List of museums in Hampshire facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Hampshire, a county in England, is home to many amazing museums! These places are like treasure chests, collecting and looking after cool objects from history, art, science, and culture. They let everyone see these collections through exciting exhibits. Some museums even include art galleries or university collections.

This guide will help you discover some of the best museums in Hampshire, perfect for exploring and learning new things!

Discovering Hampshire's History and Culture
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Discovering Hampshire's History and Culture

Hampshire has a rich past, and its museums are fantastic places to learn all about it. From ancient times to more recent events, there's always something new to uncover.

Step Back in Time: Historic Houses and Castles

Imagine living in a grand house from hundreds of years ago! These museums let you explore what life was like for people long ago.

Explore Basing House's Tudor Past

The remains of Basing House.

At Basing House in Old Basing, you can see the remains of a huge Tudor palace. This museum shows you what life was like during the Tudor and Elizabethan times. You can also learn about the English Civil War and how this important house was eventually destroyed.

Visit Charles Dickens' Birthplace

The house where Charles Dickens was born.

In Portsmouth, you can visit the Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum. This is the house where the famous author Charles Dickens was born in 1809. It's set up to look just like it would have when he was a baby, giving you a peek into his early life.

Jane Austen's Charming Home

Jane Austen's House Museum.

If you love classic stories, head to Jane Austen's House Museum in Chawton. This 17th-century house was where the famous author Jane Austen lived and wrote some of her most well-known novels, like Mansfield Park and Emma. You can see where she found inspiration for her characters and stories.

Chawton House: A Literary Gem

Chawton House, once home to Jane Austen's brother.

Also in Chawton, Chawton House is a beautiful Elizabethan manor house. It was once home to Jane Austen's brother, Edward Austen Knight. Today, it's a library and study centre focused on early English women's writing, but you can still explore its restored rooms and gardens.

Medieval Merchant's House in Southampton

The Medieval Merchant's House.

In Southampton, the Medieval Merchant's House is a fascinating 14th-century home. It's looked after by English Heritage and shows you how a wealthy merchant might have lived in the Middle Ages.

Tudor House and Garden in Southampton

The historic Tudor House and Garden.

Also in Southampton, the Southampton Tudor House and Garden is a Tudor-style house that actually dates back to the 12th century! It's a great place to see how homes changed over hundreds of years.

The Vyne: A Grand Country House

The Vyne, a beautiful 16th-century country house.

Near Sherborne St John, The Vyne is a 16th-century country house managed by the National Trust. It's filled with amazing furniture, portraits, and art from over three centuries. The gardens are also lovely to explore.

Winchester Castle's Great Hall

The Great Hall at Winchester Castle.

In Winchester, you can visit Winchester Castle. The most famous part is the Great Hall, a huge 13th-century room where you can see the legendary King Arthur's Round Table. It's a great place to imagine knights and kings!

Highclere Castle: Downton Abbey's Home

Highclere Castle, known for its Egyptian artefacts.

Highclere Castle near Newbury is a large Elizabethan country house. You might recognise it from the TV show Downton Abbey! It also has a special collection of Egyptian artefacts from the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who helped discover Tutankhamun's tomb.

Hinton Ampner's Gardens and Art

Hinton Ampner House and its famous gardens.

Hinton Ampner near Bramdean is a country house known for its beautiful early 20th-century gardens. Inside, you'll find Georgian and Regency furniture, Italian paintings, and other lovely objects. It's cared for by the National Trust.

Mottisfont Abbey: Art and History

Mottisfont Abbey, a former priory with modern art.

Mottisfont Abbey in Mottisfont is another National Trust property. It has the Gothic remains of a 13th-century priory and a collection of 20th-century art. The gardens are also a highlight.

Stansted House: An Edwardian Estate

Stansted House, an early 20th-century country house.

On the border of Hampshire and West Sussex, Stansted House is an early 20th-century Edwardian country house with a chapel. It's a grand estate to explore.

Stratfield Saye House: Home of the Duke of Wellington

Stratfield Saye House, home of the Dukes of Wellington.

Stratfield Saye House has been the home of the Dukes of Wellington since 1817. This historic estate house features paintings and furniture, plus an exhibit of military artefacts and the history of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, the famous general.

Amazing Military and Maritime Museums

Hampshire has a strong connection to the military and the sea. These museums tell incredible stories of bravery and innovation.

Aldershot Military Museum

Aldershot Military Museum.

The Aldershot Military Museum tells the story of the British Army in Aldershot, a very important military town. You can learn about the soldiers and their lives.

The D-Day Story in Southsea

The D-Day Story museum.

In Southsea, The D-Day Story is a powerful museum about Operation Overlord, the huge D-Day landings in Normandy during World War II. It features the amazing Overlord Embroidery, which tells the story in stitches.

Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower

Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport explores the history of naval firepower, from early gunpowder to modern weapons. It's a loud and exciting look at how ships have fought battles.

