in the ^17th (Charles ^I, Oliver Cromwell...) and ^18th centuries. The ^19th century also begins on the second floor (Admiral Nelson, William Blake, Jane Austen...) and continues on the second floor, with the Victorian era (Queen Victoria, Charles Dickens, the Brontë sisters...). Then comes the ^20th century (the Royal Family, Virginia Woolf, Winston Churchill...). The balcony gallery features contemporary personalities such as Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John. Other works featuring British personalities since 1900 can be found on the first floor. Last but not least, temporary exhibitions are organized on a regular basis, the program of which can be viewed on the website.

In 2023, the National Portrait Gallery finally reopened its doors after three years of renovation.

Opened in 1960, the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art is the temple of modern and contemporary art in Scotland. It consists of two buildings along Belford Road. Information is available in French and also adapted to families, with activities, installations and workshops designed specifically to introduce young audiences to art. The most "hip" or "connected" will download the dedicated free application: Smartify. By scanning the work, you will read a lot of additional information about the artist, the context of creation...

In Modern One, all the big names from the end of the 19th century to the present day are present: Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois, Damien Hirst, Douglas Gordon, Anthony Gormley and Bill Viola. The whole on two floors and 22 rooms, with a shop and a small but very popular café.

The Modern Two is dedicated to the surrealists with René Magritte, Salvador Dali or Alberto Giacometti. Another room houses a reproduction of Eduardo Paolozzi's studio and one can admire his famous Vulcan sculpture of more than 7 metres. It is also here that the temporary exhibitions (sometimes paying exhibitions, online programming) can be found, as well as a library and a second café.

The gardens between the two galleries are themselves the work of Charles Jenks and host the works of sculptors such as Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Rachel Whiteread and Nathan Coley.

This is probably the most comprehensive and fascinating museum in York. It tells the story of the city from the Georgian era to the present day, through many everyday domestic objects. Large spaces restore the typical interiors of several periods: a rich family sitting room, a small Dales farmhouse, bedrooms and dining rooms... The lives of Yorkshire people are examined with a fine-tooth comb, from baby clothes to mourning clothes to formal dresses. The highlight of the show? A Victorian reproduction of Kirkgate Street: push open the door of the chemist's, the dressmaker's, the toy shop, the confectioner's or the school... Comedians wait behind in costume to tell their job. Closer to the present time, the 1960s are announced with the first vacuum cleaners, detergents and advertisements. Music and the Beatles are in the spotlight, as well as sports, the child king and emancipation, all in a colourful aisle. A moving section pays tribute to the Poilus of the Great War. You can walk through a trench, hear the gunfire, the bombs, and discover the daily life of the time while films and speakers in uniform describe life and death on the French front lines. Some cooks even reserve two or three typical foods from the front... The tour ends with a visit to the castle's gaols, where 15,000 prisoners were incarcerated between 1705 and 1835.

The collections exhibit numerous objects discovered during archaeological excavations. They can trace the popular arts and traditions of the Saxons and the Romans in the region. Temporary exhibitions are also organized.

Located in Burlington House, an imposing building in the Palladian style, it has been home to a variety of scientific and academic institutions since it was acquired by the state in 1853. Every year, the Royal Academy hosts major touring exhibitions. The most famous is the Summer Exhibition, a major contemporary art fair that has been running for 250 years. It is the world's oldest public-submission exhibition. Anyone can submit their work. It offers visitors a comprehensive view of what's being done in the art world every year. The gallery also preserves a small permanent collection located in the John Madejski salons, most of which comes from bequests made by the Academy's own members. The most remarkable of these is the Tondo Taddei, the only Michelangelo sculpture in the UK. At the heart of the Royal Academy is the oldest art school in the country, with a reputation for training brilliant artists. In 2018, to mark its 250th anniversary, the RA inaugurated a new space designed by architect Sir David Chipperfield AR. The space has been given 70% more exhibition space. As a result, visitors can now discover more exhibitions, as well as student works and creations, in a space specially dedicated to them. Other events include performances, meetings and screenings. Visit the website.

7 km east of Dundee, in the Broughty Ferry district, is this 16th century tower that dominates the surroundings. It was built to guard the entrance to the Tay River and now houses an exhibition on the local history and that of its people, as well as the flora and fauna of the area. The whaling industry of the town is particularly well covered. The castle offers a magnificent view of the river. Make the most of your visit by taking a walk on the beach and along the esplanade of Broughty Ferry.

In a traditional 18th century thatched cottage, on the main road in the centre of the village, the past of the region and its inhabitants is told. Costumes, toys, domestic utensils and objects of all kinds - including a replica of the Ballachullish goddess, a wooden sculpture dated 600 BC. -A replica of the Ballachullish goddess, a wooden sculpture dating from 600 BC, reveals the small story, while retrospectives on the Glencoe Massacre or the Jacobite movement tell the big one. There is also an annual temporary exhibition and events scheduled throughout the year.

Established in 1860, the museum was the center for scientific studies at Oxford University. The building itself is well worth a visit, with its Gothic style and superb entrance hall. The Earth Collections feature exhibits from the Palaeontological section, with 30,000 rocks and minerals and dinosaur skeletons. The Life Collections, meanwhile, are of great zoological interest, with no fewer than 250,000 specimens of stuffed animals of all kinds.

The Orkney Museum is particularly well developed and is full of information and objects of great interest. Set up in a former Kirkwall house opposite the cathedral, its exhibition is a bit like a labyrinth, with rooms that follow one another in all directions. The contents are nonetheless very interesting and instructive, telling the history of the archipelago, from its origins to the present day, from the Stone Age, the Picts and the Vikings. It is an excellent introduction to discovering the region.

