Archaeology Museums in the United Kingdom
Finds from prehistory, antiquity, the Roman era and the Middle Ages.
South East England (14)
Ashmolean Museum
Dover Castle
Fishbourne Roman Palace
Bignor Roman Villa
Mary Rose Ship Hall and Museum
Basing House
Butser Ancient Farm
Canterbury Roman Museum
Reading Museum
Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology
Brading Roman Villa
Curtis Museum
Dover Museum
Guildford Museum
Scotland (7)
East of England (6)
North West England (5)
South West England (5)
Wales (5)
North East England (3)
Yorkshire and the Humber (3)
London (2)
West Midlands (2)
East Midlands (1)
Archaeology Museums in the United Kingdom: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 53 archaeology museums in the United Kingdom, spread across 11 regions and 47 towns and cities. Most of them are in South East England (14), Scotland (7), and East of England (6).
At the city level, Caerleon (2), Cambridge (2), and Dover (2) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several archaeology museums in a single day.
23 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs £11.50 at the median, and the middle half charge between £7.65 and £15.
22 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 44 offer dedicated programs for families, and 23 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 archaeology museums in the United Kingdom
The best-known archaeology museums in the United Kingdom
Ashmolean MuseumArt · Oxford
Dover CastleCastles & Palaces · Dover
Fitzwilliam MuseumArt · Cambridge
Cardiff CastleCastles & Palaces · Cardiff
Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese ArchaeologyArchaeology · London
Roman BathsArchaeology · Bath
Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
Colchester CastleCastles & Palaces · Colchester
Conisbrough CastleCastles & Palaces · Conisbrough
Fishbourne Roman PalaceArchaeology · Chichester
Archaeology museums in the United Kingdom with free admission
- Ashmolean MuseumArt · Oxford
- Fitzwilliam MuseumArt · Cambridge
- Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese ArchaeologyArchaeology · London
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
Arbeia, South Shields Roman FortArchaeology · South Shields
World MuseumWorld cultures · Liverpool
Okehampton CastleCastles & Palaces · Okehampton
Lincoln MuseumRegional · Lincoln
National Roman Legion MuseumHistory · Caerleon
Weoley CastleCastles & Palaces · Birmingham
Archaeology museums in the United Kingdom with programs for families
- Ashmolean MuseumArt · Oxford
- Dover CastleCastles & Palaces · Dover
- Fitzwilliam MuseumArt · Cambridge
- Cardiff CastleCastles & Palaces · Cardiff
- Roman BathsArchaeology · Bath
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Colchester CastleCastles & Palaces · Colchester
- Conisbrough CastleCastles & Palaces · Conisbrough
- Fishbourne Roman PalaceArchaeology · Chichester
- Arbeia, South Shields Roman FortArchaeology · South Shields
Wheelchair-accessible archaeology museums in the United Kingdom
- Ashmolean MuseumArt · Oxford
- Fitzwilliam MuseumArt · Cambridge
- Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese ArchaeologyArchaeology · London
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Colchester CastleCastles & Palaces · Colchester
- Fishbourne Roman PalaceArchaeology · Chichester
- World MuseumWorld cultures · Liverpool
Clitheroe CastleRegional · Clitheroe- Lincoln MuseumRegional · Lincoln
Mary Rose Ship Hall and MuseumHistory · Portsmouth
By region
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many archaeology museums are there in the United Kingdom?
Our directory currently lists 53 archaeology museums in the United Kingdom across 47 towns and cities.
What are the best-known archaeology museums in the United Kingdom?
Some of the best known are Ashmolean Museum, Dover Castle, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cardiff Castle, and Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology.
Which archaeology museums in the United Kingdom offer free admission?
23 museums are free to visit – for example Ashmolean Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology, and Manchester Museum.
Which archaeology museums in the United Kingdom are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 23 are open, such as Ashmolean Museum, Dover Castle, and Cardiff Castle.
Which archaeology museums in the United Kingdom are wheelchair accessible?
22 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Ashmolean Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, and Petrie Museum of Egyptian and Sudanese Archaeology. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit archaeology museums in the United Kingdom?
A regular adult ticket costs £11.50 at the median, with prices ranging from £5.20 to £36. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums