List of museums in Wales facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Wales is a country full of amazing stories, and one of the best ways to discover them is by visiting its many museums! A museum is a special place where people collect and take care of interesting objects. These objects can be about art, science, history, or culture. Museums then show these collections to the public so everyone can learn and explore. This list will help you find some of the cool museums you can visit across Wales. Some of these museums are part of the National Museum Wales (NMW) network, which means they are big, important museums for the whole country.

Discover Museums in Wales

Wales has museums for every interest, from ancient castles to modern art, and from old trains to fascinating natural history. Let's explore some of the highlights!

Museums in North Wales

North Wales is home to many exciting museums, often linked to its rich history and beautiful landscapes.

Anglesey Museums

Anglesey, an island off the coast of North Wales, has a variety of museums.

The Beaumaris Castle is a medieval castle that tells stories of knights and kings.
You can also visit the Beaumaris Courthouse, which dates back to 1614, and the Beaumaris Gaol, a 19th-century prison. These places give you a peek into how law and order worked long ago.
If you love art, the Canolfan Ucheldre Centre in Holyhead is a community arts center with galleries showing modern art and crafts.
The Copper Kingdom Centre in Amlwch shares the history of copper mining and shipbuilding in the area.
For those interested in the sea, the Holyhead Maritime Museum is in an old lifeboat station from 1858. It teaches you about the sea and local life.
The Llynnon Mill in Holyhead is an 18th-century windmill, showing how people used to grind grain.
The Menai Heritage Bridges Exhibition in Menai Bridge tells the story of how the famous Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge were built.
Oriel Ynys Môn in Llangefni is a great spot to learn about Anglesey's art, culture, and history.
Plas Newydd is a beautiful 18th-century house run by the National Trust. It has a 1930s style inside and a military museum about the 1st Marquess of Anglesey.
You can even visit the South Stack Lighthouse on Holy Island, a historic lighthouse with exhibits.
Stone Science in Pentraeth is perfect for dinosaur, fossil, rock, and mineral fans.
The Swtan Heritage Museum in Rhydwyn is a 16th-century Welsh cottage with a thatched roof, showing what life was like in the early 1900s.
And if you like vehicles, Tacla Taid (Anglesey Transport and Agriculture Museum) has cars, motorbikes, and farm vehicles.

Conwy Museums

Conwy County Borough offers a mix of historic and artistic places.

Aberconwy House in Conwy is a medieval merchant's house with rooms from different time periods.
Conwy Castle is another impressive medieval castle to explore.
The Conwy Suspension Bridge, built in 1826, is now a footbridge with an old toll house.
The Conwy Valley Railway Museum in Betws-y-Coed has railway equipment and miniature trains.
The Home Front Experience in Llandudno shows what life was like in Britain during World War II.
Llandudno Museum covers local history, culture, and even copper mining.
Mostyn in Llandudno is a gallery for modern art.
Plas Mawr in Conwy is a grand 16th-century Elizabethan town house.
Don't miss the Smallest House in Great Britain in Conwy, a tiny 16th-century house!
Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant is a 16th-century farmhouse, famous as the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, who first translated the Bible into Welsh.

Denbighshire Museums

Denbighshire has historic houses and unique collections.

Bodelwyddan Castle is a historic house with Victorian rooms and art from the National Portrait Gallery.
The Llangollen Motor Museum has cars, motorcycles, and related items.
Nantclwyd y Dre in Ruthin is a 15th-century timbered house with rooms decorated from different periods up to the 1940s.
Ruthin Gaol is a 19th-century Victorian prison that dates back to the 17th century.
The Ruthin Craft Centre is a great place to see modern crafts and art.
The Wireless in Wales Museum in Denbigh has a collection of old radios from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Flintshire Museums

Greenfield Valley Heritage Park in Holywell is an open-air park with a farm museum and old factories.
St Winefride's Well in Holywell is a shrine with a museum about its history.

Gwynedd Museums

Gwynedd is known for its castles and industrial heritage.

Caernarfon Airworld Museum has retired aircraft and tells the story of mountain rescue.
Caernarfon Castle is a famous medieval fortress where the Prince of Wales is invested. It also houses the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum, which shows military uniforms and weapons.
The Lloyd George Museum in Llanystumdwy is the childhood home of British Prime Minister David Lloyd George.
The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn has locomotives from over 80 British narrow gauge railways.
The National Slate Museum in Llanberis (NMW) is a former slate quarry, showing the history of the slate industry.
Penrhyn Castle in Llandygai is a 19th-century fantasy castle run by the National Trust. It also has a Penrhyn Castle Railway Museum with industrial railway locomotives.
Segontium in Caernarfon is an excavated Roman fort with a visitor center showing Roman artifacts.
Sygun Copper Mine in Beddgelert offers underground tours of a Victorian copper mine.
Storiel in Bangor has local history, art, and cultural exhibits.
Tŷ Siamas in Dolgellau is the national center for Welsh folk music.

Museums in Mid Wales

Mid Wales offers a mix of art, history, and nature.

Ceredigion Museums

Aberystwyth Arts Centre and the School of Art Gallery and Museum at Aberystwyth University both feature galleries for art and ceramics.
Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth covers local history, archaeology, and Welsh furniture.
Internal Fire – Museum of Power in Tanygroes has internal combustion and steam engines.
Llanerchaeron is an 18th-century Welsh estate with a dairy, laundry, and walled gardens.
Llywernog Silver-Lead Mine in Ponterwyd is an 18th-century silver mine you can tour.
The Welsh Quilt Centre in Lampeter showcases beautiful quilts and textile exhibits.

Powys Museums

Powys has museums about art, transport, and famous people.

The Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture in Berriew displays works by the sculptor Andrew Logan.
The Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth has exhibits about green technologies and sustainable living.
The Judge's Lodging Museum in Presteigne is an 1870s period house with restored judge's apartments and a courtroom.
The National Cycle Museum in Llandrindod Wells features over 260 bicycles!
The Owain Glyndwr Centre in Machynlleth tells the story of Owain Glyndŵr, a 14th-century Welsh ruler.
Powis Castle in Welshpool is a castle with paintings, sculptures, and a museum of 18th-century artifacts from India.
The Robert Owen Museum in Newtown is dedicated to the social reformer Robert Owen.
The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh in Brecon has uniforms, weapons, and medals from Welsh regiments.
Y Gaer in Brecon is a cultural hub with local history, art, and archaeology.

Museums in South Wales

South Wales has a rich industrial past and many historical sites.

Blaenau Gwent Museums

The Abertillery & District Museum covers local history, mining, and Roman artifacts.
Bedwellty House in Tredegar is an early 19th-century ironmaster's residence.

Bridgend Museums

Cefn Junction Signal Box is an 1898 signal box with local history, focusing on rail and coal mining.
Porthcawl Museum and St John's House in Bridgend both cover local history.

Caerphilly Museums

Caerphilly Castle is a medieval castle with replica siege engines.
Llancaiach Fawr in Nelson is a 1645 period home, showing life during the English Civil War.
The Winding House in New Tredegar focuses on local history and coal mining.

Cardiff Museums

Cardiff, the capital city, has many diverse museums.

The Butetown History and Arts Centre explores local history, culture, and art.
Cardiff Castle is a mix of a medieval castle and a Victorian Gothic mansion.
Cardiff Story tells the history and culture of the city.
Castell Coch is a late 19th-century "fairy-tale" Victorian Gothic castle.
The Doctor Who Exhibition Centre has artifacts from the famous Doctor Who TV series.
Firing Line: Cardiff Castle Museum of the Welsh Soldier is located at Cardiff Castle and covers the history of the Welch Regiment.
The National Museum Cardiff (NMW) is a large museum with art, archaeology, natural history, dinosaurs, and geology.
St Fagans National History Museum (NMW) is an open-air museum with over forty historic buildings, including a Celtic village, a schoolhouse, and a farm. It's like stepping back in time!
Techniquest is a hands-on science center, perfect for interactive learning.

Carmarthenshire Museums

The Carmarthenshire County Museum covers local history, art, and even has a 19th-century schoolroom.
Dolaucothi Gold Mines are Roman gold mines operated by the National Trust.
The Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne was the final home of the famous poet Dylan Thomas.
Kidwelly Industrial Museum shows buildings and equipment from the Tinplate industry.
The Museum of Speed in Pendine celebrates the use of Pendine Sands for land speed records.
The National Coracle Centre in Cenarth has a collection of coracles, which are small, round boats.
The National Wool Museum (NMW) is a woolen mill with a textiles gallery.
Newton House in Llandeilo is a 1912 period house in a large park.
Parc Howard Museum in Llanelli has local pottery, art, and history.
The West Wales Museum of Childhood in Llangeler is full of toys, dolls, model trains, and games from different periods.

Merthyr Tydfil Museums

Cyfarthfa Castle covers local and social history, art, and decorative arts.
Joseph Parry's Cottage is an 1840s ironworker's cottage, the birthplace of composer Joseph Parry.

