List of museums in Somerset facts for kids
Somerset, a lovely county in England, is home to many exciting museums! These special places collect and look after amazing objects from history, art, science, and culture. They then share these collections with you through cool exhibits. In Somerset, you'll find everything from old houses to museums about cars, planes, and even shoes!
Many of these museums are in buildings called "listed buildings." This means they are very important because of their history or special design. In England, these buildings are protected so they can be enjoyed for many years to come. Some museums are also "accredited," which means they meet high national standards for how they look after their collections and welcome visitors.
Museums to Explore
| Name | Picture | Town/City | Type | What You'll Discover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Museum and Gardens | Claverton 51°22′36″N 2°18′40″W / 51.3768°N 2.311°W |
Art | This museum is in a beautiful old house from the 1820s. It was started by two collectors and opened in 1961. You can explore American history through amazing quilts, furniture, and other items. | |
| Ashton Windmill | Chapel Allerton 51°14′56″N 2°50′25″W / 51.2488°N 2.8402°W |
Mill | This old windmill from the 1700s was updated in 1900. It's now a protected building and is looked after by volunteers. It's a great example of how windmills used to work! | |
| Bakelite Museum | Williton 51°09′53″N 3°18′31″W / 51.1648°N 3.3087°W |
Multiple | Step back in time at this museum, which is full of vintage plastics. You'll see old radios, cameras, telephones, and even a Bakelite coffin! It's housed in a historic building called Orchard Millhouse. | |
| Barrington Court | Barrington 50°57′45″N 2°52′37″W / 50.9626°N 2.877°W |
Historic house | This grand Tudor manor house was built in the 1500s. It was the very first house bought by the National Trust in 1907. Explore its beautiful Arts and Crafts-style gardens. | |
| Bath Abbey Heritage Vaults Museum | Bath 51°22′53″N 2°21′31″W / 51.3815°N 2.3587°W |
Religious | Located in the old cellars of Bath Abbey, this museum shows you the Abbey's long history. You'll see old artifacts and learn about how the Abbey was built and its role in the community. | |
| Bath Postal Museum | Bath 51°22′53″N 2°21′31″W / 51.3815°N 2.3587°W |
Philatelic | Founded in 1979, this museum explores the history of mail. See old quills, ink wells, post boxes, and even a replica Victorian post office. It's located in a building that was once Bath's main Post Office. | |
| Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution | Bath 51°23′01″N 2°21′49″W / 51.3836°N 2.3636°W |
Multiple | This institution has a huge library with over 7,000 books. You can also see letters from famous scientists like Charles Darwin. The building itself is a beautiful Greek Revival style from 1830. | |
| Beckford's Tower and Museum | Bath 51°24′24″N 2°22′44″W / 51.4066°N 2.3789°W |
Biographical | This 120-foot tall tower was finished in 1827. It holds a collection of furniture, paintings, and art that belonged to the writer William Beckford. The tower is a Grade I listed building. | |
| Bishops Lydeard Mill and Rural Life Museum | Bishops Lydeard 51°03′17″N 3°11′08″W / 51.0546°N 3.1855°W |
Mill | This 18th-century mill has a huge waterwheel that weighs over two tons! The museum shows traditional trades and crafts like a wheelwright's shop, a cooper's shop, and a Victorian kitchen. | |
| Bishop's Palace | Wells 51°12′33″N 2°38′33″W / 51.2093°N 2.64255°W |
Historic house | This medieval palace was home to the Bishops of Bath and Wells. It was started around 1210 and has beautiful gardens covering 14 acres. There's even a moat with a bridge! | |
| Blagdon Lake Pumping Station and Visitor Centre | Blagdon 51°12′33″N 2°38′33″W / 51.209293°N 2.64255°W |
Technology | This museum has science and environment exhibits, plus a room about the WaterAid charity. You might even see one of the old steam-driven engines working! Outside, there's a nature trail for you to explore. | |
| Blake Museum | Bridgwater 51°07′43″N 2°59′38″W / 51.1285°N 2.9938°W |
Local | This building is thought to be the birthplace of Robert Blake, a famous General at Sea from the 1600s. The museum, founded in 1926, features items from Blake's life, including his sea chest. | |
| Blue Anchor Railway Museum | Blue Anchor 51°10′53″N 3°24′09″W / 51.1815°N 3.4024°W |
Railway | The old waiting room at Blue Anchor station was turned into this railway museum in 1985. It has about 550 items, mostly related to the Great Western Railway and other local train lines. | |
| Bruton Museum | Bruton 51°06′43″N 2°27′00″W / 51.112°N 2.45°W |
Local | This museum is located in the Dovecote Building on Bruton's High Street. It shares the history of the local area. | |
| Castle Cary and District Museum | Castle Cary 51°05′23″N 2°30′51″W / 51.0896°N 2.5141°W |
Local | Housed in the historic Market House, this museum has a wide range of exhibits. You can see local fossils, learn about old industries like rope making, and discover the history of Cary Castle. | |
| Chard Museum | Chard 50°52′22″N 2°57′31″W / 50.8728°N 2.9587°W |
Local | This museum is in a thatched building from the 1500s. It tells the story of Chard, including the big fire of 1577 and the Monmouth Rebellion. Outside, you can see a blacksmith's forge and old farm machinery. | |
| Cheddar Caves and Gorge | Cheddar 51°16′57″N 2°45′56″W / 51.2824°N 2.7655°W |
Archaeology | This site includes the Cheddar Man Museum of Prehistory. You can learn about the caves and see original flint tools and human remains found there, including the famous Cheddar Man. | |
| Claverton Pumping Station | Claverton 51°22′41″N 2°18′06″W / 51.3781°N 2.3017°W |
Technology | This unique pumping station uses a waterwheel to pump water from the River Avon to the Kennet and Avon Canal. It's a great example of old engineering and is a protected building. | |
| Cleeve Abbey | Washford 51°09′20″N 3°21′51″W / 51.1556°N 3.3642°W |
Religious | Explore the remains of a medieval monastery founded in the late 1100s. It's a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, showing what a monastery looked like long ago. | |
| Clevedon Court | Clevedon 51°26′27″N 2°50′01″W / 51.4407°N 2.8335°W |
Historic house | This manor house from the 1300s is run by the National Trust. It has collections of special Nailsea glass and Eltonware pottery. It's a beautiful example of historic architecture. | |
| Coleridge Cottage | Nether Stowey 51°09′08″N 3°09′13″W / 51.1521°N 3.1537°W |
Historic house | This 17th-century cottage was once the home of the famous poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It's now looked after by the National Trust and is a Grade II* listed building. | |
| Cothay Manor | Stawley 50°58′22″N 3°20′30″W / 50.9729°N 3.3418°W |
Historic house | Built around 1480, this 15th-century medieval manor is considered one of England's most perfect small medieval buildings. It has beautiful gardens to explore. | |
| Crewkerne and District Museum | Crewkerne 50°53′07″N 2°47′42″W / 50.8854°N 2.7951°W |
Local | Opened in 2000, this museum shows how Crewkerne developed in the 1700s and 1800s. It focuses on the flax and linen industry, but also has collections on archaeology, coins, costumes, and more. | |
| Dunster Castle | Dunster 51°10′57″N 3°26′45″W / 51.1825°N 3.4459°W |
Historic house | This medieval castle has been updated over the centuries. It's run by the National Trust and is a Grade I listed building. You can explore its history and the beautiful grounds. | |
| Dunster Museum & Doll Collection | Dunster 51°10′57″N 3°26′45″W / 51.1824°N 3.4459°W |
Toy | This museum is a treat for toy lovers! It has a collection of over 800 dolls from all around the world. | |
| Dunster Working Watermill | Dunster 51°10′57″N 3°26′45″W / 51.1825°N 3.4459°W |
Mill | This watermill, built around 1780, is located in the grounds of Dunster Castle. It was restored in 1979 and is still working today! It's operated by the National Trust. | |
| East Somerset Railway | Cranmore 51°11′25″N 2°28′48″W / 51.1902°N 2.4801°W |