Fort Nelson: A Victorian Fortress

A large mortar at Fort Nelson.

Fort Nelson near Boarhunt is a fort built in the 1860s. It's home to the incredible artillery collection of the Royal Armouries, with huge cannons and other weapons.

Hurst Castle: A Coastal Defender

Inside Hurst Castle, a Henry VIII fort.

Hurst Castle near Milford on Sea is one of Henry VIII's old coastal forts. It has a lighthouse museum, and you can see World War II gun batteries and searchlights. It's a great place to learn about coastal defence.

Museum of Army Flying

Inside the Museum of Army Flying.

The Museum of Army Flying near Stockbridge tells the history of flying in the British Army. You can see different aircraft and learn about the brave pilots who flew them.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home to famous ships.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a must-see! It's a huge maritime museum complex. You can explore famous ships like HMS Victory (Nelson's flagship) and HMS Warrior (1860). There's also the Mary Rose Museum, which houses the remains of Henry VIII's warship.

Royal Navy Submarine Museum

A Biber submarine at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum.

In Gosport, the Royal Navy Submarine Museum explores the international history of submarine development. You can even go inside a real submarine!

Southsea Castle: Another Henry VIII Fort

Southsea Castle, another of Henry VIII's forts.

Southsea Castle in Portsmouth is another one of Henry VIII's Device Forts. It's a great place to learn about coastal defence from the Tudor period.

Winchester's Military Museums

Peninsula Barracks, home to Winchester's Military Museums.

Winchester is home to a complex called Winchester's Military Museums. It includes five different museums, each focusing on a specific regiment like the King's Royal Hussars, Royal Hampshire Regiment, Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, The Gurkha Museum, and Adjutant General's Corps. It's a deep dive into British Army history.

Science, Technology, and Industry

Explore how things work and how people used to make them in these fascinating museums.

Bursledon Brickworks Museum

Bursledon Brickworks Industrial Museum.

The Bursledon Brickworks Museum in Swanwick is a Victorian brickworks with working steam engines and machinery. It's a great place to see how bricks were made long ago.

Bursledon Windmill

Bursledon Windmill.

In Bursledon, the Bursledon Windmill is an early 19th-century windmill. You can see how wind power was used to grind grain.

Eastney Beam Engine House

The impressive Eastney Beam Engine House.

The Eastney Beam Engine House in Portsmouth is a Victorian sewage pumping house. It has two huge 150-horsepower James Watt & Co. beam engines. It's amazing to see these giant machines in action.

Eling Tide Mill

The machinery inside Eling Tide Mill.

The Eling Tide Mill in Eling is a tide-driven watermill that dates back to the Middle Ages. It uses the power of the tides to grind flour, a very clever old technology.

Whitchurch Silk Mill

Whitchurch Silk Mill.

The Whitchurch Silk Mill is a former textile mill with a working waterwheel. You can see how silk was made using traditional methods.

Winchester Science Centre

Inside the Winchester Science Centre.

The Winchester Science Centre is a hands-on, interactive science and technology centre. It also has a planetarium where you can explore the stars and planets. It's a fun place to learn by doing!

Twyford Waterworks

Twyford Waterworks.

Twyford Waterworks is a former pumping station and waterworks with working steam engines and a narrow-gauge railway. It shows how water was supplied to towns in the past.

Transportation and Vehicles

If you love cars, planes, and other machines that move, these museums are for you!

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum.

The Farnborough Air Sciences Trust Museum in Farnborough is all about aviation. You can see historic aircraft, jet engines, and even research models of the Concorde. They also have a working wind tunnel!

Hovercraft Museum

The SRN4 Hovercraft 'The Princess Margaret'.

The Hovercraft Museum in Lee-on-the-Solent is dedicated to hovercraft vehicles. You can see these amazing machines that travel on a cushion of air.

National Motor Museum, Beaulieu

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu is a dream for car enthusiasts. It has a huge collection of automobiles and motorcycles, a 1930s garage, and lots of motoring history. You can also see vehicles from Top Gear and James Bond movies!

Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum

A motorcycle at the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum.

The Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum in New Milton has a fantastic collection of restored motorcycles. It's a great place to see the history of two-wheeled transport.

Solent Sky

Solent Sky in Southampton focuses on the history of aviation in Southampton and the Solent area. It has a special focus on the Supermarine aircraft company, which built the famous Spitfire.

Unique and Living History Museums

Some museums offer experiences that are a bit different, letting you step right into another time or place.

Butser Ancient Farm

Butser Ancient Farm.

Butser Ancient Farm near Petersfield is a working replica of an Iron Age farmstead. You can see simulated pre-Roman roundhouses and even a Roman villa. It's a great way to experience ancient life.

Little Woodham: A 17th-Century Village

Little Woodham, a recreated 17th-century village.

Little Woodham in Rowner is a recreated mid-17th-century rural village. You can see what life was like for people living in England during that period.

