Museums - Kids days out

Barbican House Museum, opposite the Castle, tells the story of Sussex from the Stone Age through the medieval period. Displays include flint tools, pottery, weapons, jewelry and other archaeological discoveries. It also houses a model of Lewes during the Victorian period.

Special family sessions on archaeological and historical themes are held all year. Other events include a Medieval Day and open-air theatre performances.

We have displays on local geology, archaeology and history, and each gallery has a variety of hands-on activities for children. Please see our leaflet or website for details of special exhibitions, events and activities.

Web: www.chichester.gov.uk/museum

Web: www.buzzrail.co.uk

Our vast collection, including 103 locomotives and 177 other items of rolling stock, tells the railway tale from Rocket to Eurostar. Permanent displays include “Palaces on Wheels”. Royal saloons dating back from the pre-Victorian era. Log onto our website for full details of what we offer and how to get there.

24hr Information Line: (01904) 686286

Web: www.nrm.org.uk

Open: Wed-Sun 1pm-5pm. Entrance free.

Special events are run throughout the year.

The museum is also a fine period house showing the upstairs downstairs way of life in times past, including a working Victorian kitchen and laundry, elegant Regency drawing room and charming Edwardian nursery.

Web: www.holstmuseum.org.uk

There are over thirty museums in Surrey, so there's lots to choose from! Below is listed a few examples, log onto the website for full information on each museum including opening times and contact details

Bourne Hall Museum: Local History
Brooklands: Motor Sport & Aviation
Chertsey: Runnymead and Chertsey Abbey
Dorking & District: Local History
East Surrey: Exhibitions on local life
Elmbridge: Local history from pre-historic on.
Reigate Priory: Local history
Leatherhead: Local history
Haselmere Educational Museum: A mini British Museum!
Surrey Heath: Children's museum of local history

Web: www.surreymuseums.org.uk/

The museums and art galleries which comprise TWM are:

Gateshead
Shipley Art Gallery
Newcastle
Discovery Museum
Hancock Museum
Laing Art Gallery
North Tyneside
Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum
Stephenson Railway Museum
South Tyneside
Arbeia Roman Fort & Museum
South Shields Museum & Art Gallery
Sunderland
Monkwearmouth Station Museum
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Washington F Pit

For full details of all the above:

Combining science and entertainment in spectacular fashion there's something at Thinktank for everyone.

Mary Arden's House has something for everyone; beautiful Tudor Farmhouse, Countryside Museum, Victorian Glebe Farm, falconary displays, working blacksmith's forge, prize winning livestock and much more.

Discover the many streets and shops fronts as you find yourself being gripped by the timeless quality of the models. It is hard to imagine the skills and dedication of the model makers who toiled away at their task over half a century ago.

Web: www.wimborne-modeltown.com

Web: www.sheffieldgalleries.org.uk

Web: www.keepmilitarymuseum.org

The Aquarium houses both temperate and tropical fish and reptiles.

Web: www.boltonmuseums.org.uk

The area has seen a thriving salt industry, smugglers landing their illegal cargoes on the coast, and has a long tradition of innovative boat building. The museum's aim is to capture the unique flavour of life in the district and to bring first class art exhibitions into the town.

Web: www.stbarbe-museum.org.uk