Railway | This is a heritage railway and museum at the old Cranmore station. You can see a unique red telephone box and a signal box from 1904. It's a great place for train enthusiasts! | |
| Farleigh Hungerford Castle | Farleigh Hungerford 51°19′02″N 2°17′05″W / 51.3172°N 2.2847°W |
Historic house | Built around 1370, this castle is now managed by English Heritage. You can explore the remains of a medieval priest's house, a chapel, and the castle house. | |
| Fashion Museum, Bath | Bath 51°23′10″N 2°21′45″W / 51.3862°N 2.3624°W |
Textile | This museum, located in the Assembly Rooms, has a huge collection of fashionable clothes. It covers men's, women's, and children's fashion from the late 1500s to today, with over 30,000 objects! | |
| Fleet Air Arm Museum | RNAS Yeovilton 51°00′49″N 2°38′41″W / 51.0136°N 2.6448°W |
Aviation | Get ready for an amazing collection of military and civilian aircraft! This museum has 94 aircraft, including helicopters and models of Royal Navy ships. You can even watch real military aircraft take off and land. | |
| Frome Museum | Frome 51°13′58″N 2°19′09″W / 51.2328°N 2.3191°W |
Local | This museum has a great collection of local history items. You can see artifacts from a bronze foundry and a printing press. There are also displays about local industries and Victorian costumes. | |
| Fyne Court | Broomfield 51°04′50″N 3°06′51″W / 51.0806°N 3.1143°W |
Historic house | Fyne Court is a National Trust nature reserve and visitor centre. It once belonged to Andrew Crosse, a pioneering electrician from the 1800s. The Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has its headquarters here. | |
| Gants Mill | Pitcombe 51°06′23″N 2°28′01″W / 51.1064°N 2.4669°W |
Mill | Much of this mill was built in 1810, but it includes older parts from the 1700s. The machinery, including the grindstones, is still used today for grinding animal feed. You can also enjoy the beautiful water garden. | |
| Glastonbury Abbey | Glastonbury 51°08′44″N 2°42′52″W / 51.1456°N 2.7144°W |
Living | Explore the ruins of this great medieval church and Lady Chapel, set in 36 acres of parkland. You might even see people dressed as 14th-century monks, kitchen maids, or King Arthur's court! | |
| Glastonbury Lake Village Museum | Glastonbury 51°08′46″N 2°42′35″W / 51.1462°N 2.7098°W |
Archaeology | Housed in a 15th-century merchant's house, this museum displays amazing Iron Age items. These objects from the Glastonbury Lake Village were perfectly preserved in the peat after the village was abandoned. | |
| Haynes International Motor Museum | Sparkford 51°02′08″N 2°33′56″W / 51.0355°N 2.5656°W |
Automobile | Car and motorcycle fans, this is for you! This museum has over 400 cars and motorcycles, plus other cool car-related items. It was started in 1985 by John Haynes, who created the famous Haynes Manuals. | |
| Helicopter Museum | Weston-super-Mare 51°20′22″N 2°55′49″W / 51.3395°N 2.9303°W |
Aviation | Discover a huge collection of over 80 helicopters and autogyros from all over the world. You'll see civilian and military helicopters, including some from the Soviet Union. | |
| Herschel Museum of Astronomy | Bath 51°22′57″N 2°22′00″W / 51.3825°N 2.3667°W |
Science | This museum is dedicated to the famous astronomer William Herschel and his sister Caroline. It's in their old home! See a replica of the telescope William used to discover the planet Uranus. | |
| Holburne Museum of Art | Bath 51°23′09″N 2°21′04″W / 51.3857°N 2.3511°W |
Art | This museum, part of the University of Bath, is in a beautiful building from 1795. It holds the art collection of Sir William Holburne, including old master paintings, Italian bronzes, and porcelain. | |
| Ilchester Museum | Ilchester 51°00′06″N 2°41′02″W / 51.0016°N 2.6838°W |
Local | Housed in the Town Hall House, this museum shows Ilchester's history from the Iron Age and Roman times to today. You can see the town's 13th-century mace, which is the oldest staff of office in England! | |
| Jane Austen Centre | Bath 51°23′06″N 2°21′48″W / 51.3851°N 2.3633°W |
