List of museums in Kent facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Welcome to a super cool list of museums in Kent, England! Museums are special places where people collect and look after amazing objects. These objects can be about history, art, science, or different cultures. They want to share these cool collections with you! This list includes art galleries too, but not museums that are only online.

Awesome Museums to Explore in Kent

Name	Town/city	Region	Type	What You'll Find
Agricultural Museum, Brook	Brook	Ashford	Agriculture	See old farm tools, equipment, and wagons in a barn and a special building called an oast house. Check out their website!
Ashford Museum	Ashford	Ashford	Local History	Discover the history of Ashford, including old tools, rocks, and items from daily life. Visit their website.
Beaney House of Art and Knowledge	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Art & History	This museum, also called The Beaney, has art, photos, and local history exhibits.
Belmont House and Gardens	Throwley	Swale	Historic House	Explore an 18th-century Georgian house and its beautiful gardens. It has a huge collection of clocks!
Blue Town Heritage Centre	Blue Town	Swale	Local History	Learn about local history, culture, and even old music halls and cinemas. Find out more on their website.
Brattle Farm Museum	Staplehurst	Maidstone	Agriculture	This museum is open for groups by appointment. It shows historic farm equipment, old household items, and vintage cars. More info here.
Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway	Bredgar	Swale	Railway	Ride a heritage railroad and see steam trains, old carriages, and railway artifacts.
British Cartoon Archive	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Art	See a gallery of political and social cartoons from British newspapers. It's part of the University of Kent.
Canterbury Heritage Museum	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Local History & Culture	Discover the history and culture of Canterbury. There's even a Rupert the Bear Museum for kids!
Canterbury Roman Museum	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Archaeology	See amazing objects from Roman Britain and explore reconstructions of Roman life.
Chantry Heritage Centre	Gravesend	Gravesham	Local History	Learn about local history in a 14th-century chantry (a type of chapel). Visit their website.
Chart Gunpowder Mills	Faversham	Swale	Industry	Explore an 18th-century gunpowder factory with a watermill. It's part of the Faversham explosives industry. See their website.
Chartwell	Westerham	Sevenoaks	Historic House	This was the main home of Sir Winston Churchill. See his paintings, special items, and beautiful gardens. It's run by the National Trust.
Chatham Historic Dockyard	Chatham	Medway	Maritime	Explore three historic warships: HMS Gannet (1878), HMS Cavalier (R73), and HMS Ocelot (S17). See a Victorian rope factory and learn about life in the dockyard in 1758. There's also a museum about the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Chiddingstone Castle	Chiddingstone	Sevenoaks	History & Art	This medieval-style castle has amazing collections, including Egyptian and Buddhist items, Japanese armour, and Jacobean paintings. Don't miss the gardens!
Chillenden Windmill	Chillenden	Dover	Mill	See a reconstructed windmill from the mid-19th century.
C M Booth Motor Museum	Rolvenden	Ashford	Transportation	This museum has a collection of Morgan Motor Company three-wheel cars, bicycles, and car memorabilia. Visit their website.
Colonel Stephens Railway Museum	Tenterden	Ashford	Railway	Learn about Colonel H. F. Stephens, who managed the Kent and East Sussex Railway. See railway equipment and special items.
Court Hall Museum	Milton Regis	Swale	Local History	This museum, currently closed, focuses on local history and archaeology. Check their website for updates.
Crabble Corn Mill	River	Dover	Mill	Explore a Georgian and Victorian watermill.
Crampton Tower Museum	Broadstairs	Thanet	Local History & Transport	Learn about railway engineer Thomas Russell Crampton. See exhibits on local railways, electric trams, road transport, and model railways. Visit their website.
Cranbrook Museum	Cranbrook	Tunbridge Wells	Local History	Discover local history, rural life items, toys, costumes, and art. See their website.
Dartford Borough Museum	Dartford	Dartford	Local History	Explore the history and culture of Dartford, including items from Roman Britain, Anglo-Saxon, Norman, and medieval times. More info here.
Deal Castle	Deal	Dover	Military History	This castle, run by English Heritage, is one of Henry VIII's old forts.
Deal Maritime & Local History Museum	Deal	Dover	Maritime & Local History	Learn about Deal's local history and its connection to the sea. Check their website.
Deal Timeball Tower Museum	Deal	Dover	Maritime	This tower used semaphore (a signaling system) to help ships. Learn about smuggling, signaling, and how the time ball worked.
Dickens House Museum	Broadstairs	Thanet	Biographical	See items related to the famous writer Charles Dickens and other Victorian-era objects. More info here.
Dover Castle	Dover	Dover	History & Military	Run by English Heritage, this medieval castle has exhibits about its history, including Henry II of England's living quarters and secret World War II tunnels.
Dover Museum	Dover	Dover	Local History & Archaeology	Discover Dover's local history, culture, and archaeology. It's home to the famous Dover Bronze Age Boat.
Dover Transport Museum	Dover	Dover	Transportation	See cars, bicycles, buses, and other road vehicles. Explore a model railway, a 1930s garage, and old shops. Visit their website.
Draper's Windmill	Margate	Thanet	Mill	Explore a windmill from the mid-19th century.
Dungeness Lighthouse	Dungeness	Shepway	Maritime	Visit this lighthouse museum, located next to Dungeness railway station.
Dymchurch Martello Tower	Dymchurch	Shepway	Military History	This early 19th-century artillery tower is run by English Heritage.
East Kent Light Railway	Shepherdswell	Dover	Railway	Ride a heritage railway and visit a signal box visitor centre with railroad items and a model railway.
Eastgate House	Rochester	Medway	Historic House & Art	This 16th-century Elizabethan house was featured in Charles Dickens’ novel The Pickwick Papers. See Dickens' exhibits and changing art and history displays.
Eden Valley Museum	Edenbridge	Sevenoaks	Local History	Learn about local history, including a medieval room, blacksmith tools, and how cricket balls were made.
Elham Valley Line Trust Countryside Centre & Railway Museum	Peene	Shepway	Railway	Discover the history of the Elham Valley Railway. See railway items, local history, and a model railway of the Channel Tunnel. Visit their website.
Finchcocks	Goudhurst	Tunbridge Wells	Music	This early Georgian manor house has a collection of historical keyboard instruments.
Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre	Faversham	Swale	Local History & Culture	Learn about local history, the explosives industry, and the history of Faversham Abbey. See a Victorian schoolroom, kitchen, and old shop displays. Check their Website.
Fort Amherst	Chatham	Medway	Military History	Explore an 18th-century fort that's being restored. It has a World War II exhibit and hosts historical re-enactments.
Godinton House	Ashford	Ashford	Historic House	Visit this Jacobean house with a medieval hall and beautiful gardens.
Gravesend's Cold War Bunker	Gravesend	Gravesham	Military History	Explore a 1950s underground nuclear bunker and command center from the Cold War. More info on their website.
Guildhall Museum, Rochester	Rochester, Kent	Medway	Local History & Art	Discover local history, culture, and a Victorian drawing room and kitchen. See exhibits on Charles Dickens and old agricultural engines.
Herne Windmill	Herne	City of Canterbury	Mill	See a windmill from the late 18th century.
Herne Bay Museum and Gallery	Herne Bay	City of Canterbury	Local History & Art	Learn about local history, culture, archaeology, rocks, old fossils, and art.
Hever Castle	Hever	Sevenoaks	Historic House	This medieval country house was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Explore exhibits from different historical periods, old furnishings, and the castle's history.
Hop Farm Country Park	Beltring	Tonbridge and Malling	History & Agriculture	Visit Yesterday's Village, a recreated old village with shops and items. The Hop Farm Museum has oast houses and shows how hops (used in beer) are grown.
Hythe Library and Museum	Hythe		Local History	This library also has a museum focused on local history. Find more info here and here.
Ightham Mote	Ightham	Tonbridge and Malling	Historic House	This medieval moated manor house and its gardens are run by the National Trust.
Kent & Sharpshooters Yeomanry Museum	Hever	Sevenoaks	Military History	Located at Hever Castle, this museum shows the history and items of the Kent and Sharpshooters Yeomanry (a military group). See their website.
Kent Battle of Britain Museum	Hawkinge	Shepway	Military Aviation	Learn about the history of RAF Hawkinge and the Battle of Britain. See World War II aircraft.
Kent Life	Sandling	Maidstone	Open Air Museum	This 28-acre heritage farm has historic houses, farm buildings, and village buildings.
Kent Museum of Freemasonry	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Masonic History	Explore the history of Freemasonry through paintings, glassware, and special clothing.
Kent Police Museum	Chatham	Medway	Law Enforcement	Learn about the history of the Kent County Constabulary (the local police force).
Killick's Mill	Meopham	Gravesham	Mill	See a windmill from the early 19th century.
Knole House	Sevenoaks	Sevenoaks	Historic House	This 17th-century country house, run by the National Trust, was the childhood home of Vita Sackville-West. It has rare furniture and important paintings.
Lashenden Air Warfare Museum	Headcorn	Maidstone	Aviation	Located at Lashenden (Headcorn) Airfield, this museum focuses on military aircraft and aviation history.
Leeds Castle	Leeds	Maidstone	Historic House	This former royal palace dates back to the 12th century. Explore furnished rooms, a moat, an aviary, a maze, and a unique dog collar museum.
Lullingstone Castle	Lullingstone	Sevenoaks	Historic House	Visit this medieval manor house and its beautiful gardens.
Lullingstone Roman Villa	Eynsford	Sevenoaks	Archaeology	Run by English Heritage, this site shows excavated Roman villa artifacts.
Lydd Town Museum	Lydd	Shepway	Local History	Learn about the local history of Lydd. More info here.
Maidstone Museum & Art Gallery	Maidstone	Maidstone	Multiple	Discover local history, natural history, rocks, archaeology, art, Ancient Egyptian items, costumes, and Japanese art. It also houses the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum.
Maison Dieu	Faversham	Swale	Archaeology	Run by English Heritage, this 13th-century hospital houses Roman artifacts from the area.
Margate Museum	Margate	Thanet	Local History	Learn about Margate's local history and culture. It's located in an old Victorian police station. Visit their website.
Mascalls Gallery	Paddock Wood	Tunbridge Wells	Art	See national and international art exhibits here.
Minster Abbey Gatehouse Museum	Minster	Swale	Local History	Discover local history and culture. Check their website.
New Hall Museum	Dymchurch	Shepway	Local History	Learn about local history. More info here.
New Mill	Willesborough	Ashford	Mill	This mid-19th-century windmill also houses the Norman Museum.
Norman Museum	Willesborough	Ashford	Transportation	See mopeds, motorcycles, and bicycles made by Norman Cycles. It's located at New Mill.
New Romney Old School House	New Romney	Shepway	Local History	Learn about local history. More info here.
New Tavern Fort	Gravesend	Gravesham	Military History	Explore the remains of an 18th-century fort, old guns, and World War II displays.
Old Brook Pumping Station	Chatham	Medway	Technology	See a 1920s pumping station with two diesel engines and exhibits of old industrial equipment.
Old Soar Manor	Borough Green	Tonbridge and Malling	Historic House	Run by English Heritage, this is a small 13th-century stone manor house.
Otford Heritage Centre	Otford	Sevenoaks	Local History	Learn about local history. More info here.
Owletts	Cobham	Gravesham	Historic House	This Charles II house and garden, run by the National Trust, was the home of architect Sir Herbert Baker.
Penshurst Place	Penshurst	Sevenoaks	Historic House	Explore a medieval mansion and its gardens. See state rooms, tapestries, old weapons, and a toy museum.
Powell-Cotton Museum	Birchington-on-Sea	Thanet	Multiple	Visit Quex House, a 19th-century home. The museum has wildlife dioramas, African cultural objects, old weapons, and porcelain from China and Europe.
Princess of Wales Royal Regiment Museum	Dover	Dover	Military History	Located in Dover Castle, this museum displays uniforms, weapons, and items from the regiment.
Quebec House	Westerham	Sevenoaks	Historic House	This house, run by the National Trust, was the childhood home of General James Wolfe. Learn about his life and the Battle of Quebec (1759).
Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment Museum	Maidstone	Maidstone	Military History	This museum is located inside the Maidstone Museum & Art Gallery.
Queenborough Guildhall Museum	Queenborough	Swale	Local History	Learn about local history, culture, industry, and maritime heritage. Visit their website.
RAF Manston History Museum	Manston	Thanet	Aviation	Discover the history of RAF Manston (a Royal Air Force station) since 1916. See their website.
Ramsgate Maritime Museum	Ramsgate	Thanet	Maritime	Explore the maritime history of East Kent, including the harbour, navigation, fishing, lifeboats, and shipwrecks.
Restoration House	Rochester, Kent	Medway	Historic House	This Elizabethan mansion and garden is where King Charles II stayed in 1660 on his way to become king again.
Rochester Art Gallery and Craft Case	Rochester	Medway	Art	See changing exhibits of fine art, craft, and design. Check their website.
Roman Painted House	Dover	Dover	Archaeology	See the excavated remains of a Roman mansio (a large Roman house) and artifacts.
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway	New Romney	Shepway	Railway	Visit the headquarters of this heritage railway at New Romney railway station. See engine sheds and a model train museum.
Romney Marsh Wartime Collection	Brenzett	Shepway	Military History	Learn about the history of RAF Brenzett. See parts recovered from crashed aircraft, World War II planes, and military equipment. Visit their website.
Royal Engineers Museum	Gillingham	Medway	Military History	Discover the history of the Corps of Royal Engineers and British military engineering.
Rupert Bear Museum	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Children's Literature	This museum about Rupert the Bear is especially for children. It's part of the Museum of Canterbury.
Salomons Museum	Southborough	Tunbridge Wells	Historic House	This country house belonged to Sir David Salomons, the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London, and his nephew, Sir David Lionel Salomons, a scientist.
Sandwich Guildhall Museum	Sandwich	Dover	Local History	Learn about the local history of Sandwich. See their website.
Sarre Windmill	Sarre	Thanet	Mill	Explore a windmill from the early 19th century.
