List of museums in Norfolk facts for kids

Norfolk is a county in England with many amazing museums! These places are like treasure chests, collecting and taking care of cool objects. They show us things about history, art, science, and how people used to live. You can find everything from old trains to ancient houses.

Many of these museums are part of a group called Museums Norfolk. This group helps museums work together and share information. You can find out more about them, including when they are open, on their website.

Discovering Norfolk's Museums

Norfolk has lots of different museums. Let's explore some of the exciting places you can visit!

Military and Aviation Museums

These museums are perfect for learning about wars, planes, and brave soldiers.

100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum

Located in Thorpe Abbotts, this museum tells the story of the 100th Bomb Group. This group was a team of airmen who flew planes during World War II. You can learn about their missions and see how they lived at RAF Thorpe Abbotts.

City of Norwich Aviation Museum

At Horsham St Faith, this museum is all about planes! You can see military and civilian aircraft. It also shares the history of flying in Norfolk. It's a great place for anyone who loves planes.

Muckleburgh Collection

Near Weybourne, this huge collection has tanks, military vehicles, and weapons. You can learn about the history of RAF Weybourne and see models of ships. It's like stepping onto a battlefield!

Norfolk Tank Museum

In Forncett, this museum shows off military items from the Cold War. You can see big tanks, armored vehicles, and old uniforms. It's a fascinating look at modern military history.

RAF Air Defence Radar Museum

This museum is at RAF Neatishead in Horning. It teaches you about how radar was used to protect the skies. You can discover its role in World War II and the Cold War.

RNLI Henry Blogg Museum

This museum in Cromer celebrates the brave lifeboat crews. It focuses on their most famous leader, Henry Blogg. He was a legendary coxswain who saved many lives at sea.

Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum

Located in Norwich Castle, this museum displays items from the Royal Norfolk Regiment. You can see uniforms, medals, and other objects. They tell the stories of the soldiers who served.

Seething Control Tower Museum

At Seething Airfield, this museum shares the history of the 448th Fighter-Bomber Group. They were based here during World War II. You can explore the old control tower.

Historic Homes and Castles

Step back in time and explore grand houses and ancient castles.

Ancient House, Thetford

This Thetford museum is a beautiful Tudor merchant's house. You can see how people lived long ago. It has rooms set up to look like they did in different historical periods.

Blickling Hall, Gardens and Park

Operated by the National Trust, Blickling Hall is a stunning Jacobean house. It shows four centuries of history. There's even a small museum about its use during World War II.

Castle Acre Priory

Run by English Heritage, this site in Castle Acre has the remains of a medieval priory. You can learn about the history of this religious building. It's a great place to imagine life hundreds of years ago.

Clifton House, King's Lynn

In King's Lynn, this merchant's house has historic rooms from the 13th to the 18th centuries. It also features a tall Elizabethan tower. It's like walking through different time periods.

Elizabethan House Museum

This museum in Great Yarmouth shows how homes changed over time. It reflects different periods, from the Elizabethan era to Victorian times.

Felbrigg Hall

Another National Trust property, Felbrigg Hall is a 17th-century country house. It has a beautiful exterior and amazing Georgian rooms inside.

Great Yarmouth Row Houses

These early 17th-century merchants' houses in Great Yarmouth are managed by English Heritage. They were later divided into smaller homes. You can see how many people lived in these historic buildings.

Holkham Hall

Holkham Hall is an 18th-century country house with fancy rooms and walled gardens. It also has a "Bygones Museum" with old toys, tools, and vintage cars. You can learn about farming history too.

Houghton Hall

This 18th-century house in Harpley was built for Sir Robert Walpole. He was Britain's first Prime Minister! It's a stunning example of Palladian architecture.

Norwich Castle

Norwich Castle offers tours of its castle, dungeon, and battlements. It has exhibits of art, costumes, jewelry, and ancient artifacts. You can also see items from Ancient Egypt and Viking times.

Oxburgh Hall

This 15th-century moated country house in Oxborough is run by the National Trust. It's a fantastic place to see how people lived in medieval times.

Sandringham Estate

Sandringham House is a private home of the British Royal Family. You can visit the late 19th-century house and the Sandringham Museum. The museum has royal gifts, vehicles, and photos.

Strangers' Hall

In Norwich, Strangers' Hall has rooms set up from the Tudor and Stuart periods. It's a great way to see how homes looked centuries ago.

Industrial and Technology Museums

Explore the world of machines, engines, and how things were made.

Barton House Railway

This museum in Wroxham has a miniature heritage railway. You can see old train items and learn about the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway.

Bressingham Steam & Gardens

At Bressingham, you can see amazing steam railway engines, tractors, and other vehicles. It's a paradise for anyone who loves big machines!

Caister Castle Motor Museum

Caister Castle Motor Museum in Caister-on-Sea has a collection of old and rare cars and motorcycles. You can also see bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles.

Charles Burrell Museum

In Thetford, this museum is about Charles Burrell & Sons. They made huge traction engines and farm machinery. It's a look into the industrial past.

County School Station

This World War II-era station in North Elmham is part of the Mid-Norfolk Railway. It's a museum that shows what train travel was like during the war.

Denver Windmill

The Denver Windmill in Denver is an early 19th-century restored windmill. It's a great example of old technology.

