These 15 museums, stretching from Truro to Tyneside, are in the running to win our Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award 2023.
Over the summer holidays, they will be visited by undercover family judges who decide the winners! (If you’d like to get involved, you can still sign up to be a judge.)
Scroll on to read more about each museum and why it’s great for all ages. Remember to check each museum’s website for full opening information.
Had a great museum visit during the summer holidays? Share your experience with us on social media using #KidsInMuseums.
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Forest Hill, London
Free entry
Image: Horniman Museum and Gardens
A firm favourite with families in London, the Horniman Museum celebrates global cultures and natural history – including its famous overstuffed walrus. Stroll around the Gardens, learn about marine life in the Aquarium and visit the animals in the Butterfly House and Animal Walk. Climb, bounce and slide at the new Under the Sea Soft Play area.
This summer: Show-off your putting skills on the new mini golf course in the glorious Horniman Gardens, with UrbanCrazy.
National Maritime Museum
Greenwich, London
Free entry
© National Maritime Museum, London
Set sail on a fun family day out and discover the epic stories of exploration and endeavour that have shaped our world. The Great Map is an ideal starting point for your adventure. Journey to the AHOY! Children’s Gallery where under 7s can stoke the boiler of a steamship, buy and sell fish in the marketplace, and make new friends in the interactive boatyard.
This summer: There’s a whole host of maritime-themed fun at the museum’s Summer of Play, both indoors and outdoors.
Valence House Museum
Dagenham
Free entry
Image: Valence House Museum
Based in the borough’s only surviving manor house, this museum tells the story of Barking and Dagenham and its people throughout history. Enjoy interactive elements like building a Roman pot, tying knots and trying on a toga. Visit the peaceful herb garden and Dig for Victory plot, or stop off at the Tulip Tree Tearoom. There is a year-round programme of family activities, from archaeology sessions to cupcake decorating and a teddy bear’s picnic.
This summer: Take part in a Disney Family Quiz, decorate a cupcake and become an archaeologist. See what’s on.
The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge
Canterbury, Kent
Free entry
Image: The Beaney
Located in the heart of historic Canterbury, The Beaney collection includes everything from ancient Egyptian objects to contemporary art. Keep an eye out for explorer points and activities to help you explore together as a family. Have a go at mummifying toy animals, playing historic board games, drawing at the artist’s easel or playing instruments from around the world!
This summer: Build, turn, spin, wedge, wheel, weigh, pull and play… Test out ancient science that changed the world and learn through play in the family friendly Ancient Wisdom exhibition!
Maidstone Museum
Maidstone, Kent
Free entry
Image: Maidstone Museum
Travel through the history of Maidstone from the Stone Age through to 1960s fashion. Join museum mascot Spike Dino’s History Explorer trail or grab a fidget backpack. The museum holds a range of family events, including under 5s stories and rhymes, family fun days and craft activities, adapted for SEND families.
This summer: Try your hand at a Summer Make It Craft session – you could create anything from an Anglo Saxon brooch to a stethoscope!
Royal Cornwall Museum
Truro, Cornwall
Children (under 18s): Free | Adult annual pass: £7.50
Image: Royal Cornwall Museum
Discover Cornish history and art at this museum in the county town of Cornwall. The museum prides itself on being an inclusive space for all with plenty of large, interactive spaces to explore, have fun and learn together. The Bonython Gallery is a dedicated family space with garden style games, toddler toys, books and bean bags, plus lots of interactives. There are also ‘hop up’ stools for children can see in cabinets – or reach the sinks and toilets!
This summer: Take part in Plastic Soup, a programme of children’s activities inspired by the museum’s current exhibition, Adrift: Lego Lost at Sea.
Museum of Liverpool
Liverpool
Free entry
Museum of Liverpool. Picture by Gareth Jones.
Discover the story of Liverpool from prehistoric times to the present day! Get hands on with interactive displays, ask questions of the friendly staff, take on the Liver Bird Trail or pick up an activity pack specially designed for children and their grandparents. This museum has excellent accessibility and facilities for all ages, as well as fun, inclusive events like LGBTQ+ storytelling. If you have younger children, don’t miss the Little Liverpool children’s gallery, an immersive fantasy world for under 6s.
This summer: Get up close with Kitty Wilkinson and learn about the challenges of sanitation and hygiene for Liverpool people in Victorian times.
Great North Museum: Hancock
Newcastle upon Tyne
Free entry
Image: Great North Museum: Hancock
This city museum of natural history, archaeology, geology and world cultures lets children be children. Families love the relaxed atmosphere and great facilities, including free ‘spares box’ in case you find yourself caught short of nappies, wipes or more. Try out the new gallery spinners for families to solve together and visit the popular Mouse House play zone for under 5s.
This summer: Become a hero, exploring myths and monsters in a fantasy family adventure that is part immersive story, part live-action game, Myth Quest.
Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens
Barnsley
Free entry
Image: Barnsley Museums
This Georgian house houses a collection of fine and decorative arts. Chill out in the reading area, let off some steam in the fun adventure play area and download a free multisensory trail to help you explore the beautiful gardens. Make an echo in the deer shelter, enjoy a picnic and see if you can spot any fish in the pond.
This summer: Fly along to the walled garden this summer to have a go at making a bird at two free family workshops.
Craven Museum | Skipton Town Hall
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Free entry
Image: Craven Museum
The super friendly staff love to help families learn about the varied collections in this treasure trove local museum, from rocks and rare books to art and landscapes. There are hands-on interactives throughout the galleries and several fun, free family trails to choose from. Plus there is a packed programme of summer activities with a family event every day of the school summer holidays!
This summer: Come face to face with multiple dragons and learn how to train them with Teach Rex.
Compton Verney
Warwickshire
Children (under 18s): Free | Adult: £18 | 19-25s: £10
Image: Compton Verney
There are opportunities to play, make and discover across this 120 acre site dedicated to art and nature. Pick up a family backpack, run around in the adventure playground, sit in a sandpit in the meadow, dress up in the discovery room, and look around the galleries with hands-on interactives.
This summer: Check out Compton Verney’s current exhibition on renowned children’s book author and illustrator, Sir Quentin Blake.
National Civil War Centre
Newark, Nottinghamshire
Children: £4 | Adults: £8 | Free for Newark and Sherwood residents.
Image: National Civil War Centre
Play is encouraged at this museum dedicated to telling the story of Britain’s Civil War and how it shaped the modern world. Children can grab a wearable horse or a toy poodle on a lead to help them explore the galleries. Try on some historical outfits, learn with family friendly labels or relax with games in the café. Every first Saturday of the month is especially for families with fun demonstrations and lots of hands-on play activities.
This summer: Have a go at building your own brilliant castles and structures to play in at Playhem!
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Wolverhampton
Free entry
Image: Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Much of this city centre art gallery has been designed alongside families, meaning it’s a great place for all ages. See inspiring and uplifting paintings and sculptures with children’s labels and multisensory interactives like smell pots. Pick up an illustrated trail or activity sheet for fun ways to explore the gallery getting your whole body involved! In the Making Space family area, climb on giant play furniture, get creative with a trolley of art materials, see young people’s artwork on display and write on the chalkboard wall.
This summer: Come along to a drop-in digital arts session and create your own creature, inspired by the weird and wonderful microbiology in Microworlds Wolves.
The MAC
Belfast
Free entry
Image: The Mac, Belfast
This community hub and gallery in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is the perfect place to let your imagination run free. See the art exhibitions and stop off one of the Imagination Stations, stuffed with art supplies and activity sheets for kids and grown-ups to get creative. Join one of the affordable art activities or chill out in the dedicated Playroom with books and games. There are great family facilities too, including a Parenting toilet and a Café Bar with children’s meals and colouring in.
This summer: Join in the gallery’s monthly Stroller Tours for ages 0-3 years inspired by Louise Wallace’s Midnight Feast exhibition.
Dylan Thomas Centre
Swansea
Free entry
Credit: Swansea Council/Dylan Thomas Centre Photographer: Dimitris Legakis
The centre celebrates the life, work and legacy of famed Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Delve into Dylan’s notebooks with fun interactives and touchscreens, listen to his poetry through built-in speakers in the chairs and pick up a children’s trail to discover the animals that featured in his writing. There is a packed programme of free family events to enjoy.
This summer: Create your own caricatures and comic book characters in fun creative workshops.