Manor Farm Country Park

Manor Farm Country Park in Bursledon has a Victorian period farmstead. You can explore a schoolroom, a wheelwright's shop, a blacksmith's forge, and a 13th-century church.

Milestones Museum: Victorian and 1930s Streets

A recreated street scene at Milestones Museum.

Milestones Museum in Basingstoke has recreated covered streets from the Victorian era and the 1930s. You can walk through old shops, see a farm, and check out historic vehicles.

Rockbourne Roman Villa

The Roman Villa at Rockbourne.

The Rockbourne Roman Villa and Museum in Rockbourne features an excavated Roman villa and a museum with artefacts found there. It's a direct link to Roman life in Britain.

Art and Culture Galleries

Hampshire also has places where you can admire beautiful artworks and learn about local culture.

Allen Gallery

The Allen Gallery in Alton is an art museum known for its collection of English, continental, and oriental pottery, porcelain, and tiles.

Aspex Gallery

Aspex Gallery in Portsmouth is a contemporary art gallery located in Gunwharf Quays. It showcases modern art.

Bargate Monument Gallery

The Bargate Monument Gallery.

The Bargate Monument Gallery in Southampton is another contemporary art gallery.

Flora Twort Gallery

The Flora Twort Gallery.

The Flora Twort Gallery in Petersfield features works by local artist Flora Twort, historic costumes, and changing exhibits of local art.

John Hansard Gallery

The John Hansard Gallery in Southampton is part of the University of Southampton and focuses on contemporary visual art.

Sandham Memorial Chapel

Sandham Memorial Chapel.

The Sandham Memorial Chapel near Burghclere is managed by the National Trust. It's special because it features large paintings by the acclaimed artist Stanley Spencer that show his experiences in World War I.

Southampton City Art Gallery

Southampton City Art Gallery.

The Southampton City Art Gallery has a collection that covers six centuries of European art history.

Other Interesting Museums

Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age

Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age.

The Andover Museum and Museum of the Iron Age in Andover covers local history, natural history, and archaeology. The Museum of the Iron Age part focuses on artefacts and recreations from the Danbury hill fort.

Beaulieu Estate

Beaulieu is a large estate that includes several attractions. You can visit Beaulieu Abbey (remains of a 13th-century abbey), Beaulieu Palace House (a historic house), and the National Motor Museum. There's also a World of Top Gear exhibit and a James Bond Experience.

Breamore House

Breamore House.

Breamore House is an Elizabethan manor house known for its paintings and furniture. It also has the Breamore Countryside Museum with open-air shops, homes, and steam-powered farm machinery.

Buckler's Hard

Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum.

Buckler's Hard is an 18th-century Georgian village. It includes a maritime museum, historic cottage displays, and information about shipbuilding history, including connections to Admiral Horatio Nelson.

Cumberland House Natural History Museum

Cumberland House Natural History Museum.

The Cumberland House Natural History Museum in Southsea, also known as Portsmouth Natural History Museum, shows you the wildlife found in local areas like riverbanks, marshes, and woods. It also has geology displays and a seasonal butterfly house.

Gilbert White's House

Gilbert White's House.

Gilbert White's House in Selborne was the home and garden of the 18th-century naturalist Gilbert White. It also has the Oates Collections, which are about the Antarctic explorer Lawrence Oates and his uncle Frank Oates.

Hollycombe Steam Collection

A steam engine at Hollycombe Steam Collection.

The Hollycombe Steam Collection in Liphook has a collection of steam-powered vehicles, fairground rides, a display farm, and three railways. It's a fun place to experience the power of steam!

New Forest Centre

The New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst includes the New Forest Museum. Here, you can learn about the local history, natural history, culture, and forestry of the beautiful New Forest Park.

Petersfield Museum

Petersfield Museum.

The Petersfield Museum focuses on the local history and culture of Petersfield.

Portchester Castle

Portchester Castle.

Portchester Castle in Portchester is a medieval castle that was also a Roman fort. It's operated by English Heritage and has exhibits about its long history and recovered artefacts.

Portsmouth City Museum

Portsmouth City Museum.

The Portsmouth City Museum covers local history, culture, and has period room displays. It also has exhibits about the life of author Arthur Conan Doyle and the creation of Sherlock Holmes.

SeaCity Museum

SeaCity Museum.

The SeaCity Museum in Southampton covers local history and archaeology. It has a very popular permanent exhibition about the Titanic, which sailed from Southampton.

The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre

The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre.

The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre in Havant is an arts centre that also has exhibits on local history and culture.

St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery

St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery in Lymington focuses on local and coastal maritime history, including stories of smugglers, salt makers, and boat builders. It also has an art gallery.

Westgate Museum

The Westgate Museum in Winchester.

The Westgate Museum in Winchester is a fortified medieval gateway to the city. It was later used as a prison and has a collection of old weights and measures.