Monmouthshire Museums

Abergavenny Museum covers local history, with period shops and a Victorian farmhouse kitchen.
Caldicot Castle is a medieval castle with Victorian furnishings.
Chepstow Museum and Monmouth Museum both focus on local history. Monmouth Museum also includes a section about Admiral Horatio Nelson.
The Monmouth Regimental Museum tells the history of the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers.
The Usk Rural Life Museum has farm tools, equipment, and displays about rural life.

Neath Port Talbot Museums

Cefn Coed Colliery Museum and South Wales Miners' Museum are former coal mines where you can learn about mining history.
The Margam Stones Museum has ancient inscribed stones and crosses.
The Welsh Museum of Fire in Skewen has fire engines and equipment.

Newport Museums

The Fourteen Locks Canal and Heritage Centre tells the story of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.
The National Roman Legion Museum (NMW) in Caerleon has artifacts from the Roman legion fortress. You can also visit the Roman amphitheatre and fortress walls.
Newport Museum and Art Gallery covers local history, art, and Roman archaeology.
The Newport Ship is a 15th-century sailing vessel being restored.
The Newport Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre explains the history of this unique bridge.
Tredegar House is a 17th-century country house mansion.

Pembrokeshire Museums

Carew Castle has medieval castle remains and a 19th-century tidal grinding mill.
Carew Cheriton Control Tower tells the history of RAF Carew Cheriton during World War II.
Castell Henllys is a reconstructed Iron Age fort, showing how people lived thousands of years ago.
Haverfordwest Town Museum and Milford Haven Museum cover local and maritime history.
Oriel y Parc in St Davids is an art gallery focusing on Pembrokeshire landscapes and also serves as the visitor center for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre is in a Martello tower and covers local, military, and maritime history.
Picton Castle is a medieval castle with an art gallery and gardens.
Scolton Manor is a Victorian manor house with period rooms and exhibits on local history and rural life.
Techniquest in Narberth is another hands-on science center.
Tenby Museum and Art Gallery covers local history, art, and natural history.
The Tudor Merchant's House in Tenby is a late 15th-century Tudor period house.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Museums

Nantgarw Chinaworks Museum tells the history of Nantgarw Pottery.
Rhondda Heritage Park is a former coal mine where you can learn about the coal industry.

Swansea Museums

1940s Swansea Bay shows military and civilian life in Swansea during World War II.
The Dylan Thomas Centre has exhibits about the author Dylan Thomas.
The Egypt Centre Museum of Egyptian Antiquities at Swansea University has ancient Egyptian artifacts.
Gower Heritage Centre is an open-air center with a 12th-century water mill and outdoor exhibits about farming.
Glynn Vivian Art Gallery has works by Old Masters, contemporary art, and porcelain.
The National Waterfront Museum (NMW) covers Welsh industrial and maritime heritage, technology, and science.
Swansea Museum has three locations with exhibits on city history, boats, and trams.

Torfaen Museums

Big Pit National Coal Museum (NMW) in Blaenafon is a former coal mine where you can take an underground tour.
Blaenavon Ironworks are the remains of early blast furnaces and restored 18th-century workers' housing.
Pontypool Museum covers local history, art, and decorative arts.

Vale of Glamorgan Museums

Art Central in Barry is a community art gallery.
Cosmeston Medieval Village is a recreated 14th-century peasant village.
Cowbridge Museum is in the town hall and includes an early 19th-century prison.
Fonmon Castle is a medieval castle home with gardens.
Nash Point Lighthouse offers lighthouse tours.
Oriel Washington Gallery and Penarth Pier Pavilion are art galleries.
Turner House Gallery shows photography and digital media.

Wrexham Museums

Bersham Colliery Mining Museum is a former coalfield with mining equipment.
Chirk Castle is a medieval fortress with state rooms and dungeons.
Erddig is an early 18th-century country house showing the life of a gentry family.
Minera Lead Mines is a former lead mine.
Nant Mill Visitor Centre is in a former corn mill in Nant Mill Country Park.
Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham is an art center.
Xplore! in Wrexham has hands-on science exhibits.
Wrexham County Borough Museum covers local history and culture.

Defunct museums

Some museums that used to be open are now closed.

Bersham Heritage Centre
Cae Dai 50s Museum, Denbigh, website, destroyed by fire in 2009
Celtica, Machynlleth, Powys
Griffithstown Railway Museum, Pontypool, closed by owner in 2011
Llanrwst Almshouse Museum, Llanrwst, closed in 2011
Museum of Childhood Memories, Beaumaris
Baked Bean Museum of Excellence, Port Talbot, closed by owner in 2023