Kids in Museums

Shortlist announced!

The shortlist for the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award is announced – and there’s something for every family on it. An expert panel of judges, chaired by Jenny Abramsky, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, had a tough job picking a shortlist of six from the 20 longlisted family friendly museums nominated by visitors, volunteers and museums themselves. ‘All the museums on the shortlist are providing wonderful experiences for families,’ says Jenny Abramsky. ‘Taking part in the Family Friendly Museum Award by visiting the shortlisted museums will be worthwhile and fun. The transformation of museums across the UK to encourage family visits has been remarkable and deserves celebrating.’

What happens next?

Our family judges are currently out and about anonymously road-testing the shortlisted museums. The family judges report how friendly they find the museum, using the Kids in Museums Manifesto as a guide. The museum with the best family reports and most points wins.

The winner – chosen by the family judges – will be announced at the end of May.

The winner is announced at the Award Winners ceremony, in the Telegraph newspaper and on this website.

Do you want to help pick the winner?

If you’d like to be a judging family, email award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk and we’ll be back in touch.

The shortlisted museums

World Museum, Liverpool

‘Some of the things I liked – looking through masks, feeding the fish, watching the ants, learning about dinosaurs, the big german rocket, doing the trail, looking at the cool things in the shop. I loved the day I went to the museum. I loved EVERYTHING!’ Nathan, 7

‘The staff are very friendly and helpful and we had a great time doing all the free things. The dinosaur lecture was brilliant. A brilliant day out with my dad.’ Ella, 7

‘The volunteers who keep the kids entertained with mask making and art workshops are especially good and have the patience of a saint.’ Graeme Jones, Liverpool

Haslemere Educational Museum, Surrey

‘I like the museum because I can do lots of hiding, gluing and sticking. I like to look at the bugs and scary things.’ Holly, 3

‘There is ALWAYS something new and different to see. The recently refurbished beehive is endlessly fascinating, its herb garden a delight of scents. In the entrance there is a display of flowers and plants that can be found growing wild in the local vicinity. They have beautiful stained glass to admire. I am now in my 50s, and the museum has kept me fascinated since I was a little boy!’ Derrick O’Byrne

‘Though relatively small, it is packed with well kept specimens of all sorts of wildlife – native and foreign, animals, birds, butterflies, marine creatures. It is free. There are also artefacts from Egypt, including a slightly mouldering mummy and mummified cats and dogs. Children adore it and are made very welcome.’ Jane Carpenter, Chichester

Museum of London and Museum of London Docklands

‘We visited with our daughter, her partner and their two daughters, aged 6 and 4. We were impressed by the exhibits at low level, explanations that weren’t too long but weren’t patronizing, interactive items. The art activities were great and the children were kept very busy colouring in Festival of Britain symbols. It made me feel old!’ Viv Elsom

‘A favourite haunt for our family. The picnic room is a big draw in these cash strapped times – though weary parents can still get a decent coffee in the café.’ Karen O’Connor

‘We have been visiting Museum of London Docklands since Alex was 6 months old. Storytelling, workshops, play area – love them all.’ Kateryna Larrson

Brixham Heritage Museum, Devon

‘The staff are not stuffy. They enjoy helping everyone and all ages, with different trails to follow and things to find, sitting in a model boat, drawing and doing mosaics, dressing up, pushing buttons to make the appropriate noises. Mothers and fathers too can easily find something to interest them or just chill out watching the train video.’ Cathy Craig, Brixham

Wolverhampton Art Galley

’I really enjoyed the paper workshop and all the textile workshops too – they’re two things I’ve never done before. Thanks!’ teenager

‘I am a regular at the Make Your Mark sessions where my 18 month old daughter can get down and dirty with paints and have access to things she would never play with at home. One week we found ourselves painting with ketchup and coffee!’ Rachel Munson

National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

’Ben, 4, and Thomas, 2, knew exactly where they wanted Granny to go. They lead me to the amazing T Rex and all the other wonderful stuffed animals, past steam engines and racing cars, ending up in a room full of interesting things to do and experiment with, quiet corners with books to sit and read, musical instruments to play, drawers and cupboards to peek inside, convex and concave mirrors to parade past once dressed up. What a fantastic way to get two wee boys to actually ask to go and visit a museum. I can’t wait to take them back.’ Charlotte Hunt, Stirlingshire.

Read about the shortlist in the Telegraph.

Want to find out more about the history of the Family Friendly Museum Award? Have a look at some of our previous winners.

Have a look who made it on to our longlist in 2012.

Terms and Conditions of Family Friendly Museum Award