Scotney Castle	Lamberhurst	Tunbridge Wells	Historic House	Run by the National Trust, this site has a 19th-century Elizabethan-style house, medieval castle ruins, and formal gardens.
Sevenoaks Museum	Sevenoaks	Sevenoaks	Local History	Part of the Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope, this museum covers local history and culture. More info on their website.
Sheerness Heritage Centre	Sittingbourne	Swale	Local History	Learn about local history and see 19th-century rooms. More info here.
Shoreham Aircraft Museum	Shoreham	Sevenoaks	Aviation	Focuses on military aviation in World War II. See parts from crashed RAF and Luftwaffe aircraft.
Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway	Sittingbourne	Swale	Railway	Ride a narrow-gauge heritage railway from Sittingbourne to The Swale river.
Sittingbourne Heritage Museum	Sittingbourne	Swale	Local History	Discover local history and archaeology. Visit their website.
Six Poor Travellers House	Rochester, Kent	Medway	Historic House	This 16th-century charity house has restored Elizabethan bedrooms. It inspired Charles Dickens' short story, The Seven Poor Travellers.
Smallhythe Place	Small Hythe	Ashford	Historic House	Run by the National Trust, this 16th-century house was home to actress Ellen Terry. See her theatrical costumes and learn about local shipbuilding.
South Foreland Lighthouse	Dover	Dover	Maritime	Run by the National Trust, this was the first lighthouse powered by electricity and the site of the first international radio message.
Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Museum	Manston	Thanet	Aviation	Learn about World War II military pilots and aircraft. See aviation items. Visit their website.
St Augustine's Abbey	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Religious History	Run by English Heritage, see the remains and museum about this 7th-century Benedictine abbey.
St Margaret's Museum	St Margaret's Bay	Dover	Local History	Learn about local history and the environment.
Stelling Minnis Windmill and Museum	Stelling Minnis	Shepway	Mill	This mid-19th-century windmill is also known as Davison's Mill.
Stocks Mill	Wittersham	Ashford	Mill	Explore an 18th-century windmill.
Stoneacre	Otham	Maidstone	Historic House	Run by the National Trust, this is a 15th-century half-timbered house.
Swanton Mill	Mersham	Ashford	Mill	This weather-boarded watermill is still in working order. More info here and here.
Teapot Island	Yalding	Maidstone	Art	See a huge collection of over 3500 ceramic teapots!
Temple Manor	Strood	Medway	Historic House	This 13th-century house belonged to the Knights Templar and has additions from the 17th century.
Tenterden Museum	Tenterden	Ashford	Local History	Discover local history, maritime heritage, a Victorian room, and learn about hops growing. Visit their website.
The Canterbury Tales	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	History	Experience the famous Canterbury Tales with audio tours.
Tonbridge Castle	Tonbridge	Tonbridge and Malling	History	Explore this castle with medieval rooms and audio tours.
Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery	Royal Tunbridge Wells	Tunbridge Wells	Multiple	Learn about local history, see toys, costumes, Tunbridge ware (a type of wooden mosaic), natural history, and art. Check their website.
Turner Contemporary	Margate	Thanet	Art	This visual arts centre has exhibitions of modern and historical art, plus events.
Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages	Maidstone	Maidstone	Transportation	See a collection of horse-drawn vehicles and other interesting transport items.
Union Mill	Cranbrook	Tunbridge Wells	Mill	Explore a windmill from the early 19th century.
Upnor Castle	Upnor	Medway	Military History	Run by English Heritage, this is an Elizabethan artillery fort.
Walmer Castle and Gardens	Walmer	Dover	Historic House	Built by Henry VIII as a fort, it later became a home. Run by English Heritage, it has exhibits about the Duke of Wellington and beautiful gardens.
Walpole Bay Hotel & Museum	Margate	Thanet	History	This 1914 hotel has displays of old hotel items, its history, fossils, and old glass. Visit their website.
Westenhanger Castle	Westenhanger	Shepway	Historic House	This medieval castle is being restored. It has a replica of the ship Discovery, which helped start the first English colony in America.
West Gate Towers	Canterbury	City of Canterbury	Military History	See old weapons from the English Civil War to World War II, plus original prison cells.
White Mill Rural Heritage Centre	Sandwich	Dover	Mill & Rural Life	This centre has a mid-18th-century windmill, an early 20th-century miller's cottage, old farming tools, and workshops for wheelwrights and blacksmiths.
Whitstable Museum and Gallery	Whitstable	City of Canterbury	Local History & Art	Learn about local history, the maritime heritage of oysters, diving, and shipping. Also see natural history and art.
Woodchurch Mill	Woodchurch	Ashford	Windmill	Explore a windmill from the early 19th century.
Woodchurch Village Life Museum	Woodchurch	Ashford	Local History	Discover local history, old rural life items, culture, and information about old jobs. Visit their website.