National Poo Museum
A family-friendly museum of animal poo with interactive displays, hosted in 2026 at the Department arts centre in Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The National Poo Museum was founded on 25 March 2016 on the Isle of Wight, at first as a mobile museum, and its first exhibition was held at the Isle of Wight Zoo. Its aim has been to use quirky, family-friendly humour to break the taboo around poo and to teach visitors about animals, health and the natural world.
The collection holds poo from animals around the world and from different periods of life on Earth, much of it preserved in clear resin spheres. Visitors can sniff, turn handles, speak through pipes and press buttons on specially built interactive displays. The museum also supports science and charity projects, including a national stool survey with Bath University and Guts UK that uses the Bristol Stool Scale.
The museum planned a permanent home at the Battery Gardens in Sandown, and in 2025 it went on a year-long tour. For the 2026 summer season the exhibition has moved to the Department arts centre in Ryde. The museum is also available to hire as a touring exhibition and is developing an illuminated aquarium of preserved poo from community members that will tour libraries.
Highlights
- Collection of preserved poo from animals around the world
- Poo Spheres: clear resin spheres with encapsulated animal poo
- Interactive displays to sniff, turn, press and talk through
- National stool survey run with Bath University and Guts UK
- Touring exhibition and illuminated community aquarium
Permanent exhibition
- The National Poo Museum – A collection of preserved poo from around the world with interactive displays, Poo Spheres and the story of life on Earth told through poo.
- Founded
- 2016
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Hands-on stations
The museum describes its humour as family friendly and its displays as hands-on.
Getting there & parking
In 2026 the exhibition is at Department, 29-30 Cross Street, Ryde, PO33 2AA.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
Battery Gardens and its play area are open as usual, with cliff walks and beach access nearby.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The exhibition can be hired for other museums and tourist attractions; enquiries go through the contact page. |
|---|
