Looking for a museum day out that actually works for the whole family — toddlers, teens, and everyone in between? Kids in Museums, the charity behind the Family Friendly Museum Award, put together a shortlist of eleven venues across Britain that really stood out to families. It’s still one of our favourite lists to dip into when we’re planning a day out, so we’ve pulled it together here for you.
What made these 11 museums stand out wasn’t just their collections — it was their genuine commitment to listening to families and using that feedback to shape everything from the toilets and cafés to the exhibitions themselves. In response to family feedback, museums on this list have done things like:
- Created new children’s galleries
- Built quiet spaces, chill-out zones and family snugs
- Curated exhibitions based on toddlers’ choices of art
- Developed family activities such as audio Easter egg hunts and Messy Museum sessions
- Reached out into their local communities, visiting prisons, schools and Sure Start centres
- Run shuttle buses to help families get to the site
It’s a great reminder that a “family friendly” museum isn’t just about having a gift shop — it’s about being designed with families in mind from top to bottom.
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Parents’ Choice of Family Friendly Museums in Britain
National Maritime Museum, London
The National Maritime Museum is the UK’s leading museum of maritime history, holding one of the most important collections in the world on Britain’s history at sea — including maritime art, cartography, manuscripts, official records, ship models and plans.
It’s home to ten free galleries, ambitious exhibitions, art and a wide range of family activities.
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The Erewash Museum, Derbyshire
Erewash Museum is a social history museum with exhibitions and displays reflecting the history of the Erewash Borough.
The museum is housed in a late Georgian house with Victorian extensions, which was once both a family home and school accommodation before becoming a museum. Many original features remain, and visitors can enjoy the garden with lovely views across the Erewash Valley.
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Leeds City Museum, West Yorkshire
Leeds City Museum covers 4.5 billion years of discovery across four floors of treasures. Whether you’re into Leeds history, ancient worlds or natural sciences, there’s plenty to enjoy for a fun day out.
Museum of the Order of St John, London
The Museum of the Order of St John tells the fascinating story of an ancient religious military Order, from its origins caring for sick pilgrims in eleventh-century Jerusalem, through to its modern-day role with St John Ambulance, the international first aid charity.
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Perth Museum and Art Gallery, Perth and Kinross
Perth Museum and Art Gallery has a fantastic collection of objects reflecting the history of the area, alongside a changing programme of exhibitions and events. It’s one of Scotland’s oldest established museums, home to more than half a million local, national and international objects.
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The Postal Museum, London
The Postal Museum reveals the surprising story of the first social network and makes its extraordinary collections enjoyable for all. From interactive galleries to an immersive underground rail ride, there’s something for every age and background.
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The Red House, Suffolk
The Red House is the base for the Britten-Pears Foundation, established to promote the musical legacy of composer Benjamin Britten and his partner, tenor Peter Pears.
The Foundation is based at The Red House, their former home in Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Visitors can explore Britten’s home — his library, studio and gallery spaces showcasing the Foundation’s extensive collection — as well as five acres of gardens.
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Torquay Museum, Devon
Torquay Museum is Devon’s oldest museum, home to a UNESCO-designated collection of artefacts from the Quaternary period, including rare Neanderthal skulls and the KC4 jawbone — discovered nearby at Kents Cavern and the oldest human jawbone excavated in Europe. It’s also home to the only gallery in the UK dedicated to the life and works of Agatha Christie.
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The Whitworth, Greater Manchester
The Whitworth, part of the University of Manchester, was founded in 1889 and houses significant historic and contemporary fine art, textiles and wallpaper collections of national importance.
The Whitworth reopened after a major redevelopment that doubled its size and created new spaces that embrace the park it sits within.
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Wrexham County Borough Museum, Wrexham
Wrexham County Borough Museum is a small museum which collects, preserves and tells the stories of local people and the wider world. Housed in one of the town’s landmark buildings, the museum also holds the Welsh Football Collection.
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Yr Ysgwrn, Gwynedd
Yr Ysgwrn is a cultural symbol to the people of Wales, home of Hedd Wyn, one of Wales’ best-known poets and a national symbol of doomed youth lost during WW1.
Yr Ysgwrn has been a destination for pilgrims since 1917 and, following major conservation and renovation work supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Welsh Government, remains open to visitors today.
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How the Shortlist Was Chosen
This shortlist was put together by Kids in Museums, and what makes the Family Friendly Museum Award unique is that it’s judged entirely by families — parents, children and young people who visit each museum and share their honest experiences. It’s this real family feedback, rather than expert opinion alone, that decides which museums make the cut.
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Have you visited any of these family friendly museums in Britain? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a museum “family friendly”?
It’s about more than having a café or gift shop. Family friendly museums design their spaces, activities and even everyday facilities like toilets around what families actually need — think quiet zones, hands-on children’s galleries, and activities created directly from family feedback.
Are these museums free to visit?
Some, like the National Maritime Museum and Leeds City Museum, offer free general admission, though special exhibitions may carry a charge. Charges and opening hours vary by venue and can change, so it’s always worth checking each museum’s own website before you travel.
Who decides which museums are family friendly?
The Family Friendly Museum Award, run by the charity Kids in Museums, is judged entirely by families rather than industry experts — making it a genuinely parent-and-child-led list.
Are these museums suitable for young children as well as older kids?
Yes — the museums on this list were specifically recognised for catering to a wide age range, from toddler-friendly galleries and quiet snugs to activities designed for older children and teens.
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Save These Ideas for Your Next Family Day Out
Not heading to a museum this week? Bookmark this list and come back to it next time you’re planning a day out — or browse our other family days out ideas for more inspiration.
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