Special-Interest Museums in the United Kingdom
From chocolate to toys: museums with unusual themes.
London (19)
Madame Tussauds London
Horniman Museum and Gardens
Royal Mews
Institute of Contemporary Arts
Young V&A
Wellcome Collection
Arsenal Football Club Museum
Vagina Museum
Fashion and Textile Museum
Cinema Museum
Fan Museum
Chislehurst Caves
The Postal Museum
V&A East
Golden Hinde
Hunterian Museum
The Cartoon Museum
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
World Rugby Museum
North West England (6)
Scotland (6)
South West England (6)
South East England (5)
West Midlands (4)
East of England (3)
East Midlands (2)
Wales (2)
Yorkshire and the Humber (2)
Special-Interest Museums in the United Kingdom: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 55 special-interest museums in the United Kingdom, spread across 10 regions and 32 towns and cities. Most of them are in London (19), North West England (6), and Scotland (6).
At the city level, London (17), Edinburgh (3), and Manchester (3) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several special-interest museums in a single day.
16 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs £15 at the median, and the middle half charge between £10 and £20.
28 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 43 offer dedicated programs for families, and 25 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 special-interest museums in the United Kingdom
The best-known special-interest museums in the United Kingdom
Madame Tussauds LondonSpecial · London
National Library of WalesSpecial · Aberystwyth
Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
Chetham's LibraryHistory · Manchester
National Football MuseumSpecial · Manchester
Royal MewsHistory · London
Institute of Contemporary ArtsArt · London
Young V&ASpecial · London- Cadbury WorldSpecial · Birmingham
Wellcome CollectionSpecial · London
Special-interest museums in the United Kingdom with free admission
- National Library of WalesSpecial · Aberystwyth
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- Young V&ASpecial · London
- Wellcome CollectionSpecial · London
Vagina MuseumSpecial · London
Mills ObservatoryTechnology · Dundee
Museum of ZoologyNature · Cambridge
Whipple Museum of the History of ScienceTechnology · Cambridge
V&A EastArt · London- Bate Collection of Musical InstrumentsSpecial · Oxford
Special-interest museums in the United Kingdom with programs for families
- Madame Tussauds LondonSpecial · London
- National Library of WalesSpecial · Aberystwyth
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- Chetham's LibraryHistory · Manchester
- National Football MuseumSpecial · Manchester
- Royal MewsHistory · London
- Young V&ASpecial · London
- Cadbury WorldSpecial · Birmingham
York Castle MuseumCastles & Palaces · York
Brighton Toy and Model MuseumSpecial · Brighton
Wheelchair-accessible special-interest museums in the United Kingdom
- Madame Tussauds LondonSpecial · London
- National Library of WalesSpecial · Aberystwyth
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- National Football MuseumSpecial · Manchester
- Royal MewsHistory · London
- Institute of Contemporary ArtsArt · London
- Young V&ASpecial · London
- Wellcome CollectionSpecial · London
Arsenal Football Club MuseumSpecial · London- Vagina MuseumSpecial · London
Special-interest museums in the United Kingdom with the highest published visitor numbers
By region
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many special-interest museums are there in the United Kingdom?
Our directory currently lists 55 special-interest museums in the United Kingdom across 32 towns and cities.
What are the best-known special-interest museums in the United Kingdom?
Some of the best known are Madame Tussauds London, National Library of Wales, Horniman Museum and Gardens, Chetham's Library, and National Football Museum.
Which special-interest museums in the United Kingdom offer free admission?
16 museums are free to visit – for example National Library of Wales, Horniman Museum and Gardens, Young V&A, and Wellcome Collection.
Which special-interest museums in the United Kingdom are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 30 are open, such as Madame Tussauds London, National Library of Wales, and Horniman Museum and Gardens.
Which special-interest museums in the United Kingdom are wheelchair accessible?
28 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Madame Tussauds London, National Library of Wales, and Horniman Museum and Gardens. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit special-interest museums in the United Kingdom?
A regular adult ticket costs £15 at the median, with prices ranging from £5 to £34. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature