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New Forest
If you haven't been to a museum in years for fear of drab venues and broken pots in glass cases, 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. Whether you're into heritage, art, science, maritime, or wildlife, you're bound to find something right up your street.
The featured museums in the counties of South East England demonstrate the sheer variety of interest on offer and a more detailed list of museums in South East England can be located through the map at the bottom of this page.
The South East is home to two brilliant Dockyards: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard in Hampshire and The Historic Dockyard Chatham in Kent. Discover 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.
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.
Many of Britain’s best-loved authors lived in the South East and found the region inspirational for their work. Explore the Jane Austen's House in Hampshire, the house where Jane Austen wrote some of her famous novels, and visit the many locations in Kent that tell of the life and works of Charles Dickens.
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: 122
, currently showing 1 to 20.
Museum
Paddock Wood
A collection of well-preserved Victorian oast houses, home to the Hop Story Museum and the famous grey and black shire horses. 'Decades experience,' Indoor adventure playground and nature trail.
Museum
Aldershot
The museum tells the story of military medicine, nursing, dental and veterinary science from 1660 until today.
Castle / Fort
Southsea, Portsmouth
Built in 1544, Southsea Castle was part of a series of fortifications constructed by Henry VIII around England's coasts.
Museum
Beaulieu
Beaulieu featuring the world famous National Motor Museum, Palace House home of the Montagu family and Abbey Ruins containing an exhibition of monastic life.
Museum
Windsor
The Windsor & Royal Borough Museum is a registered/accredited, family-friendly and accessible small local history museum in a Grade 1 listed building completed in 1689.
Museum
Haslemere
An award winning Museum in the heart of Haslemere with remarkable collections of natural history, human history and geology.
Museum
Winchester
The Gurkha Museum takes you on a journey of discovery through the history of Gurkhas in British service.
Heritage / Visitor Centre
Witney
Everyone who visits Cogges for the first time is bowled over by its beauty. Visit a unique venue and heritage site with a fascinating story, set around a manor house and farm buildings, walled garden and orchard. Take welly walks around the island...
Museum
Hemel Hempstead
Frogmore Paper Mill is the world’s oldest mechanised paper mill, the birthplace of paper’s industrial revolution. Now operated by a conservation charity, Frogmore is both a working paper mill and a heritage visitor experience.
Museum
Brighton
This fascinating museum houses exhibits that include hundreds of British birds displayed in recreated natural settings, insects from butterflies to beetles, a killer whale skeleton and dinosaur bones
Gallery
Eastbourne
Towner, the contemporary art museum, is Eastbourne's new art gallery and centre for the visual arts in the South East.
Heritage / Visitor Centre
Ashford
135 year old Smock Mill, in course of restoration. Miller's cottage, restored Hornsby 14hp gas oil engine which drives one pair of stones.
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
Museum
Winchester
Five splendid military museums on an historic site with Visitor Centre, café displays and activities to interest all the family.
Museums & Galleries
Lymington
St. Barbe Museum explores the unique history of Lymington and the New Forest Coast. Take a journey and discover the people, places and events that have made the New Forest coast unique with our up-to-date interactive museum displays. Experience some...
Museum
Gosport
Go onboard our submarines with a submariner to hear his stories about living beneath the waves. Peer into the only surviving WW2 midget submarine, climb inside the Royal Navy’s first submarine and relax in our harbour side coffee shop.
Museums & Galleries
Aldershot
Housed in the only surviving brick-built barrack blocks left in Aldershot, Aldershot Military Museum tells the story of daily life for both soldier and civilian in the town since 1854.
Heritage / Visitor Centre
RYE
Housed in a converted Victorian sail loft at the foot of Mermaid Street, Rye Heritage Centre is the home of the unique ‘Story of Rye’ Town Model Sound and Light Show- a delightful scale model of the town that plays a 20 minute show bringing the...
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.
Farm
Waterlooville
Butser Ancient Farm, nestled within the Southdowns National Park, is a wonderful outdoor space showcasing Ancient Britain through experimental archaeology.
© Visit South East England 2019. All Rights Reserved
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