List of museums in Norfolk facts for kids

A museum is a special place where cool and interesting things from the past or present are kept and shown to the public. These things can be old tools, amazing artworks, scientific discoveries, or items that tell a story about history. In Norfolk, England, there are many different types of museums, from grand old houses to places showing off old trains or military vehicles!

Many museums in Norfolk are part of a group called Museums Norfolk. This group helps museums work together and share information. You can find out more about these museums, their opening times, and what's happening at them by visiting their website.

Awesome Museums to Visit in Norfolk

Here's a list of some of the exciting museums you can explore in Norfolk:

Step Back in Time: Historic Houses and Local Life

• Ancient House, Thetford

This is a Tudor merchant's house that shows you what life was like long ago. You can see rooms set up just as they would have been in the past and learn about local history.

• Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum, East Dereham

Discover the history of East Dereham at this museum. It's run by a local history group and has displays about archaeology and the town's past.

• Blickling Hall, Gardens and Park, Blickling

This huge, beautiful Jacobean house is run by the National Trust. It shows four centuries of history and even has a small museum about its use during World War II by the RAF.

• Clifton House, King's Lynn

Explore this merchant's house with rooms from the 13th to the 18th centuries. It also has a tall Elizabethan tower!

• Elizabethan House Museum, Great Yarmouth

This house takes you through different time periods, from the Elizabethan era to Victorian times. It shows how people lived in Great Yarmouth.

• Felbrigg Hall, Felbrigg

Another National Trust property, this 17th-century country house has a beautiful outside and fancy Georgian rooms inside.

• Great Yarmouth Row Houses, Great Yarmouth

These are old merchants' houses from the 17th century. They were later divided into smaller homes, showing how many people lived close together.

• Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Gressenhall

This museum has a historic workhouse, a heritage farm, and displays about farming and country life. You can see old costumes, steam engines, and farm tools.

• Holkham Hall, Holkham

This grand 18th-century house has amazing rooms and walled gardens. It also has a "Bygones Museum" with old toys, household items, farm tools, vintage cars, and steam engines. There's even an exhibition about the history of farming!

• Houghton Hall, Harpley

Built for Britain's first Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, this 18th-century house is another example of stunning Palladian architecture.

• Oxburgh Hall, Oxborough

This is a fantastic 15th-century moated country house, also looked after by the National Trust. It's like stepping into a medieval fairytale!

• Sandringham Estate, Sandringham

This is the private home of the British Royal Family in Norfolk. You can visit the house, see its furnishings, and explore the Sandringham Museum. The museum has a royal collection of gifts, vehicles, and photos.

• Strangers' Hall, Norwich

Explore rooms from the Tudor and Stuart periods in this historic house in Norwich. It gives you a glimpse into daily life centuries ago.

• Toad Hole Cottage, How Hill

This cottage shows what home and work life was like on the Norfolk Broads marshes in the early 20th century.

• The Tolhouse, Great Yarmouth

This 12th-century building was once a merchant's house and later became a prison. You can learn about its history as a jail.

• Wymondham Heritage Museum, Wymondham

Located in a former prison, police station, and courthouse, this museum tells the story of Wymondham's local history and culture.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transport and Technology Museums

• Barton House Railway, Wroxham

Enjoy a ride on a miniature heritage railway and explore a museum filled with old railway items and memories from the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway.

• Bressingham Steam & Gardens, Bressingham

This place is packed with steam railway engines, old tractors, and other cool vehicles. It's a treat for anyone who loves big machines!

• Caister Castle Motor Museum, Caister-on-Sea

If you love cars, this is the place to be! It has a fantastic collection of rare and classic cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and even horse-drawn carriages.

• Charles Burrell Museum, Thetford

Learn about Charles Burrell & Sons, who made amazing traction engines, farm machines, and even steam trucks and tram engines.

• City of Norwich Aviation Museum, Horsham St Faith

See military and civilian aircraft up close and learn about the history of flying in Norfolk.

• County School Station, North Elmham

This railway station and museum are set up to look like they did during World War II. It's part of the Mid-Norfolk Railway.

• Denver Windmill, Denver

An early 19th-century restored windmill, showing how wind power was used to grind grain. (Currently closed)

• Fakenham Museum of Gas and Local History, Fakenham

This museum is in an old gasworks! You can see how gas was made from coal and explore displays of old gas-powered lights, heaters, and cooking equipment.

• Forncett Industrial Steam Museum, Forncett

See a collection of huge stationary steam engines that once powered factories and mills.

• Great Bircham Windmill, Great Bircham

Another mid-19th-century windmill that you can visit.

• Gunton Sawmill, Erpingham

This preserved sawmill is still in working order! It's owned by the Norfolk Windmills Trust and run by a group interested in industrial history.

• Horsey Windpump, Horsey

This drainage windmill pump is looked after by the National Trust. It helped manage water levels in the Norfolk Broads.

• Letheringsett Watermill, Letheringsett with Glandford

This is a working watermill from the early 19th century. You can see how water power was used to mill grain.

• Lydia Eva, Great Yarmouth

Step aboard the last surviving steam-powered herring drifter! This museum ship tells the story of fishing in Great Yarmouth.

• Mid-Norfolk Railway, Dereham

This is the main spot for the heritage railway. You can find out about the history of trains and enjoy a ride.

• Norfolk Motorcycle Museum, North Walsham

See a collection of motorcycles from the 1920s to the 1960s.

• Stow Mill, Paston

An early 19th-century windmill that you can visit.

• Strumpshaw Hall Steam Museum, Strumpshaw

This museum has a collection of steam traction engines, rollers, and even a showman's engine!

• Thursford Collection, Thursford

This amazing collection features steam engines, organs, and fun fairground attractions.

• Whitwell & Reepham Railway Station, Reepham

This historic railway station is currently being restored. You can see the progress and learn about its past.

• William Marriott Museum, Holt

Located at Holt (North Norfolk Railway) railway station, this museum displays railway items from the North Norfolk Railway.

• Wymondham Station, Wymondham

This station has a collection of railway memorabilia for you to explore.

Brave Stories: Military Museums

• 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, Thorpe Abbotts

Learn about the history of the 100th Bomb Group at RAF Thorpe Abbotts during World War II.

• 389th Memorial Exhibition Museum, Hethel

This museum tells the story of RAF Hethel and the 389th Bombardment Group. It's open on specific days.

• Blitz and Pieces, Scratby

Experience what life was like in England during World War II (the "Home Front") and see items related to the famous TV show Dad's Army.

• Dad's Army Museum, Thetford

If you're a fan of Dad's Army, this museum is for you! It has exhibits about the show and its connections to Thetford.

• Muckleburgh Collection, Weybourne

This huge collection features military history and items from RAF Weybourne, the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry. You can see ship models, weapons, missiles, tanks, aircraft, and other military vehicles!

• Nelson Museum, Great Yarmouth

Discover the life and naval history of the famous Admiral Horatio Nelson.

• Norfolk Tank Museum, Forncett

Explore Cold War military items, including Main Battle Tanks, armored personnel carriers, small arms, and military uniforms.

• RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, Horning

Located at RAF Neatishead, this museum tells the story of the military radar station during World War II and the Cold War.

• Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, Norwich

See artifacts and memorabilia from the Royal Norfolk Regiment.

• Seething Control Tower Museum, Seething

Located at Seething Airfield, this museum shares the history of the 448th Fighter-Bomber Group at RAF Seething during World War II.

Art, Nature, and More: Diverse Collections

• Colman's Mustard Shop and Museum, Norwich

A fun place to learn about the history of Colman's mustard and see lots of mustard-related items.

• Cromer Museum, Cromer

Learn about Cromer's local history, culture, and geology. There's even a display of a Victorian fisherman's cottage.

• Custom House, King's Lynn

This museum tells stories about the merchants, customs officers, and smugglers of Lynn. You can also learn about Horatio Nelson and George Vancouver.

• Diss Museum, Diss

Explore the local history of Diss at this museum.

• Fishermen's Heritage Centre, Sheringham

Learn about Sheringham's private lifeboats, including the Henry Ramey Upcher, and the brave fishermen who crewed them. It also includes the Peter Coke Shell Gallery.

• The Forum, Norwich

This modern building includes Fusion, a digital screen gallery where you can see digital art.

• Green Britain Centre, Swaffham

Learn all about green energy, like solar and wind power, and how to travel without oil. It also covers organic gardening.

• Green Quay, King's Lynn

Discover the environment and natural history of the Ouse Wash, and learn about the history of shipping and trading in King's Lynn.

• Harleston Museum, Harleston

This museum focuses on the local history of Harleston.

• John Jarrold Printing Museum, Norwich

See historic printing equipment and learn about how books and newspapers used to be made.

• King's Lynn Arts Centre, King's Lynn

This centre hosts performing and visual arts, with galleries where you can see different art exhibits.

• Lynn Museum, King's Lynn

Explore the local history, archaeology, and social history of King's Lynn.

• The Mo Sheringham Museum, Sheringham

Learn about Sheringham's local history, its lifeboats, and the fishing industry.

• Mundesley Maritime Museum, Mundesley

Discover the local maritime heritage and social history of Mundesley.

• Museum of Norwich at the Bridewell, Norwich

This museum tells the story of Norwich's local industries, culture, and the daily lives of its people.

• Museum of Straw Work and Crafts, Colby

See amazing items made from straw, including corn dollies, marquetry, and straw lace.

• Museum of the Broads, Stalham

Learn about the boats and the heritage of the beautiful Broadland waterways.

• Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich

A place for performing arts with galleries for art exhibits.

• Norwich Castle, Norwich

Explore this historic castle! You can take tours of the dungeon and battlements. The museum inside has fine art, costumes, jewelry, and items from archaeology, Ancient Egypt, and Viking times.

• Norwich Cathedral, Norwich

Visit the visitor centre to learn about the cathedral's history and see art exhibits.

• Old Gaol House & Regalia Rooms, King's Lynn

Step into a 1930s police station, see old jail cells, and admire the city's treasures and royal items.

• Peter Coke Shell Gallery, Sheringham

This gallery displays beautiful sculptures and arrangements made from seashells collected from all over the world. It's next to the Fishermen's Heritage Centre.

• Red Mount Chapel, King's Lynn

A medieval chapel that was a stopping point for pilgrims on their way to the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham.

• RNLI Henry Blogg Museum, Cromer

Learn about the brave Cromer lifeboat crews and their most famous coxswain, Henry Blogg.

• Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Norwich

Part of the University of East Anglia, this centre has collections of modern art, art from different parts of the world (Africa, Pacific, Americas, Asia, Egypt), and medieval European art.

• Shell Museum, Glandford

A fascinating museum dedicated to seashells, fossils, birds' eggs, and local archaeological finds.

• Stalham Firehouse Museum, Stalham

Discover the history of firefighting at this museum.

• Swaffham Museum, Swaffham

Learn about the local history and culture of Swaffham.

• Time and Tide: The Museum of Great Yarmouth Life, Great Yarmouth

This museum tells the story of Great Yarmouth's fishing, shipbuilding, and other maritime trades. You can learn about herring fishing and how fish were preserved.

• True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum, King's Lynn

Learn about the historic fishing community of King's Lynn at this museum.

• Walsingham Abbey Grounds and Shirehall Museum, Walsingham

Explore the ruins of the medieval abbey and visit the museum. The museum has exhibits about the abbey and local history.

Museums That Are No Longer Open

Some museums in Norfolk have closed their doors over the years. These include:

• Dragon Hall, Norwich (closed in 2015)
• Fenland Aviation and West Norfolk Museum, near Walsoken (closed in 2022)
• Iceni Village & Museums, Cockley Cley (closed in 2014) - This was a reconstruction of an ancient British village.
• Inspire Discovery Centre, Norwich (closed in 2011)
• Litcham Village Museum, Litcham
• Norfolk's Golden Fleece Heritage Museum, Worstead
• Town House Museum, King's Lynn (closed in 2011)
• Yesterday's World, Great Yarmouth (closed in 2014)

See also

• Category:Tourist attractions in Norfolk