Museums in England (A-B)
A highly idiosyncratic list of both public and commercial places to visit, based on the exacting criteria of whatever I think might be fun. There are, of course, thousands of museums big and small throughout the UK. What's your favourite?

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abbot Hall    Abbot Hall is a lovely Georgian manor situated in the shadow of Kendal Castle beside the River Kent in the village of Kendal. Kendal, Cumbria, England, LA9 5AL Attraction Type: Museum Location: off A591 Website: Abbot Hall Email: info@abbothall.org.uk Phone: 01539 722 464 Fax: 01539 722 494 Location map Details of Abbot Hall OS SD517 922 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Alford Manor House Museum    Beautiful thatched manor built in the 17th century contains the obligatory displays on local history, but also recreations of period scenes, including a cobbler's shop, a chemist's, and a Victorian veterinarian's premises. West Street, Alford, Lincolnshire, England, LN13 9DJ Attraction Type: Museum Location: on the A1111 Website: Alford Manor House Museum Email: info@alfordmanorhouse.co.uk Phone: 01507 463073 Location map OS TF453 760 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

American Museum and Gardens    Homesick for American landscapes? Or curious about the flora of the New World? The gardens at the American Museum are home to a collection of North American trees and shrubs, as well as a recreation of the garden at Mount Vernon, Virginia home of George Washington. Claverton Manor, Bath, Somerset, England, BA2 7BD Attraction Type: Museum Location: 2 m SE of city centre Website: American Museum and Gardens Email: info@americanmuseum.org Phone: 01225 460 503 Fax: 01225 469 160 Location map OS ST784640 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Amersham Museum    The museum is housed in a half-trimbered merchant's hall dating from the 15th century. Within the hall are exhibits tracing the history and archaeology of the area, including medieval wall paintings, lacemaking, costumes, fossils, and local crafts. 49 High Street, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England, HP7 0DP Attraction Type: Museum Website: Amersham Museum Email: Curator@AmershamMuseum.org Phone: 01494 723 700 Location map OS SU957 974 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Ashmolean Museum    The oldest museum in Britain, dating back to 1683. Exhibits from Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Asia, focussing on ceramics, paintings, and silver. The prize exhibit, without a doubt, is the magnificent gold-encrusted "Alfred Jewel", a Saxon relic possibly made for Alfred the Great. Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, OX1 2PH Attraction Type: Museum Location: on A4144 Website: Ashmolean Museum Phone: 01865 278000 Fax: 01865 278018 Location map Details of Ashmolean Museum OS SP512 066 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings    600 years worth of historic buildings rescued from demolition, ranging from a 15th century merchant's house to a 1946 prefab. Working windmill, a Victorian chainshop, and the National Telephone Kiosk Collection (so there's no excuse for not phoning home). Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England, B60 4JR Attraction Type: Museum Location: on A38 Website: Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings Email: admin@avoncroft.org.uk Phone: 01527 831 363 Fax: 01527 876 934 Location map OS SO952 685 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bagshaw Museum    Located in a picturesque park setting, the Batley Museum houses exhibitions of local social history, and objects from Egypt, Asia and Africa, as well as displays of taxidermy. Wilton Park, Batley, Yorkshire, England, WF17 0AS Attraction Type: Museum Location: Closed until sometime in 2008 for structural work and redevelopment. Website: Bagshaw Museum Email: bagshaw.museum@kirklees.gov.uk Phone: 01924 326 155 Fax: 01924 326 164 Location map OS SE235 258 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden    The studio and sculpture garden owned by noted 20th century sculptor Barbara Hepworth are maintained by the Tate St. Ives museum as part of its committment to preserve and offer access to the best of modern British art. Hepworth created the garden before her death, and asked that the sculpture be displayed exactly as she had placed it. Barnoon Hill , St Ives, Cornwall, England, TR26 1AD Attraction Type: Museum Website: Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden Phone: 01736 796 226 Location map Details of Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden OS SW518 406 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Barley Hall    1980's discovery of medieval townhouse of the Priors of Nostell, restored to its late 15th century condition, the period when it was occupied by goldsmith Mayor of York, Alderman William Snawsell. 2 Coffee Yard, Stonegate York, Yorkshire, England, YO1 8AR Attraction Type: Museum Location: just S of York Minster Website: Barley Hall Email: barley.hall@btconnect.com Phone: 01904 610 275 Location map Details of Barley Hall OS SE603 521 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bate Collection of Musical Instruments    Tucked away in the basement of the Faculty of Music, this wonderful museum has 300 year old keyboards, harpsichords, woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments on display. Oxford University Faculty of Music, St. Aldate's Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, OX1 1DB Attraction Type: Museum Location: near the Cathedral on A420 Website: Bate Collection of Musical Instruments Email: bate.collection@music.ox.ac.uk Phone: 01865 276139 Fax: 01865 276128 Location map OS SP515 058 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bath Postal Museum    The museum traces the history of the postal service, including a recreation of a 19th century post office. 27 Northgate Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 1AJ Attraction Type: Museum Website: Bath Postal Museum Email: info@bathpostalmuseum.org Phone: 01225 460 333 Location map OS ST751 650 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Beatrix Potter Gallery    Housed in a building that was once the office of the author's husband, the museum offers changing exhibits of original watercolour illustrations and sketches from her stories. Main Street, Hawkshead, Cumbria, England, LA22 0NS Attraction Type: Museum Location: on B5285 Website: Beatrix Potter Gallery Email: beatrixpottergallery@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 015394 36355 Fax: 015394 36187 National Trust Location map Details of Beatrix Potter Gallery OS SD352 982 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Beckford's Tower    Climb the spiral staircase of the 120-foot neo-classical tower built in 1827 for William Beckford, writer, collector and patron of the arts. Museum houses items from his collection. Set in Victorian Cemetery housing Beckford's tomb. Lansdown Road, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 9BH Attraction Type: Museum Website: Beckford's Tower Email: admin@bptrust.org.uk Phone: 01225 460 705 Fax: 01225 481 850 Location map OS ST738 676 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bedford Museum    Museum of the the geology, archaeology, natural history, and social history of the Bedford area, housed in the former Higgins Castle Brewery. Castle Lane, Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, MK40 3XD Attraction Type: Museum Location: off the High Street, near the Embankment Website: Bedford Museum Email: bmuseum@bedford.gov.uk Phone: 01234 353 323 Fax: 01234 273 401 Location map Details of Bedford Museum OS TL052 499 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bilston Art Gallery and Museum    High quality contemporary crafts in a friendly and informal environment. Visitors are invited to ask questions, bring the children, and enjoy! Many of the works are for sale. Mount Pleasant, Bilston, West Midlands, England, WV14 7LU Attraction Type: Museum Location: off A41 Website: Bilston Art Gallery and Museum Email: bilstoncraftgallery@dial.pipex.co.uk Phone: 01902 552507 Location map OS SO953 967 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Black Country Living Museum    Heritage buildings relocated from their original Black Country settings form this 26 acre urban living heritage museum. Working craftsmen, exhibition halls, underground coalmine, 1930s fish and chip shop, and much more. Tipton Road, West Midlands, Dudley, England, DY1 4SQ Attraction Type: Museum Location: on A4037, 3 m from M5 Junction 2 Website: Black Country Living Museum Email: info@bclm.co.uk Phone: 0121 557 9643 Location map OS SO951 916 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Boston Guildhall Museum    Museum housed in 15th century guildhall, the site where the Pilgrim Fathers were imprisoned in 1607 before sailing to America (the original prison cells can be viewed). 16th century kitchen, maritime and rural exhibits. St Mary's Guildhall, South Street Boston, Lincolnshire, England, PE21 6HT Attraction Type: Museum Location: off A52. Re-opens summer 2007 Email: enquiries@thehavengallery.org.uk Phone: 01205 358 737 Location map OS TF329 440 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bosworth Battlefield and Country Park    This is where the Middle Ages staggered to an end. On this field Richard III lost his kingdom and his life to Henry VII in 1485. There are displays and models of the battle in the visitor centre, along with armour, a theatre for film and live presentations, and battlefield trails. Sutton Cheney, Nuneaton, Leicestershire, England, CV13 0AD Attraction Type: Museum Location: on B585 Website: Bosworth Battlefield and Country Park Email: bosworth@leics.gov.uk Phone: 01455 290 429 Fax: 01455 292 841 Location map OS SK41381 006 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bristol's Georgian House Museum    18th century townhouse offers a glimpse into the life of the times, above and below stairs. 7 Great George Street, West End Bristol, Bristol, England, BS1 5RR Attraction Type: Museum Email: general_museum@bristol-city.gov.uk Phone: 0117 921 1362 Fax: 0117 922 2047 Location map OS ST581729 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Broughton House Gallery    Set in an 18th century townhouse, Broughton House is the oldest of the Cambridge commercial galleries of contemporary art, and offers exhibitions of the work of contemporary artists as well as permanent displays and archives of the work of Gwen Raverat. Periodic displays of sculpture in the walled garden. 98 King Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, CB1 1LN Attraction Type: Museum Location: in the city centre, 5 minute walk from Drummer Street Bus Station Email: bhgallery@btconnect.com Phone: 01223 314 960 Location map OS TL452 586 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Buckinghamshire County Museum    The County Museum and Art Gallery is located in the centre of Aylesbury, in mostly 15th century buildings. The museum exhibits focus on the history and unique cultural heritage of the Buckinghamshire area through 8 themed exhibit areas, including Fossils, Celts and Romans, Jewellery, Clay and Brickmaking, Farming, Wood and Woodland, Lacemaking, and Villages of Buckinghamshire. Church Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, HP20 2QP Attraction Type: Museum Location: the museum shares a space with the Roald Dahl Gallery Website: Buckinghamshire County Museum Email: museum@buckscc.gov.uk Phone: 01296 331 441 Fax: 01296 334 884 Location map Details of Buckinghamshire County Museum OS SP818 139 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Building of Bath Museum    Innovative hands-on exploration of the development of the Georgian city. The Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, The Vineyards, The Paragon Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 5NA Attraction Type: Museum Location: in city centre Website: Building of Bath Museum Email: admin@bptrust.org.uk Phone: 01225 333 895 Fax: 01225 445 473 Bath Preservation Trust Location map OS ST7506 654 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Burwell Museum of Fen Edge Village Life    Learn what village life was like on the edge of the Cambridgeshire fens. Early 19th century working windmill, forge, and lots more. Mill Close, Burwell, Cambridgeshire, England Attraction Type: Museum Location: in Burwell, 5 miles NW of Newmarket on B1103 Website: Burwell Museum of Fen Edge Village Life Email: museum@burwellmuseum.org.uk Phone: 01638 605 544 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Byard Art    Ongoing displays of work by 200 artists in a range of 2 and 3D disciplines. Established in 1993. 4 St. Mary's Passage, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, CB2 3PQ Attraction Type: Museum Location: off the A1134 (Queens Road) Website: Byard Art Email: info@byardart.co.uk Phone: 01223 464 646 Fax: 01223 464 655 Location map OS TL448 584 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

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