10 fascinating and unusual museums in the UK
When you’re planning a day out, a museum can be the perfect way to occupy your time while learning something new.
Yet, with so many to choose from across the UK, deciding where to go isn’t always easy. In fact, the Museums Association suggests there are around 2,500 museums in the UK, depending on how broadly you define them.
While many focus on history, art, or science, you might find yourself looking for something a bit different from time to time.
Thankfully, the UK is home to several more unusual museums, displaying anything from everyday items to more niche areas of history.
So, continue reading to discover 10 of the most fascinating and unusual museums you can visit across the country.
1. The Pencil Museum, Cumbria
Found in Keswick, Cumbria, the Derwent Pencil Museum does exactly what it says on the tin. Here, you can learn the story of pencil production in the Lake District.
It focuses on the history of graphite mining in the area, including the entrance being through a replica graphite mine, which was vital for the development of pencils. Many of the exhibits cover everything from early production to the evolution of designs and materials.
And, of course, there are some more unusual items, such as the largest colour pencil according to the Guiness World Records, and World War Two pencils with hidden maps, and much more.
2. The House of Marbles, Devon
The House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey, Devon is a unique mixture of museums and workshop. As the name suggests, the Marble museum is home to a plethora of marbles, from the early examples made of clay and stone to modern-day marbles, they also have a Glass Museum showcasing glassmaking techniques and the history of the craft.
Excitingly, you can also see vast marble runs in action. The site also includes an operational glasswork where you can watch craftsmen shape molten glass.
3. The Devil’s Porridge Museum, Dornock
Near Gretna in Dumfries and Galloway, the Devil’s Porridge Museum explores a unique part of Britain’s wartime history.
The unique name refers to the nickname given to cordite, an explosive used during both world wars.
The museum is actually built on the site of a vast munitions factory, HM Factory Gretna, that once employed thirty thousand workers.
Here, you’ll find photos, items, and personal experiences that tell the story of those who lived and worked there.
4. The Museum of Cider, Herefordshire
Found in the west of the city of Hereford, the Museum of Cider was founded in 1980 and is dedicated to preserving the story of cider for future generations.
Located on the site of the old Bulmer’s cider factory, the museum covers more than just the alcoholic drink itself, with exhibits on the the social history of the drink, the science behind cider-making, and the variety of apples that they still use in cider-making today.
And, of course, there are small samples of cider, perry, and apple juice available for visitors, dependent on your preference.
5. The Crab Museum, Kent
In Margate, the Crab Museum manages to take something quite niche and turn it into something genuinely interesting.
As you might have guessed, the museum is all about crabs. The exhibits explore how they evolved, how they behave, and how they might fit into broader environmental issues.
However, it isn’t all serious, as it manages to combine scientific facts with plenty of humour.
6. The Morbitorium, Newport
If you’re in the mood for something a bit weirder, then the Morbitorium in Pontywaun, just north-west of Newport might be something for you. Filled with a varied collection of oddities the nineteenth-century cottage has exhibits covering folklore, medical antiques, witchcraft and more.
The Morbitorium also runs regular workshops for those interested in learning more about witchcraft and wicca.
This old-fashioned cabinet of curiosities is a must visit for anyone with an interest in the unusual things in life.
7. The Bubblecar Museum, Boston
In rural Lincolnshire, the Bubblecar Museum is filled with tiny cars that look alien compared with today’s cars, but were surprisingly popular in the UK in the late 1940s all the way through to the 1960s.
They were once seen as a practical solution, as they were cheap and fuel efficient.
8. The Coffin Works, Birmingham
A slightly morbid, but incredibly interesting, museum is the Coffin Works in Birmingham.
This unique museum tells the story of coffin furniture, set in the last coffin-furniture manufactory in Birmingham, with the old factory having been left largely as it was when it ceased trading in 1998, after over 100 years of trading.
This means that as you view the exhibits, you’re also walking through the spaces where people worked, giving you a clearer picture of the craft behind something you might rarely think about.
9. Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast
The Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast is ideal if you prefer a walk-through museum experience.
The former prison, made famous (or infamous) in The Troubles, has been turned into a visitor attraction, and you can explore everything from the cells to the underground tunnels that once connected it to the courthouse.
While it is stark, the stories behind the place really bring it to life and offer a unique and powerful insight into the daily lives of prisoners and prison officers in Belfast’s most historic jail.
10. The Hunterian Museum, London
If you’re interested in how surgery has developed over time, the Hunterian Museum in London could be perfect for you. Named after the 18th century surgeon anatomist John Hunter who founded the museum, it has collections totalling tens of thousands of specimens covering ever aspect of surgery and the anatomy of both humans and other animals, with a selection of them available to view in the museum itself..
Inside, you can explore the history of surgery from ancient times all the way through to modern day. The museum also looks into it’s founder, hosting only a third of his original collection of around 14,000 specimens after most were lost when the museum was firebombed during World War 2.
In the final room of the museum, personal experiences of surgery are re-told, from both the patients’ and surgeons’ perspectives. Tales of life saving and enhancing surgery, alongside the forging of unique personal and professional bonds show how surgery has transformed many lives.
Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.