The church, in itself, is quite simple and uncluttered. In the cemetery of this church there are beautifully carved stelae and Celtic crosses. It is moreover the cemetery that attracts visitors, who admire the engraved stones, some of which are particularly old: 15th or 16th century. Some have been restored and are displayed in the church, others in a dedicated space within the cemetery and others still remain on the ground.

The neoclassical building designed by William Henry Playfair houses a collection of European paintings. First opened in 1859, it contains paintings by Gainsborough, Goya, Francis Bacon, William Blake, Vincent Van Gogh and de Vinci. On the French side, Cézanne, Monet, Delacroix and Ingres are also present. Do not miss the two famous paintings by Titian devoted to the myth of Diana and Actaeon and the series of the seven sacraments of the Church by Poussin.

This small, independent museum is housed in a former St. Nicholas fishermen's church. Opened in 1956, it focuses on the maritime and fishing history of Hastings, with photographs, paintings and period objects. Models, nets, ropes and explanations bring to life this key activity of the region. The small gift store is packed with fascinating objects such as fossils and precious stones, as well as books on local history to dig a little deeper.

In 1765, General John Guise bequeathed his collection of early artists, more than 200 paintings and 2,000 drawings, to the University of Christ Church, his former college. Oxford can thus introduce art into its courses, thus avoiding students having to go as far as Italy. The collection was then enriched by other donations. Today it has 300 paintings and many paintings of Italian art from the 14th to the 18th century with artists such as Tintoretto and Veronese.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle housed his favourite character, Sherlock Holmes, the most famous of all private detectives, at 221b Baker Street. His world, imagined by the writer, is recreated, immersing us in the Victorian era. There are three floors with three rooms, but the commentaries broadcast in the rooms are not always very audible. It's a bit pricey for what it is, and therefore more for the die-hard fans. The souvenir store on the first floor is well-stocked and may suffice if you're on a tight budget.

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 original work, created in 1999 by local artist John Kindness to mark the regeneration of the Lagan River (previously too polluted for fish to swim in), features a 10-meter-long salmon made of more or less blue ceramic and engraved with text telling the story of Belfast. Standing on the edge of the Lagan River, not far from the Albert Memorial Clock and the Customs House, the "big fish" fits perfectly into the skyline of new Belfast. A must-see if you're ever in the area.

The beautiful th century building is worth a look at itself. For the amateurs, it contains a military museum presenting the story of three British regiments: Royal Berkshire Regiment, Wiltshire Regiment and Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment, since 1743.

An American exhibition: patchwork, indigenous folk art, Massachusetts tavern, bedroom decorated with stencil, dining room of the 1830 s will lead you through the young history of the United States. The tea salon is especially valuable during the fine days. Find out about special events throughout the year at the Tourist Office.

In the heart of the botanical garden, the Ulster Museum is a superb museum not to be missed. Although walking through the museum is a bit like trying to find your way through a maze, it is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in Northern Ireland's past, in all its extraordinary diversity and richness. Glass and steel walkways allow visitors to move around the central atrium and to view some of the exhibits, as well as the museum from different angles and dimensions depending on the location and the floor they are on. Collections include archaeological pieces from the Stone Age to the late Middle Ages, Irish paintings from the 17th to the 20th century, a natural history gallery with many stuffed animals, objects from the world's cultures... The fossil of the dinosaur Edmontosaurus is undoubtedly a masterpiece, the mummy of Princess Takabuti of Thebes (the first mummy to be exhibited to the public outside of Egypt in 1835), 2,500 years old, is also a must-see and fits into the theme of life and death in ancient Egypt. The section on the Troubles will fascinate anyone who wants to know more about this terrible period. It will also prevent you from making the slightest mistake in discussing the subject during your stay. The "stop and think" panels are very well laid out and allow questions to be raised and debates to be launched. This part is organised in chronological order and offers a new vision of the conflict, different from the one relayed by the media.

The Ulster Museum is a lively and interactive museum, full of re-enactments and videos, and with many dynamic scenographies. Everyone can find an interest, a subject that fascinates them, whether it be history, art or science, and one can easily spend several hours there. One can easily spend several hours there. One can move from one era, field and century to another, like a journey through time. Everything about Northern Ireland is brought together in one place and the bridges between the subjects are particularly pleasing. After discovering the history of the country in the first floors, we discover Northern Ireland and its significant events in painting through the paintings of great masters of the country. This is a great museum to do with children, as each part of the museum has a specially designed room where they can handle objects, experiment and have fun.

Erected in the image of the former bishop's apartments that were in the same place, this establishment has as its subject the main religions throughout the world. The idea is to show their similarities and differences through the study of certain themes and the support of numerous cult objects, thus inviting more open-mindedness. There is a Zen garden, carved Islamic calligraphy, Christian stained glass windows and Hindu statues.

GoMa, as it is called in Glasgow, is the second most popular modern art gallery in Scotland, after the one in Edinburgh. We meet David Hockney, Sebastiao Salgado, Andy Warhol and Scotsmen like John Bellany and Ken Currie. The building itself dates back to 1778 and a statue faces it. It is the Duke of Wellington, on whose head a traffic cone is placed. This local tradition, which is several decades old, almost died when the town hall wanted to raise the monument. The man with the cone is one of the city's proudest.

Opened in 1996 as a rugby museum, it became the World Rugby Museum in 2007, thanks to its collection of over 25,000 objects. You can take a full tour of the stadium, and also discover the Wall of Fame, which features all the rugby stars who have played here and gone down in history. The museum is located close to Heathrow airport, making it an ideal attraction for both arrivals and departures. Exhibitions and conferences too.

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.