10 fascinating and unusual museums in the UK

When you’re planning a day out, a museum can be the perfect way to occupy your time while learning something new.

Yet, with so many to choose from across the UK, deciding where to go isn’t always easy. In fact, the Museums Association suggests there are around 2,500 museums in the UK, depending on how broadly you define them.

While many focus on history, art, or science, you might find yourself looking for something a bit different from time to time.

Thankfully, the UK is home to several more unusual museums, displaying anything from everyday items to more niche areas of history.

So, continue reading to discover 10 of the most fascinating and unique museums you can visit across the country.

1. The Pencil Museum, Cumbria

Found in Keswick, Cumbria, the Derwent Pencil Museum does exactly what it says on the tin. Here, you can learn the story of pencil production in the Lake District.

It focuses on the history of graphite mining in the area, which was vital for the development of pencils. Many of the exhibits cover everything from early production to the evolution of designs and materials.

And, of course, there are some more unusual items, such as what is claimed to be one of the world’s largest pencils, and wartime pencils used to conceal maps.

2. The House of Marbles, Devon

The House of Marbles in Devon is a unique mix of museum and workshop. As the name suggests, the museum is home to a plethora of marbles, showcasing glassmaking techniques and the history of the craft.

Excitingly, you can also see vast marble runs in action. The site also includes an operational glassworks where you can watch craftsmen shape molten glass.

3. The Devil’s Porridge Museum, Dornock

Near the Scottish borders in Dumfries and Galloway, the Devil’s Porridge Museum explores a unique part of Britain’s wartime history. 

The unique name refers to the nickname given to cordite, an explosive material used during the first world war. 

The museum is actually built on the site of a vast munitions factory that once employed thousands. 

Here, you’ll find photos, items, and personal experiences that tell the story of those who lived and worked there.

4. The British Spy Museum, London

If you’d like to channel your inner Bond and gain insight into the world of espionage, then the British Spy Museum in central London could be perfect for you.

The museum displays a collection of real spy equipment, documents, and stories from intelligence operations.

Indeed, you’ll find hidden cameras, coded messages, and accounts of covert missions, all of which give you a sense of how intelligence work has changed over time.

5. The Crab Museum, Kent

In Margate, the Crab Museum manages to take something quite niche and turn it into something genuinely interesting.

As you might have guessed, the museum is all about crabs. The exhibits explore how they evolved, how they behave, and how they might fit into broader environmental issues.

However, it isn’t all serious, as it manages to combine scientific facts with plenty of humour.

6. The Morbitorium, Newport

If you’re happy for something a bit darker, the Morbitorium in Newport looks at how people have approached death over the years.

While it might sound a bit heavy, there are plenty of exhibits that will pique your interest. For instance, you can find displays on Victorian mourning traditions, funeral customs, and how different cultures deal with loss.

7. The Bubblecar Museum, Boston

In rural Lincolnshire, the Bubblecar Museum is filled with tiny cars that look as though they’ve come out of another era. 

They were once seen as a practical solution, as they were cheap and efficient, but now they feel much more like quirky relics.

8. The Coffin Works, Birmingham

Yet another slightly morbid, but incredibly interesting, museum is the Coffin Works in Birmingham. 

This unique museum tells the story of coffin fitting, set in an old factory left largely as it was.

This means that as you view the exhibits, you’re also walking through the spaces where people worked, giving you a clearer picture of the craft behind something you might rarely think about.

9. Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast

The Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast is ideal if you prefer a walk-through museum experience. 

The former prison has been turned into a visitor attraction, and you can explore everything from the cells to the underground tunnels that once connected it to the courthouse. 

While it is stark, the stories behind the place really bring it to life.

10. The Hunterian, London

If you’re interested in how medicine has developed over time, the Hunterian in London could be perfect for you. While it isn’t for the squeamish, it’s quite hard to look away.

Indeed, you can find everything from historical surgical tools to preserved specimens that show how our understanding of the human body has changed over time.