List of museums in Wiltshire facts for kids
Wiltshire is a beautiful county in England with a rich history. It's home to many amazing museums! These museums are special places where cool objects from the past, art, science, and history are kept safe. They help us learn about different times and how people lived. You can see everything from ancient tools to classic cars and grand old houses.
This list will help you discover some of the fantastic museums you can visit in Wiltshire. Each one offers a unique adventure into the past or a look at interesting collections.
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Awesome Museums in Wiltshire!
Step Back in Time: History & Local Life
These museums focus on the history of specific towns and the people who lived there.
* Located in Aldbourne. * Discover the local history and culture of the area. They even have collections of bells!
- Athelstan Museum
* Found in Malmesbury. * Learn about local history, culture, and see collections of lace, old coins, and even bicycles!
- Bradford on Avon Museum
* In Bradford on Avon. * Explore local history, nature, and a cool recreated Victorian pharmacy shop.
- Calne Heritage Centre
* Located in Calne. * This centre shares the local history and art of the town.
- Chippenham Museum
* In Chippenham. * Dive into the local history and culture of Chippenham.
- Chiseldon Museum
* Found in Chiseldon. * A great place to learn about the local history of this village.
- Corsham Information and Heritage Centre
* In Corsham. * This centre provides local history and useful information about the area.
- Cricklade Museum
* Located in Cricklade. * Explore the local history and culture of Cricklade.
- Market Lavington Village Museum
* In Market Lavington. * Learn about local history, old rural jobs, farming, and how people lived at home.
- Mere Museum
* Found in Mere. * Discover the local history of Mere.
- Pewsey Heritage Centre
* Located in Pewsey. * This centre has collections covering local history, social life, and farming history of the Vale of Pewsey.
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- Purton Museum
* In Purton. * Learn about local history, home life, and farming in Purton.
- Warminster Museum
* Found in Warminster. * Also known as the Warminster Dewey Museum, it covers local history and geology.
- The Well House Collection
* In Melksham. * See artifacts and a large collection of photos celebrating Melksham's history.
- Westbury Visitor Centre
* Located in Westbury. * Features local history displays and acts as a visitor information centre.
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- Wilton Town Museum
* In Wilton. * Shares the local history of Wilton. It's in the same place as the Wilton Carpet Museum.
* Located in Devizes. * This museum covers archaeology, art, local history, social history, and nature in Wiltshire. It has very important collections!
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* In Wootton Bassett. * Explore the local history and culture of Wootton Bassett.
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Amazing Homes & Gardens
Explore grand houses, beautiful gardens, and historic buildings.
* Located in Salisbury. * This 18th-century home belonged to former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath. You can see his furniture and personal collections.
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* In Avebury. * Run by the National Trust, this is an early 16th-century manor house with a lovely early 20th-century garden.
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* Located in Derry Hill. * A grand Georgian country house with interiors designed by Robert Adam and a garden by Capability Brown.
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* In Corsham. * See 17th-century almshouses (old homes for poor people) and a schoolroom from that time.
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* Located in Corsham. * A 16th-century country house famous for its art collection and a landscape designed by Capability Brown.
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* In Great Chalfield, near Atworth. * Run by the National Trust, this is a 15th-century moated manor house with beautiful gardens.
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* Located in Lacock. * Run by the National Trust, this site includes a medieval country home, a former abbey, a charming village, and a museum about photography pioneer William Henry Fox Talbot.
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- Little Clarendon
* In Dinton. * Run by the National Trust, this is a late 15th-century stone house with a chapel.
* Located in Horningsham. * An amazing Elizabethan country house with a maze, landscaped parkland, and a safari park!
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* In Swindon. * A grand Palladian stately home with restored rooms and changing art exhibits.
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- Merchant's House, Marlborough
* Located in Marlborough. * A 17th-century merchant's house, showing how people lived and worked back then.
* In Salisbury. * Run by the National Trust, this 18th-century Queen Anne house has period furniture, a collection of drinking glasses, and a walled garden.
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* Located in Dinton. * Run by the National Trust, this early 19th-century Neo-Grecian country house has Regency furniture and a lovely park.
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- Railway Village Museum
* In Swindon. * Step inside a Victorian railway worker's cottage to see how they lived.
- Richard Jefferies Museum
* Located in Coate. * This is the birthplace and museum of the famous writer and naturalist Richard Jefferies.
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* In Stourton. * Run by the National Trust, this Palladian mansion has a beautiful library, Chippendale furniture, paintings, and stunning 18th-century gardens.
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* Located in Westwood. * Run by the National Trust, this 15th-century manor house was built over many years. It features period furniture, tapestries, and a modern topiary garden.
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* In Wilton. * A grand Palladian country house with amazing state rooms, art, sculptures, and beautiful gardens.
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Wheels, Wings & Wires: Transport & Tech
These museums are perfect for those who love vehicles, machines, and how things work!
- Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum
* Located in Calne. * See classic and rare cars, lorries, motorcycles, mopeds, and even push bikes, along with lots of cool memorabilia.
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* At Old Sarum Airfield. * Discover restored aircraft, vehicles, and items related to RAF Boscombe Down.
* Located in Great Bedwyn. * An early 19th-century steam-powered pumping station with working engines. It's amazing to see how they moved water long ago!
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* In Devizes. * Learn all about the history and heritage of the Kennet and Avon Canal.
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* Located in Swindon. * Explore the history of computers and digital technology, including the Internet and video games!
* In Wroughton. * This site holds many large objects from the Science Museum (London). You can visit by booking special tours in the summer.
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* Located in Swindon. * See historic locomotives, railway carriages, and learn about the history of the Great Western Railway. You can even see reconstructed work areas!
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* In Blunsdon. * A heritage railway with museum exhibits open during special events at the Blunsdon railway station.
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* Located in Wilton. * An early 19th-century brick tower windmill with five floors.
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Art & Creativity
For those who love art and design!
- Bedwyn Stone Museum
* In Great Bedwyn. * Features beautiful carved stone decorations and pieces.
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* Located in Swindon. * This museum holds the Swindon Collection of Modern British Art. It also covers local history, archaeology, and geology.
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- Oxfam Art Gallery
* In Salisbury. * An art gallery run by the charity Oxfam.
- The Pound
* Located in Corsham. * This is a performing arts centre that also has an exhibit gallery.
* In Salisbury. * A centre for performing and visual arts.
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- Young Gallery
* Located in Salisbury. * Housed at Salisbury Library, it shows 19th-century images of Salisbury by Edward Young, and works by contemporary British artists. It often features art with a Wiltshire connection.
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Military History
Learn about soldiers and military equipment.
* Located at MoD Lyneham. * See artifacts used by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, including communications equipment, computers, vehicles, and weapons.
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* In Salisbury. * This museum shares the history and artifacts of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment, which is now part of The Rifles. It's also known as The Wardrobe Military Museum.
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Other Interesting Museums
* Located in Avebury. * This museum focuses on prehistoric artifacts, mostly found at Avebury, and the history of this ancient site.
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- Lackham Museum of Agriculture and Rural Life
* In Lacock. * Based at Wiltshire College Lackham, it shows displays of farming, agriculture, old rural jobs, and country life.
* Located in Salisbury. * This museum has amazing collections covering archaeology, Stonehenge and prehistory, art, Roman, Saxon, and medieval history, social history, and costumes. It's a nationally important museum!
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* In Trowbridge. * Features equipment and exhibits about the local textile industry.
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- Wilton Carpet Factory Museum
* Located in Wilton. * Learn about the history of the Wilton Carpet Factory and even take tours. It's in the same place as the Wilton Town Museum.
Museums That Are No Longer Open
Sometimes museums close down. Here are a couple that used to be in Wiltshire:
- Castle Combe Museum, Castle Combe, closed in 2012.
- Coate Agricultural Museum at Coate Water Country Park, closed and was sadly destroyed by fire in December 2016.
See also
- Category:Tourist attractions in Wiltshire
