The best museums England

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.

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!

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In a beautiful listed building, this collection gathers works from the Renaissance, several of which are Gainsborough. Paintings, porcelain and sculptures are present in particular and were gathered by Sir William Holburne. Temporary pay exhibitions are also available.

The Russell-Cotes family moved to Bournemouth to take advantage of the climate and, in love with the area, built this authentic house with its breathtaking water views. It houses a fine art gallery featuring Victorian paintings and oriental objects. Its intimate atmosphere, interesting collections, period-style decor and gardens make it a must-see in the city. In fine weather, enjoy a cup of tea on the terrace.

The reputation of this place, comes from its important collection of paintings from the "Newlyn School", an artistic movement that developed in the region in the 19th century. Today, the site is home to a museum and an art gallery. Temporary exhibits are on the ground floor and the museum is surrounded by Penlee Memorial Park. It also houses a department of archaeology, costumes and textiles, decorative arts and photography, all related to the town. Temporary exhibitions are held there regularly.

Set in the house of the Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, the museum recounts the life and career of the artist, one of the pioneers of photography in the th century. Temporary exhibitions are also organized.

In the vicinity of Freshwater, bathers will enjoy the beautiful sandy beaches.

Temporary exhibitions are dedicated to renowned English stylists. A museum of accessories presents fabrics and lace. The Birth Gallery has been offering a children's museum since the beginning of Victorian times: dolls with their home and wardrobe, as well as a Teddy Bears collection, the famous English teddy bears. Mothers can drive their sick daughter at Dolls Hospital, dolls hospital where they will find advice from specialists.

For all those who appreciate the composer of The Planets, Gustav Holst (1874-1934), they will find here his home, life and complete works. It is an interesting place to experience the atmosphere of a house in Victorian times, the place acts like a time machine and here we are in the 19th century. Don't miss the Victorian kitchen still in working order. Musical events are celebrated in honour of the musician according to different themes throughout the year, please consult the programming if you are interested.

A museum has been dedicated to local fame: Julian, a mystic writer (1342-1429) who still has a few faithful.

Barbara Hepworth is one of the great names in British abstract sculpture. She worked with Henri Moore, Picasso, Mondrian... She lived in St Ives from 1949 until her death in 1975. Her studio has been preserved as it was at the time, and the museum, consisting of two rooms and a graceful garden, exhibits some of her sculptures in wood, stone or bronze. It is in the latter that the artist's greatest works are housed, between forms and volumes, animal and vegetal.

In this typical cottage you can buy typical souvenirs and discover a small museum dedicated to the village.

The story of Brixham through the ages is told in this little museum a little dusty. Learn more about the landing of William d'Orange, or Brixham's role during World War II. A room displays boat models, photos and tools, tracing the maritime history of the village.

A museum dedicated to the history of aviation and the Royal Air Force, featuring over a hundred aircraft, seaplanes, helicopters... An impressive collection housed in the various hangars of a former airfield. Among other things, you can admire a reconstruction of the Blériot XI. There are also exhibitions of photographs, uniforms and films... In short, there's enough to keep you busy all afternoon. Don't miss the Battle of Britain Hall.

This museum covers five centuries of communication history and presents a collection of over 60,000 objects. Ideal to get an idea of the rich British postal heritage. In addition to the exhibition, a miniature train will take you on a 15-minute journey through abandoned underground tunnels: a fun, educational and interactive experience that will interest young and old alike. For those who want to know more, guided tours of the city and its postal history are also available.

The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum is dedicated to the history of cinema and pre-cinema. The museum was founded in 1994 by the filmmaker Bill Douglas and his friend Peter Jewell, and it is located on the campus of the University of Exeter. The museum contains a vast collection of items related to the history of cinema, including posters, photographs, books, magazines, props, costumes, and equipment. The collection spans the entire history of cinema, from its earliest days to contemporary.

Royal Museums Greenwich brings together the following institutions: Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and Queen's House. It is an essential part of organizing visits to Greenwich's many and unmissable museums. Their office is located within the National Maritime Museum. It is possible to buy a day ticket, a day explorer, which includes otherwise paid tickets to the Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory and audio guides, cheaper online. It is also possible to book guided tours.

The Oxfordshire Museum's permanent collection traces the history of the town and surrounding area, as well as its period crafts. This is a great visit to make with children, who are sure to appreciate the museum's practicality. It's also a good stop-off point for understanding the area before exploring it further, or if you're heading to the Cotswolds afterwards. The museum is housed in a historic mansion, Fletcher's House, and is divided into 10 galleries on a variety of subjects, from local history to art and archaeology.

This is the collection of American sociologist and writer Eric Estorick. This tiny museum with its immaculate white walls features 6 rooms of modern Italian art, mainly ^20th-century Futurist works by Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni, Gino Severini... as well as a painting by Modigliani or De Chirico. Two rooms are devoted to temporary exhibitions. A café, store and small garden complete the visit. What's more, the temporary exhibitions offer visitors a constantly evolving artistic experience.

Discover the former priory of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, with its ^12th-century crypt, church and Tudor-style portal. The mission of the Knights of St. John, like that of the Knights Templar, was to defend the Holy Land. Returning from the Crusades, the order was granted permission to establish its priory in the City, and was given extensive property holdings in what was then the suburb of Clerkenwell. Today's St John's Gate dates from 1504.

This unique museum is dedicated to fans, their history and manufacture. Housed in two Georgian-style mansions built in 1721, it features 3,500 pieces from the 4 corners of the globe, some of them priceless. Most of the fans, however, date from the ^18th and ^19th centuries, when they were widely used. Frequent temporary exhibitions punctuate the life of this adorable little museum: the fan as an advertising object since the ^19th century, fans from European royal courts, the Art Deco style, etc.

A notorious place in London, which was used as a prison between the 12th and 18th centuries. It was under the jurisdiction of the Bishops of Winchester that thieves, prostitutes, killers and bad boys of all kinds were imprisoned here under frightening conditions. Many heretics were also imprisoned, as were Catholics and Protestants who were not in conformity with the religion of the time. The museum tells this story and evokes the various tortures that were inflicted at the time. Sensitive souls, abstain.

Located under the Victorian arches of Brighton station, this museum houses almost 10,000 items related to the world of toys and childhood over more than 4,000^m2. Aimed at toy enthusiasts and younger visitors alike, it features trains dating back to 1860, dioramas and many other objects from Britain, Europe and the USA. It's the ideal activity to do with your children if the weather doesn't allow you to enjoy swimming and the beach.

Inside the museum, you'll find an appreciable variety of collections, from Art Deco and Art Nouveau objects to Spanish, Flemish and English paintings, costumes and archaeological finds. The museum also offers a rich program of temporary exhibitions. To complement the exhibits, interactive screens are installed, attracting the interest of younger visitors.

The Dulwich Picture Gallery is the oldest picture gallery in England. It was also the first public art gallery in the world, founded in 1811. Today, it hosts some of the UK's biggest exhibitions, including "Rembrant's Light". Its holdings, virtually unchanged since the early ^19th century, were created from a number of private collections. Originally assembled by the dealer Noël Desenfans, it was intended as the basis for the Royal Polish Collection. When Poland was partitioned in 1795, it was purchased by the painter Sir Francis Bourgeois, who donated 371 paintings to the museum. The museum is located in a charming old London suburb built around Alleyn's College of God's Gift, a school founded in 1619 by one of Shakespeare's earliest actors, Edward Alleyn - who made his fortune through his monopoly on bear and bull fighting. The building, the work of renowned architect and collector Sir John Soane (1811), stands opposite Dulwich Park, on the grounds of the famous Dulwich College.

The museum boasts an important collection of Dutch landscape painters, French Baroque canvases and genre paintings. One room is devoted to Gainsborough, but there are also paintings by Rembrandt, Reynolds, Rubens, Reni, Watteau, Murillo, Van Dyck, Lawrence, Canaletto, Piero de Cosimo, Raphael and Tiepolo. Workshops, concerts, readings, lectures and debates are also organized.

England is known for the beauty of its gardens; it seems logical then that a museum should be dedicated to them. Created in 1977, it aims to review the history of gardens and their creation in England and to address differences in style and influence with those of other countries. After a visit to the building to discover this history, the visit continues, of course, in the garden, a faithful reproduction of a 17th century garden, created in honour of John Tradescant, gardener of Charles I, buried here.

This fully renovated museum is dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion. Founded in 1932, it was originally housed in the communal warehouses of Woburn House in Bloomsbury. Over the years, it has amassed one of the finest collections of Jewish art in the world. In 1995, the museum moved to a more elegant Victorian building in Camden Town. Here you can admire the treasures of London's Great Synagogue, destroyed by German bombing in 1941.

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.

Freemasonry continues to intrigue non-members. The museum features a large collection of Masonic objects and materials. Some have belonged to famous Freemasons: Winston Churchill, Edward VII... The tour and bookshop provide an insight into the shared values of Freemasonry, its development from the ^18th century to the present day, and the importance of England as the cradle of the organization. A unique opportunity to learn more about this centuries-old tradition.

An important collection of objects relating to the famous Victorian writer Charles Dickens, a specialist in works for young people. In the artist's only surviving home, the museum, opened in 1925, welcomes tourists from all over the world to meet the father ofOliver Twist and Great Expectations . In this seemingly ordinary house, which is indistinguishable from the others from the street, discover paintings, original manuscripts and personal objects that retrace Dickens' life and work and plunge us into his intimacy.

A rather unusual museum, inspired by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who helped build the world's first river tunnel under the Thames (this was in 1825). The tunnel has since been flooded, but you can still go down into the original hall, some fifteen meters below ground; to do so, you have to kneel down to use the only passage available. When the weather's nice, you can enjoy a cocktail on the garden terrace. The museum also offers interesting guided tours.

This museum, which opened in 2006, showcases the very best in British cartoons, caricatures and satirical drawings from the ^18th century to the present day. No Tintin or Asterix here. The collection of 1,500 drawings focuses on British humor as we know it. Four special exhibitions are held each year. The permanent exhibitions tell the story of cartooning in all its forms, from the political satire of Hogarth to the social satire of Bateman or Pont. The store is well worth a visit.

Founded in the late 19th century, this Egyptological museum houses one of the world's largest collections of Egyptian and Sudanese archaeology. Admission is free and no reservation is necessary.