Fakenham Museum of Gas and Local History

This museum in Fakenham used to be a gasworks. It shows how gas was made from coal. You can see old gas-powered lights, heaters, and cooking equipment.

Forncett Industrial Steam Museum

In Forncett, this museum has a collection of huge stationary steam engines. These powerful machines were used in factories long ago.

Great Bircham Windmill

Great Bircham Windmill is a mid-19th-century windmill. It's a wonderful place to see how wind power was used to grind grain.

Green Britain Centre

The Green Britain Centre in Swaffham teaches about green energy. You can learn about solar and wind power, and eco-friendly transport.

Gunton Sawmill

Located in Erpingham, this is a preserved sawmill that still works! It's a great example of old industrial machinery.

Horsey Windpump

Operated by the National Trust, Horsey Windpump is a drainage windmill. It was used to pump water away from the land.

Letheringsett Watermill

This working watermill in Letheringsett with Glandford dates back to the early 19th century. You can see how water power was used to mill flour.

Mid-Norfolk Railway

The Mid-Norfolk Railway has its headquarters and a museum in Dereham. It's a heritage railway where you can experience old train journeys.

Stow Mill

Stow Mill in Paston is an early 19th-century windmill. It stands tall and shows the history of wind power.

Strumpshaw Hall Steam Museum

At Strumpshaw, this museum has a collection of steam traction engines, rollers, and wagons. It's a noisy and exciting place for steam lovers!

Thursford Collection

The Thursford Collection in Thursford features steam engines, organs, and old fairground rides. It's a fun and lively museum.

Wind Energy Museum

In Repps with Bastwick, this museum is dedicated to windmills. You can learn all about how wind power has been used throughout history.

Wymondham Station

Wymondham Station has a collection of railway memorabilia. It's a great place to see old train items and learn about railway history.

Local History and Culture Museums

These museums tell the stories of Norfolk's towns, people, and unique traditions.

Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum

In East Dereham, this museum explores local history and archaeology. It's run by the Dereham Antiquarian Society.

Burston Strike School

Burston Strike School in Burston was the center of a very long strike. It lasted from 1914 to 1939! This museum tells the story of this important event in education history.

Colman's Mustard Shop and Museum

This unique museum in Norwich is all about Colman's mustard. You can see lots of old mustard items and learn about its history.

Cromer Museum

In Cromer, this museum covers local history, culture, and geology. It has a display of a Victorian fisherman's cottage.

Custom House, King's Lynn

Custom House, King's Lynn has exhibits about merchants, customs officers, and smugglers. It also features famous figures like Horatio Nelson.

Dad's Army Museum

The Dad's Army Museum in Thetford is all about the famous TV show "Dad's Army." It shows how the show is linked to Thetford.

Diss Museum

Diss Museum tells the local history of the town.

Fishermen's Heritage Centre

In Sheringham, this center focuses on Sheringham's private lifeboats. It tells the stories of the brave fishermen who crewed them.

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse has a historic workhouse and a heritage farm. You can see displays about agriculture, rural life, and old farm machinery.

Harleston Museum

Harleston Museum shares the local history of the town.

Lynn Museum

Lynn Museum in King's Lynn covers local history, archaeology, and social history.

Mo Sheringham Museum

The Mo Sheringham Museum in Sheringham focuses on local history, lifeboats, and the fishing industry.

Mundesley Maritime Museum

Mundesley Maritime Museum explores the local maritime heritage and social history of Mundesley.

Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell

Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell in Norwich highlights local industries, culture, and people's daily lives.

Museum of the Broads

In Stalham, this museum is all about boats and the history of the Broadland waterways.

Nelson Museum

The Nelson Museum in Great Yarmouth tells the life story of Admiral Horatio Nelson. He was a famous naval hero.

Time and Tide: The Museum of Great Yarmouth Life

Time and Tide in Great Yarmouth explores the area's fishing, shipbuilding, and maritime trades. It also covers herring fishing and curing.

Toad Hole Cottage

Toad Hole Cottage at How Hill shows what home and working life was like on the marshes of The Broads in the early 20th century.

The Tolhouse

The Tolhouse in Great Yarmouth is a 12th-century medieval house. It was later turned into a prison.

True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum

True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum in King's Lynn has exhibits about the historic fishing community.

Wymondham Heritage Museum

Wymondham Heritage Museum in Wymondham covers local history and culture. It used to be a prison, police station, and courthouse.

Art and Natural History Museums

Discover beautiful art and learn about the natural world.

The Forum, Norwich

The Forum in Norwich includes Fusion, a digital screen gallery for art.

Museum of Straw Work and Crafts

In Colby, this museum displays items made from straw. You can see beautiful corn dollies, lace, and jewelry.

Peter Coke Shell Gallery

This gallery in Sheringham features sculptures and arrangements made from seashells. It's next to the Fishermen's Heritage Centre.

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts

Part of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, this center has amazing art collections. You can see modern art, art from Africa, the Pacific, and ancient Europe.

Shell Museum

The Shell Museum in Glandford has a collection of seashells, fossils, and birds' eggs. It also shows local archaeological finds.

Defunct Museums

Some museums in Norfolk have closed over the years. These include Dragon Hall in Norwich, Fenland Aviation and West Norfolk Museum, and Iceni Village & Museums.

Images for kids

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  Elizabethan House Museum