What to do and see in South West England, England: The Best Museums

April 11, 2022 Joeann Galban

Discover the best top things to do in South West England, United Kingdom including Brunel's SS Great Britain, Sculpture by the Lakes, Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, Museum of Cornish Life, Helston, The Timehouse, Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre, Castletown D-Day Centre, No. 1 Royal Crescent, The Roman Baths, Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Restaurants in South West England

1. Brunel's SS Great Britain

Gas Ferry Road Great Western Dockyard, Bristol BS1 6TY England +44 117 926 0680 [email protected] http://ssgreatbritain.org
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 7,791 reviews

Brunel's SS Great Britain

Step back in time when you board Brunel’s SS Great Britain. Discover the true stories behind the ship that changed the world. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of life on board for Victorian passengers and crew. Descend under water below the glass ‘sea’ to touch the world’s first great ocean liner.

Reviewed By asthomo - York, United Kingdom

Definitely a must visit to anyone very interesting indeed There’s a museum first then onto the ship see the first class / other class, kitchen, engine room You can also go up the mast for a extra £10, then finishes of go into the dry dock itself. If you book your tickets online you get 5% discount But I recommend this to anyone

2. Sculpture by the Lakes

Pallington Lakes, Dorchester DT2 8QU England +44 7720 637808 [email protected] http://sculpturebythelakes.co.uk
Excellent
84%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 1,366 reviews

Sculpture by the Lakes

Beautiful 26 acre Sculpture Park & Gardens, with Gallery cafe. Due to deep water NO CHILDREN UNDER 14 years of age (including babies) and NO DOGS are allowed. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, hut bookings are from 10am to 4.45pm. Entry is £12.50 per person. The Gallery Cafe is now open serving tea, coffee, light meals, delicious cakes, cream tea's, ice creams etc., visitors can choose to eat inside, outside (at the newly created seating area), or take it out into the Sculpture Park using one of the picnic baskets provided, complete with rug. Visitors are able to enjoy the Gallery & Gallery Cafe without entry to the Sculpture Park. Described as one of the most beautiful & unique sculpture parks in the United Kingdom, Sculpture by the Lakes marries the soft beauty of nature's wild river landscape with the more formal presentation of monumental outdoor sculpture. It is that combination of art and landscape that inspires Sculpture by the Lakes.

Reviewed By matttJ1645KV

So so Tranquil.easy to find on Sat Nav.some beautifully thought out by some very friendly and approachable staff.going to go again as soon as.Alot of thought and sensitivity about and how each sculpture is placed.i highly recommend this venue for sculpture newbies.

3. Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

Hangar 1 South Old Sarum Airfield Old Sarum Airfield, Salisbury SP4 6DZ England +44 1722 323636 http://www.boscombedownaviationcollection.co.uk
Excellent
86%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 582 reviews

Boscombe Down Aviation Collection

Whether you're a serious aviation enthusiast or a kid who wants to sit in fast jet cockpits, this is for you! Please note - We are at Old Sarum Airfield - NOT at the Boscombe Down airfield.

Reviewed By thorpoticus - Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

What a fantastic place to get up close to a large part of Britain’s military aviation history Most of the cockpits are open and you are allowed to climb inside and use the controls The staff are very friendly and informative with anything you may want to know Recommended for kids of all ages(I’m 59) If you’re near Salisbury this is a must!

4. Museum of Cornish Life, Helston

Helston Folk Museum Market Place Market Place, Helston TR13 8TH England +44 1326 564027 [email protected] http://museumofcornishlife.co.uk/
Excellent
82%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 218 reviews

Museum of Cornish Life, Helston

Explore 19th and 20th century Cornish culture and industry in the heart of Helston. Browse our spectacular collections housed in Helston's historic market buildings - much bigger than it looks from the outside! Explore the way our grandparents and parents lived and wonder at the way things were done only a few years ago. "A Treasure Trove of Memories and Curiosities!"

Reviewed By trazza22

Brilliant and free! My 7 year old loved the pumpkin quiz and the toy section. The wedding dresses and old medicines were also great. We had a lovely morning looking around and the staff were lovely and friendly too. A huge plus was that it is dog friendly.

5. The Timehouse

69 Fore Street, Totnes TQ9 5NJ England +44 1803 862109 [email protected] http://the-timehouse.business.site/
Excellent
93%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 481 reviews

The Timehouse

The Timehouse is due to re-open 21 June 2021 subject to the Covid situation. Check here and elsewhere online for updates.

6. Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre

Aero Hub 2, Newquay TR8 4JN England +44 1637 861962 http://www.cornwallaviationhc.co.uk
Excellent
84%
Good
13%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 616 reviews

Cornwall Aviation Heritage Centre

A great family tourist attraction. Informative - and interesting aviation heritage and activity museum. Ideal for young and old. Indoor and outdoor exhibits. Sit inside the cockpits of some fantastic aircraft...

Reviewed By glyn84 - Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

Excellent place to spend a few hours looking at the aviation exhibition with very knowledgeable and friendly volunteers to explain the aircraft, even able to sit in the cockpits of quite a few even an amazing cold war Lightning to see .

7. Castletown D-Day Centre

Admiralty Buildings Admiralty Buildings Castletown, DT5 1BB England +44 1305 443444 [email protected] https://www.castletownddaycentre.com/
Excellent
89%
Good
10%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
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Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 354 reviews

Castletown D-Day Centre

The Castletown D-Day Centre is a family friendly, interactive WWII museum that tells the story of the thousands of US military personnel who in June 1944 sailed from Dorset to the beaches of Normandy.

Reviewed By FamilyManWessex

A great WW2 museum where you are invited to touch guns and sit in and on the vehicles including a jeep, motorbike and sidecar troop carriers anti-aircraft gun and Sherman tank. Really friendly and helpful staff. A great family experience for our children aged between 5 and 15.

8. No. 1 Royal Crescent

1 Royal Crescent, Bath BA1 2LR England +44 1225 338727 [email protected] http://no1royalcrescent.org.uk/
Excellent
60%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,826 reviews

No. 1 Royal Crescent

Step into the past at one of England's finest Georgian townhouses. * 10 display rooms * Upstairs and downstairs * Georgian shop * Free info room with introductory video * Disabled access * Kids explorer packs * Friendly room guides * 'Women's Suffrage 100: Freedom and Fight in Bath' is the exhibition theme in 2018. The website has an Access section which has details of nearest car-parks, floorplans, facilities and information specifically for our visitors with access needs.

Reviewed By Alliemac308

Brilliant to see the house as it would have been in Georgian times, with each room explained by a knowledgeable and welcoming volunteer. Great value for money - a couple of hours flew by!

9. The Roman Baths

Abbey Church Yard, Bath BA1 1LZ England +44 1225 477785 [email protected] http://www.romanbaths.co.uk
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 22,941 reviews

The Roman Baths

The Roman Baths is one of the finest historic sites in Northern Europe, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the UK. Hidden beneath the present city of Bath lies the stone remains of one of the finest religious spas of the ancient world.

Reviewed By 2chopper - Banbury, United Kingdom

Excellent and unique must see attractions in Bath, is fascinating to learn the history of the Roman Baths, the free audio guide provides extra information too

10. Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

Barnoon Hill, St Ives TR26 1AD England +44 1736 791108 [email protected] http://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-st-ives/barbara-hepworth-museum-and-sculpture-garden
Excellent
72%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,487 reviews

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

Timed tickets are required. Please book in advance from website. The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden contains the largest group of Hepworth's works, permanently on display where she lived and worked from 1949 until 1975.

Reviewed By RedJock

Lovely little sculpture garden in the middle of St Ives with some amazing sculptures set in a lovely garden.

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