Biographical | This museum focuses on the life of the famous author Jane Austen and her time living in Bath. Learn about her family and the places that inspired her stories. | |
| King John's Hunting Lodge | Axbridge 51°17′14″N 2°49′07″W / 51.287167°N 2.81851°W |
Historic house | This early Tudor timber-framed house was once a wool merchant's home. It's now a local history museum with exhibits about the area. | |
| Lambretta Scooter Museum | Weston-super-Mare 51°20′55″N 2°58′12″W / 51.3485°N 2.97°W |
Transportation | If you love scooters, you'll love this! The museum has 61 Lambretta models, with at least one from every year between 1947 and 1971. You'll also see old sales leaflets, posters, and toys. | |
| Langport and River Parrett Visitor Centre | Langport 51°02′06″N 2°50′09″W / 51.0351°N 2.8359°W |
Local | Located by Bow Bridge, this centre has displays about local history, industry, and the River Parrett's natural history. It's also a great starting point for the River Parrett Trail. | |
| Lytes Cary Manor | Charlton Mackrell 51°02′09″N 2°40′04″W / 51.0358°N 2.6677°W |
Historic house | This National Trust property has parts dating back to the 1300s. The chapel is even older than the main house! Explore the beautiful gardens, which are listed on the English Heritage Register. | |
| Market House Museum | Watchet 51°10′46″N 3°19′27″W / 51.1795°N 3.3242°W |
Local | This building was built in 1820 and became a museum in 1979. It focuses on the natural and maritime history of Watchet and its port. You'll see items from archaeology, transport, and social history. | |
| Montacute House | Montacute 50°57′09″N 2°42′58″W / 50.9524°N 2.716°W |
Historic house | Run by the National Trust, this Elizabethan mansion has furniture and textiles from the 1500s. Its Long Gallery displays over 60 Tudor and Elizabethan portraits from the National Portrait Gallery. | |
| Montacute TV Radio Toy Museum | Montacute 50°56′57″N 2°42′54″W / 50.9493°N 2.7149°W |
Media | This fun museum has a collection of toys, games, and jigsaws related to old radio and TV shows. You can also see over 500 radios, from vintage wirelesses to novelty transistors. | |
| Muchelney Abbey | Muchelney 51°01′00″N 2°49′13″W / 51.0167°N 2.8203°W |
Religious | Managed by English Heritage, this site has the remains of a medieval Benedictine abbey. You can also see an early Tudor house from the 1500s, which was once where the abbot lived. | |
| Museum of Bath Architecture | Bath 51°22′46″N 2°21′36″W / 51.3794°N 2.36°W |
History | This museum shows you how a typical Georgian house in Bath was built. It has architectural models, maps, paintings, and reconstructions to help you understand the city's unique architecture. | |
| Museum of Bath at Work | Bath 51°23′20″N 2°21′46″W / 51.3889°N 2.3629°W |
Local | Established in 1978, this museum tells the story of Bath's commercial growth over 2,000 years. A main exhibit is a recreated engineering and mineral water business from 1864. | |
| Museum of East Asian Art | Bath 51°22′46″N 2°22′01″W / 51.3794°N 2.367°W |
Art | This museum, in a restored Georgian house, has almost 2,000 objects from East Asia. You'll see beautiful ceramics, jades, bronzes, and bamboo carvings from China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia. | |
| Museum of Somerset | Taunton 51°01′09″N 3°06′00″W / 51.0191°N 3.1°W |
Multiple | Located in Taunton Castle, this museum has a wide range of collections. You can see toys, dolls, sculptures, natural history items, fossils, and archaeological finds, including a Roman mosaic. | |
| No. 1 Royal Crescent | Bath 51°23′12″N 2°22′02″W / 51.3868°N 2.3671°W |
Historic house | Built between 1767 and 1774, this house is now a museum. It shows how wealthy families lived and furnished their homes during the Georgian period. | |
| Porlock Museum | Porlock 51°12′32″N 3°35′44″W / 51.2088°N 3.5956°W |
Local | This museum is in Dovery Manor, built in the late 1400s. It has a collection of artifacts, photos, and paintings about Porlock and its famous Porlock Hill. There's also a herb garden being restored. | |
