To celebrate International Museum Day, we’d like to share with you some of the best independent and local museums that the British Isles has to offer. Independent and local museums offer great opportunities for days out and there are hundreds of them all across the UK and Ireland. Whether you’re hoping to learn more about your local area or looking for inspiration for days out on your next UK holiday, then we’d definitely recommend checking out the local and independent museums nearby.
Deal Maritime & Local History Museum
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The Deal Maritime & Local History Museum is a fascinating museum that would certainly be of interest to both locals and holidaymakers. Located in the former fishing and mining town of Deal, on Kent’s beautiful coastline, this small, independent museum is described as one of Deal’s hidden secrets and is jam-packed with interesting and unusual information that even the locals may not know! Housing artefacts from Deal’s extensive maritime history, Royal Marine memorabilia and exhibitions on local industry, this museum is rich in heritage and history. Visitors can also see the Boatyard to the rear of the building where they’ll find open boats to explore.
The Beamish Museum
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The Beamish Museum in County Durham is one of the North East’s best loved attractions. This open air museum allows visitors to step back in time and experience life in the North East of England during the 1820s, 1900s and 1940s. You can take a stroll through an Edwardian Town and visit the sweet shop or stop for a pint in the cosy pub. Visitors can hear gruesome tales at the dentist’s or pop into the bank to learn about Edwardian money; or how about heading over to the 1940s farm, the Edwardian pit village or Edwardian railway station complete with steam trains. Spread across 300 acres of the Durham countryside, you will never run out of things to do here. Adults and children alike will be sure to have an enjoyable day!
Jane Austen’s House Museum
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This seventeenth century house in Hampshire was once home to one of the UK’s most beloved authors, Jane Austen, and is now a small museum dedicated to her life and work. Jane Austen spent the last eight years of her life at this house, known as Chawton Cottage, and it was here that she did the majority of her writing. Emma, Persuasion and Mansfield Park were all written at Chawton and much of her other acclaimed work, including Pride and Prejudice, was revised there. The Jane Austen’s House Museum provides a fascinating insight into Austen’s life and holds a small collection of items belonging to her including letters, books and jewellery. The museum is also host to a wide variety of events throughout the year including talks, workshops and family days.
Do you know of any other fantastic independent or local museums that you’d like to recommend this International Museum Day? We’d love to hear about them! You can let us know either by sending us a tweet or by leaving us a comment on our Facebook page.