World Cultures Museums in the United Kingdom
Ethnological collections and museums about cultures from around the world.
North West England (5)
London (3)
South West England (3)
East of England (2)
Scotland (2)
East Midlands (1)
South East England (1)
World Cultures Museums in the United Kingdom: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 17 world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom, spread across 7 regions and 12 towns and cities. Most of them are in North West England (5), London (3), and South West England (3).
At the city level, London (3), Glasgow (2), and Liverpool (2) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several world cultures and ethnology museums in a single day.
12 museums are free to visit.
12 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 11 offer dedicated programs for families, and 9 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 world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom
The best-known world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom
Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
Pitt Rivers MuseumWorld cultures · Oxford
World MuseumWorld cultures · Liverpool
Burrell CollectionArt · Glasgow
International Slavery MuseumHistory · Liverpool
Manchester Jewish MuseumHistory · Manchester
Bolton MuseumRegional · Bolton
Museum of Witchcraft and MagicSpecial · Boscastle- Gordon Boswell Romany MuseumWorld cultures · Spalding
World cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom with free admission
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- Pitt Rivers MuseumWorld cultures · Oxford
- World MuseumWorld cultures · Liverpool
- Burrell CollectionArt · Glasgow
- International Slavery MuseumHistory · Liverpool
- Bolton MuseumRegional · Bolton
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Exeter
Sainsbury CentreArt · Norwich
Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyArchaeology · Cambridge
World cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom with programs for families
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- Pitt Rivers MuseumWorld cultures · Oxford
- World MuseumWorld cultures · Liverpool
- Manchester Jewish MuseumHistory · Manchester
- Bolton MuseumRegional · Bolton
- Gordon Boswell Romany MuseumWorld cultures · Spalding
- Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Exeter
- Sainsbury CentreArt · Norwich
Museum of East Asian ArtWorld cultures · Bath
Wheelchair-accessible world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom
- Manchester MuseumNature · Manchester
- Horniman Museum and GardensWorld cultures · London
- Pitt Rivers MuseumWorld cultures · Oxford
- World MuseumWorld cultures · Liverpool
- Burrell CollectionArt · Glasgow
- Manchester Jewish MuseumHistory · Manchester
- Bolton MuseumRegional · Bolton
- Gordon Boswell Romany MuseumWorld cultures · Spalding
- Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Exeter
- Museum of Archaeology and AnthropologyArchaeology · Cambridge
World cultures and ethnology 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 world cultures and ethnology museums are there in the United Kingdom?
Our directory currently lists 17 world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom across 12 towns and cities.
What are the best-known world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom?
Some of the best known are Manchester Museum, Horniman Museum and Gardens, Pitt Rivers Museum, World Museum, and Burrell Collection.
Which world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom offer free admission?
12 museums are free to visit – for example Manchester Museum, Horniman Museum and Gardens, Pitt Rivers Museum, and World Museum.
Which world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 7 are open, such as Horniman Museum and Gardens, Pitt Rivers Museum, and Burrell Collection.
Which world cultures and ethnology museums in the United Kingdom are wheelchair accessible?
12 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Manchester Museum, Horniman Museum and Gardens, and Pitt Rivers Museum. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums