List of museums in Buckinghamshire Facts for Kids

A museum is a special place where amazing things from the past and present are kept and shown to the public. These can be old objects, artworks, scientific tools, or things that tell us about history. Museums help us learn about different cultures, how people lived long ago, and how the world has changed.

Buckinghamshire, a county in England, has many fantastic museums. They cover all sorts of topics, from ancient history and famous writers to old trains and secret wartime code-breaking. Let's explore some of these cool places!

Discovering Buckinghamshire's Museums
Images for kids
See also

Discovering Buckinghamshire's Museums

Buckinghamshire is home to many museums, each with its own unique story. You can find everything from grand historic houses to museums dedicated to local life and even secret wartime operations.

Historic Homes and Gardens

Many museums in Buckinghamshire are beautiful old houses that you can explore. They often show you how people lived centuries ago and have amazing gardens.

Ascott House in Ascott is a stunning old house managed by the National Trust. It was once a farmhouse but was made much grander by the wealthy Rothschild family. Inside, you can see incredible paintings, fancy furniture, and beautiful Chinese porcelain. The gardens are also lovely to walk through.
Boarstall Tower in Boarstall is a 14th-century gatehouse, which is like a fancy entrance to an old castle or manor. It's also looked after by the National Trust and has charming gardens.
Chenies Manor House in Chenies is a classic Tudor manor house with lovely gardens. It's a great place to imagine life in the time of kings and queens.
Claydon House in Middle Claydon is an 18th-century house known for its amazing Rococo style, which is a very fancy and detailed type of decoration. It's surrounded by beautiful parkland.
Cliveden in Taplow is another grand house managed by the National Trust. You can take tours of parts of the house and explore its beautiful gardens, which are filled with sculptures.
Dorney Court in Dorney is a very old Tudor manor house, one of the earliest of its kind. It also has lovely gardens to explore.
King's Head Inn, Aylesbury in Aylesbury is a medieval coaching inn, which means it was a place where travelers and their horses would stop for the night many centuries ago. It's now cared for by the National Trust.
Long Crendon Courthouse near Aylesbury is a unique 15th-century timber-framed building. It's a great example of old architecture and is also managed by the National Trust.
Nether Winchendon House in Nether Winchendon is a grand medieval manor house, full of history and charm.
Stowe House in Stowe is a huge 18th-century house that looks like a palace. It's another National Trust property with a rich history.
Waddesdon Manor in Waddesdon is a magnificent 19th-century mansion built by the Rothschild family. It's famous for its incredible collection of French art, furniture, paintings, books, and textiles.
West Wycombe Park in West Wycombe is an Italian-style mansion with beautiful decorations and gardens, also looked after by the National Trust.

Local History and Community Life

These museums focus on the history and daily life of the towns and villages in Buckinghamshire.

Amersham Museum in Amersham tells the story of the local area. You can see old toys, fossils, and learn about archaeology. It even has a garden!
Buckingham Old Gaol in Buckingham was once a prison. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about local history, see old prison cells, and discover the history of the Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry, a local army group.
Buckinghamshire County Museum in Aylesbury covers a wide range of topics, including local history, art, geology, old costumes, farming, and industry. It's also home to the amazing Roald Dahl Children's Gallery, which uses characters and stories from Roald Dahl's books to make science, history, and literature exciting for kids!
Chesham Museum in Chesham explores the history, culture, and industries of the local area.
Haddenham Museum in Haddenham focuses on the local history, culture, farming, and industries of its village.
Milton Keynes Museum in Milton Keynes tells the story of the area, including its agriculture, the history of the Wolverton railway works, and a cool collection of old telephones, switchboards, and Post Office vehicles.
Wycombe Museum in High Wycombe explores the local history and culture, especially the area's famous chair-making industry. You can see many examples of Windsor chairs, lace, and learn about natural history.

Special Interest Museums

Buckinghamshire also has museums dedicated to very specific and fascinating topics.

Bletchley Park in Bletchley (Milton Keynes) is a super important historical site. During World War II, it was the top-secret place where codebreakers worked to crack enemy codes. It also includes the National Museum of Computing and has exhibits about toys, Winston Churchill, old cinema equipment, and cars. It's a must-visit for anyone interested in spies and technology!
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in Quainton is a dream come true for train lovers! It has a fantastic collection of vintage steam and diesel locomotives that you can see up close.
Chiltern Open Air Museum in Chalfont St Giles is an outdoor museum with over 30 historic buildings that have been moved there from different parts of the region. It's like stepping back in time and walking through a real old village.
Cowper & Newton Museum in Olney is the former home of the 18th-century poet William Cowper. It also has exhibits on local history, lace-making, and the preacher John Newton.
High Wycombe Chair Making Museum in High Wycombe is all about the history of making chairs, which was a very important industry in the area.
Milton's Cottage in Chalfont St Giles was the home of the famous 17th-century poet John Milton. You can visit where he lived and wrote.
MK Gallery in Milton Keynes is a modern art gallery that shows exciting contemporary art. You can find out more on their website.
National Museum of Computing is located at Bletchley Park. It's a fantastic place to see historic computer systems and learn about how computers have changed over time. You can even see some of the earliest computers!
Pitstone Green Museum in Pitstone has a wide range of exhibits, including farming tools, country life, old trades, model railways, engines, vintage radios, and even equipment from World War II military aviation. You can visit their website for more.
Pitstone Windmill in Pitstone is an old corn-grinding windmill, also operated by the National Trust. You can learn how windmills used to work.
Quainton Windmill in Quainton is another early 19th-century tower mill, showing how wind power was used long ago.
Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden is a super fun place dedicated to the famous children's author Roald Dahl. It's located in the village where he lived and wrote many of his beloved books.
Trenchard Museum in Halton is a military history museum run by RAF Halton. It tells the story of the Royal Air Force base there.