VisitBritain - The official website for tourism in Britain
England is simply packed full of excellent museums and galleries. Whether you want to explore of our free national collections or have a particular interest in one of our many specialist museums.
You will be spoilt for choice with our range of museums. Learn about the region's former industries, such as explosives at the Royal Gunpowder Mills (www.visiteastofengland.com/special-offers/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0225005) - whilst the Stockwood Discovery Centre (www.visiteastofengland.com/be-inspired/heritage/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0211442) has the UK's largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles. Britain's most famous seafaring hero, Lord Nelson was a local boy - and the Norfolk Nelson Museum (www.visiteastofengland.com/be-inspired/heritage/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0226710) traces his childhood and famous battles. At Ely, visit the former home of Oliver Cromwell (www.visiteastofengland.com/be-inspired/heritage/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0226050) - and try on the medieval hats.
The famous Fitzwilliam (www.visiteastofengland.com/be-inspired/heritage/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0220055) in Cambridge has world-class collections of art and antiquities; or head to Norwich, where the Castle Museum and Art Gallery (www.visiteastofengland.com/be-inspired/heritage/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0220264) is home to the world's largest collection of ceramic teapots. The Natural History Museum (www.visiteastofengland.com/be-inspired/heritage/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0141482) at Tring is home to an extinct moa and quagga. Sea-faring tales and fishy stories come alive at the award-winning Time and Tide Museum (www.visiteastofengland.com/be-inspired/heritage/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=0226501).
Find out more about heritage in the East of England
The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum (www.captcook-ne.co.uk/ccbm/index.htm) in Middlesbrough whisks you back 200 years for a three year sea voyage in the shoes of a quartermaster. At the Discovery Museum in Newcastle you can see Turbinia, the world’s fastest ship when she was launched in 1897. Or discover Roman England, in a letter written almost 2000 years ago from a mother to her soldier son who was serving on Hadrian’s Wall: just one of the astonishing finds now displayed at Vindolanda (www.vindolanda.com/).
Neither a gallery nor a museum, BALTIC (www.balticmill.com/) Centre for Contemporary Art is a new breed of art space. Housed in a 1950s grain warehouse overlooking the river Tyne, it has four huge display areas to showcase the work of leading international contemporary artists in constantly changing exhibitions.
More about the North East (www.visitnortheastengland.com/)
The Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Bradford is an impressive Baroque-style gallery offering collections by British and European masters, as well as contemporary Indian and Islamic collections. Take a voyage of discovery at the National Museum of Photography, Film & Television (www.nmpft.org.uk/). Explore the 10 free interactive galleries where you can ride on a magic carpet, read the news or look back at your TV favourites from yesteryear.
More info about Yorkshire (www.yorkshirevisitor.com/)
The National Space Centre (www.spacecentre.co.uk/) in Leicester is the UK's largest attraction dedicated to space science and astronomy. The only Charles Rennie Mackintosh House outside of Scotland, 78 Derngate (www.78derngate.org.uk/) is a triumphant feat of design from one of the most admired designers of the 20th Century. Cromford Mill (www.cromfordmill.co.uk/) in Derbyshire is the world's first successful water powered cotton spinning mill and acclaimed throughout the world as being the first complete factory system.
Discover the history of our national pastime with a visit to The National Football Museum (www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/), Preston, and explore its excellent displays of memorabilia and artefacts. The Lowry Galleries (www.thelowry.com/) in Salford showcase changing exhibitions by one of Britain's best loved artists, LS Lowry, as well as paintings, sculpture and photography by artists of local, national and international renown.
More about the North West (www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com/)