| Priest's House | Muchelney 51°01′16″N 2°48′55″W / 51.0211°N 2.8152°W |
Religious | This house was built in 1308 for the parish priest by Muchelney Abbey. It has a Gothic doorway and a 15th-century fireplace. It's now owned by the National Trust. | |
| Radstock Museum | Radstock 51°17′37″N 2°26′55″W / 51.2936°N 2.4486°W |
Multiple | Many exhibits here relate to the local coalfield and geology. You'll also see displays on local history, including old schools, shops, agriculture, and a carpenter's shop. It's in a restored Victorian Market Hall. | |
| Roman Baths | Bath 51°22′51″N 2°21′34″W / 51.3809°N 2.3595°W |
Archaeology | This is a very well-preserved Roman site for public bathing. You can explore the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House, and a museum with finds from Roman Bath. | |
| Sally Lunn's House | Bath 51°22′53″N 2°21′36″W / 51.3815°N 2.3599°W |
Historic house | This 17th-century house is famous as the place where the delicious Sally Lunn bun originated. It's now a tea and eating house with a period kitchen you can explore. | |
| Shoe Museum | Street 51°07′44″N 2°44′22″W / 51.129°N 2.7394°W |
Industry | Learn about the history of the C&J Clark shoe manufacturer at this museum. It has shoes from the Roman era to today, plus old machinery used in shoe production and vintage advertisements. | |
| Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Centre | Midsomer Norton 51°16′52″N 2°29′00″W / 51.2811°N 2.4833°W |
Railway | Based at Midsomer Norton railway station, this site has restored station buildings, a signalbox, and a goods shed. The museum is in an old stable block and even has a diesel locomotive. | |
| Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust Museum | Washford 51°09′42″N 3°22′05″W / 51.1617°N 3.3681°W |
Railway | This museum has relics from the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway, including station nameboards, lamps, tools, and even steam locomotives. You can also see a recreated signal-box interior. | |
| Somerset Brick and Tile Museum | Bridgwater 51°07′43″N 2°59′38″W / 51.1285°N 2.9938°W |
Industry | This museum is all about the brick and tile industry in Somerset. It has the last surviving "pinnacle kiln" in Bridgwater, which dates from the 1800s. Learn how bricks and tiles were made! | |
| Somerset Cricket Museum | Taunton 51°01′08″N 3°05′56″W / 51.0189°N 3.0989°W |
Sports | Located in the Old Priory Barn, this museum covers the history of the Somerset cricket club. See exhibits on famous players like Ian Botham and Marcus Trescothick, and learn about the England women's cricket team. | |
| Somerset Military Museum | Taunton 51°01′09″N 3°06′00″W / 51.0191°N 3.1°W |
Military | Found inside the Museum of Somerset at Taunton Castle, this museum shows the history of local army regiments. You can see medals, uniforms, and other historical items related to Somerset's military past. | |
| Somerset Rural Life Museum | Glastonbury 51°08′55″N 2°42′50″W / 51.1485°N 2.714°W |
Rural | This museum explores the social and agricultural history of Somerset. It's housed in buildings around a 14th-century barn that once belonged to Glastonbury Abbey. See old farm machinery and learn about rural life. | |
| Stembridge Tower Mill | High Ham 51°04′35″N 2°49′13″W / 51.0765°N 2.8203°W |
Mill | This is the last remaining thatched windmill in England! Built in 1822, it's now operated by the National Trust. It was recently restored and re-opened in 2009. | |
| Treasurer's House | Martock 51°01′16″N 2°48′55″W / 51.0211°N 2.8152°W |
Historic house | Run by the National Trust, this medieval priest's house was built in the 1200s. It has a Great Hall from 1293 and an even older Solar Block with an interesting wall painting. | |
| Tropiquaria | Watchet 51°09′36″N 3°20′54″W / 51.16°N 3.3483°W |
Multiple | Tropiquaria is a fun mix of a tropical hall with snakes and lizards, and a museum! The building was an old BBC transmitter hall from the 1930s. The museum part has radios and radio memorabilia. | |
| Tyntesfield | Wraxall 51°26′25″N 2°42′49″W / 51.4403°N 2.7135°W |
Historic house | This Victorian Gothic Revival house and its gardens are owned by the National Trust. Explore the library, drawing room, billiard room, and dining room, as well as the servants' wing and chapel. | |
| Victoria Art Gallery | Bath 51°22′46″N 2°22′01″W / 51.3794°N 2.367°W |
Art | This free public art museum has paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts. The building itself is beautiful, designed in 1897, with a statue of Queen Victoria outside. | |
| Watchet Boat Museum | Watchet 51°10′46″N 3°19′27″W / 51.1795°N 3.3242°W |
Maritime | Housed in an old Victorian goods shed from 1862, this museum focuses on boats and maritime history. See different types of local boats, fishing nets, and even a "mudhorse" used to collect fish. | |
| Wellington Museum | Wellington 50°58′32″N 3°13′27″W / 50.9755°N 3.2243°W |
Local | This free museum highlights local businesses and people from Wellington, especially those linked to the wool industry. You can also learn about Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, and his connection to the town. | |
| Wells and Mendip Museum | Wells 51°12′39″N 2°38′40″W / 51.2109°N 2.6445°W |
Local | This museum is in the old Chancellors' House, with parts from the 1400s. It has exhibits on geology and fossils from the Mendip Hills, Roman lead, and statues from Wells Cathedral. | |
| West Somerset Rural Life Museum and Victorian School | Allerford 51°12′42″N 3°34′10″W / 51.2116°N 3.5695°W |
Rural | This building was the village school from 1821 to 1981. Now a museum, it shows artifacts from West Somerset, including cookery, laundry, and farm equipment. One room is a recreated Victorian classroom! | |
| West Somerset Railway | Bishops Lydeard 51°03′15″N 3°11′36″W / 51.0541°N 3.1934°W |
Railway | This heritage railway has exhibits at Bishops Lydeard station. The old goods shed is now a visitor centre and museum. You can see a Great Western Railway sleeping car and a model railway layout. | |
| Weston Museum | Weston-super-Mare 51°20′55″N 2°58′12″W / 51.3485°N 2.97°W |
Local | This museum has archaeological exhibits, including items from an Iron Age hill fort. It also covers social history, local industries, seaside holidays, and even life on the Home Front during World War II. | |
| Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum | Westonzoyland 51°05′28″N 2°56′39″W / 51.0910°N 2.9443°W |
Technology | This museum is in the first pumping station built on the Somerset Levels. Its main attraction is an 1861 steam engine and pump, which is still in its original spot and working! | |
| Willows and Wetlands Visitor Centre | Stoke St Gregory 51°02′35″N 2°56′08″W / 51.0431°N 2.9356°W |
Industry | Explore over 80 acres of willow fields and workshops at this centre. Learn about how willow is grown and processed, and how baskets are made. There's also a basket museum and exhibits on the history of the Somerset Levels. | |
| Wincanton Museum | Wincanton 51°03′24″N 2°24′28″W / 51.0568°N 2.4077°W |
Local | Housed in a cottage from the late 1700s, this museum has artifacts, documents, and photos about Wincanton's social history. See a replica Victorian kitchen and old farm tools. There's also a room about World War I and II. | |
| Woodspring Priory | Weston-super-Mare 51°23′27″N 2°56′42″W / 51.3908°N 2.945°W |
Religious | This is a former Augustinian priory founded in the early 1200s. It's now owned by the Landmark Trust and can be rented for holidays. There's also a small museum with photos and information about its history. | |
| Yeovil Railway Centre | Yeovil 50°55′27″N 2°36′46″W / 50.9242°N 2.6128°W |
Railway | Created in 1993, this centre has about a quarter-mile of track for demonstration trains. You can see a Great Western Railway transfer shed from the 1860s, which is now a visitor centre. There's also a turntable and a large water tower. |
.jpg)
Aug2006.jpg)
See also
- Tourist attractions in Somerset
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of museums in Somerset Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.