You'll find some of the most engaging, fun and educational museums in the UK here in South East England. Whether you're looking to discover more about the stars or cars, dinosaurs or boats, country or town life, there is a museum here for you. You'll find many free museums, making them a great addition to a budget-busting day out that doesn't break the bank. So if you haven't been to a museum in years, you may be interested to hear that museums in England have been transported into the 21st century.
Prepare yourself for a surprise as the South East has some of the most fun museums in England, with hundreds across the region. In place of stuffy rooms and wardens shushing for quiet, you'll find inspirational and interactive spaces with engaging and accessible exhibits from retro cars to animatronics, the chance to journey to the stars and the worlds beyond, get hands-on with history and walk in the footsteps of famous characters in history. Whether you're into heritage, art, science, maritime, or wildlife, you're bound to find something right up your street.
The featured museums are located in the counties of South East England and demonstrate the sheer variety of interest on offer. A more detailed list can be located through the map at the bottom of this page.
Car enthusiasts won’t want to miss the world-famous National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire’s New Forest. See one of the largest car collections held by any of the museums in England, with 250 cars of every age including land speed record-breakers Golden Arrow and Bluebird. Whisk your way along to Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, where you can see an array of vintage vehicles including Hampshire's three big manufacturers.
Hampshire Cultural Trust are guardians of 2.5 million objects that relate to Hampshire’s rich and internationally important cultural heritage. Managing 23 attractions across Hampshire, including the brand new 878 AD which opened in the autumn of 2022 in Winchester, and the recently refurbished Gosport Museum and Art Gallery where you'll find museums and art galleries that explore Vikings, Victorians, Natural Sciences, Archaeology and much more.
The South East is also home to world-famous Bodleian Libraries, Oxford. Not a museum in the traditional form, but the libraries are the oldest in Europe, and are the 2nd largest in the UK, only second to the British Library. Together, they hold over 13 million printed items and today offer the chance to visit and explore them, marvel at their exquisite architecture and dive into their fascinating history with a guided tour.
The D-Day Story and the LCT7074 landing craft, Portsmouth, is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the Allied Invasion in June 1944. Whilst Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is home to not only the world famous Mary Rose but also HMS Victory, Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship. Discover Portsmouth's rich maritime history onboard some of the most famous war ships in British Naval history and find out what life was like for sailors in years gone by.
Use the 'Map View' button below to find museums near you in South East England including dozens of local museums showcasing their town's proud history. Check individual listings to see which museums are open today.
Number of results: 91
, currently showing 61 to 80.
Museum
Hove
Hove Museum is one of the most family friendly and accessible museums in the south east. It also houses one of the finest craft collections in the country.
Museum
Hastings
Visit Hastings’ family-friendly and diverse Museum and Art Gallery for an exploration of art, heritage and history from around the world.
Museum
WINCHESTER
Hampshire Cultural Trust was established as an independent charity in 2014 to promote Hampshire as a county that offers outstanding cultural experiences to both its residents and visitors.
Museum
Rochester
Discover the history of Medway from pre-historic times to the present day at the Guildhall Museum in Rochester.
Museum
GODALMING
Godalming Museum tells the story of Godalming and the surrounding area and includes a few surprising connections.
Museum
Alton
Historic house and garden, home of Gilbert White, author of 'The Natural History of Selborne'. Exhibition on Frank Oates, explorer and Capt Lawrence Oates of Antarctic fame.
Heritage / Visitor Centre
New Milton
Forest Arts Centre is the leading venue for live arts events in the New Forest. A former military drill hall in New Milton, it has a 146 capacity air-conditioned theatre, dance studio, workshop room and licensed café-bar with gallery space.
Museum
Eastney, Southsea
Discover the marvels of Victorian engineering that both improved and lengthened the lives of city residents.
Museum
Dover
Dover Museum, the district's largest and most varied museum, has a range of fascinating real objects, models and original pictures showing the history and archaeology of Dover, along with the Dover Bronze Age Boat, the world's oldest known seagoing…
Museum
Sandown
In a spectacular pterosaur shaped building on Sandown’s blue flag beach walk back through fossilised time and meet life sized replica dinosaurs
Historic House / Palace
Broadstairs
The museum is housed in the cottage that was Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield.
Museum
Alton
One of the finest local history collections in Hampshire, exploring 100 million years of history Displays include prehistoric tools, Roman pottery reconstruction, Saxon burials, the Battle of Alton 1643, the notorious tale of Sweet Fanny Adams and…
Museum
Southsea, Portsmouth
See the flora and fauna of Portsmouth at Cumberland House - the Natural History Museum.
Museum
Broadstairs
The Crampton Tower Museum is a fascinating small museum is partly housed in a flint tower adjacent to the Broadstairs Railway Station.
Museum
WEST COWES
Cowes Maritime Museum displays a selection of objects and images which help to tell the story of Cowes and its important maritime heritage.
Arts Centre
Winchester
A vibrant and versatile gallery space hosting a changing programme of exhibits to celebrate the best of Winchester's thriving arts and heritage scene.
Museum
Portsmouth
Visit the first home of Britain's most famous Victorian author.
Farm
Waterlooville
Butser Ancient Farm, nestled within the Southdowns National Park, is a wonderful outdoor space showcasing Ancient Britain through experimental archaeology.
Museum
Weybridge
Brooklands Museum is on the site of the world's first purpose-built motor racing circuit and houses collections of cars, motorcycles and bicycles, particular from the heyday of the track until it closed in 1939.
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