Open-Air Museums in the United Kingdom
Historic buildings, villages and crafts in the open air.
Scotland (5)
South East England (5)
East of England (4)
West Midlands (3)
North East England (2)
Northern Ireland (2)
Wales (2)
East Midlands (1)
South West England (1)
Open-Air Museums in the United Kingdom: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 25 open-air museums in the United Kingdom, spread across 9 regions and 25 towns and cities. Most of them are in Scotland (5), South East England (5), and East of England (4).
At the city level, Amberley (1), Beamish (1), and Bredgar (1) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several open-air museums in a single day.
3 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs £13.50 at the median, and the middle half charge between £11.50 and £15.50.
2 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 21 offer dedicated programs for families, and 21 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 open-air museums in the United Kingdom
The best-known open-air museums in the United Kingdom
Beamish, The Living Museum of The NorthOpen-air · Beamish
St Fagans National Museum of HistoryHistory · Cardiff
Flag FenArchaeology · Peterborough
Epping Ongar RailwayTechnology · Ongar
Grime’s GravesArchaeology · Thetford
Blists Hill Victorian TownOpen-air · Telford
Cosmeston Medieval VillageOpen-air · Penarth
Amberley MuseumTechnology · Amberley
Butser Ancient FarmOpen-air · Waterlooville
Morwellham QuayOpen-air · Tavistock
Open-air museums in the United Kingdom with free admission
Open-air museums in the United Kingdom with programs for families
- Beamish, The Living Museum of The NorthOpen-air · Beamish
- St Fagans National Museum of HistoryHistory · Cardiff
- Flag FenArchaeology · Peterborough
- Epping Ongar RailwayTechnology · Ongar
- Grime’s GravesArchaeology · Thetford
- Blists Hill Victorian TownOpen-air · Telford
- Amberley MuseumTechnology · Amberley
- Butser Ancient FarmOpen-air · Waterlooville
- Morwellham QuayOpen-air · Tavistock
National Museum of Rural LifeRegional · East Kilbride
By region
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many open-air museums are there in the United Kingdom?
Our directory currently lists 25 open-air museums in the United Kingdom across 25 towns and cities.
What are the best-known open-air museums in the United Kingdom?
Some of the best known are Beamish, The Living Museum of The North, St Fagans National Museum of History, Flag Fen, Epping Ongar Railway, and Grime’s Graves.
Which open-air museums in the United Kingdom offer free admission?
3 museums are free to visit – for example St Fagans National Museum of History, Cosmeston Medieval Village, and Highland Folk Museum.
Which open-air museums in the United Kingdom are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 12 are open, such as Beamish, The Living Museum of The North, St Fagans National Museum of History, and Grime’s Graves.
Which open-air museums in the United Kingdom are wheelchair accessible?
2 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Cosmeston Medieval Village and Butser Ancient Farm. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit open-air museums in the United Kingdom?
A regular adult ticket costs £13.50 at the median, with prices ranging from £4.50 to £35. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums