Museums in South West England
The Roman Baths in Bath, the SS Great Britain and M Shed in Bristol, Tate St Ives, the Stonehenge visitor centre, The Box in Plymouth and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.
South West England Museum Guide
Our guide lists 111 museums in South West England across 66 towns and cities. You’ll find the widest choice in Bath (12), Bristol (10), and Bodmin (3).
Broken down by focus, the largest shares go to Castles, Palaces & Monasteries (40%), Science & Technology (19%), and History & Cultural History (14%) – 11 of our 12 categories are represented.
11 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs £14 at the median, and the middle half charge between £10 and £18.
21 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 86 offer dedicated programs for families, and 74 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 museums in South West England
The best-known museums in South West England
Tintagel CastleCastles & Palaces · Tintagel
Bristol DockyardsTechnology · Bristol
The Tank MuseumTechnology · Wareham
Roman BathsArchaeology · Bath
Dunster Castle and WatermillCastles & Palaces · Dunster
Berkeley CastleCastles & Palaces · Berkeley
Tate St IvesArt · St Ives
Pendennis CastleCastles & Palaces · Falmouth
Powderham CastleCastles & Palaces · Exeter
Sudeley Castle and GardensCastles & Palaces · Winchcombe
Museums in South West England with free admission
Bristol Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Bristol
Okehampton CastleCastles & Palaces · Okehampton
Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Exeter
ArnolfiniArt · Bristol
Royal Artillery MuseumHistory · Salisbury
Falmouth Art GalleryArt · Falmouth
Georgian House MuseumHistory · Bristol
Red Lodge MuseumHistory · Bristol
Victoria Art GalleryArt · Bath
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific InstitutionSpecial · Bath
Museums in South West England with programs for families
- Tintagel CastleCastles & Palaces · Tintagel
- Bristol DockyardsTechnology · Bristol
- The Tank MuseumTechnology · Wareham
- Roman BathsArchaeology · Bath
- Dunster Castle and WatermillCastles & Palaces · Dunster
- Berkeley CastleCastles & Palaces · Berkeley
- Tate St IvesArt · St Ives
- Pendennis CastleCastles & Palaces · Falmouth
- Powderham CastleCastles & Palaces · Exeter
- Sudeley Castle and GardensCastles & Palaces · Winchcombe
Wheelchair-accessible museums in South West England
- Bristol DockyardsTechnology · Bristol
- The Tank MuseumTechnology · Wareham
- Tate St IvesArt · St Ives
- Bristol Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Bristol
Cornwall Museum and Art GalleryRegional · Truro- Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Exeter
Royal West of England AcademyArt · Bristol
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western RailwayTechnology · Swindon- ArnolfiniArt · Bristol
Holburne MuseumArt · Bath
Museums in South West England with the highest published visitor numbers
- Bristol Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Bristol
Kingston LacyCastles & Palaces · Wimborne Minster- ArnolfiniArt · Bristol
- Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art GalleryRegional · Exeter
- Tate St IvesArt · St Ives
- The Tank MuseumTechnology · Wareham
- Bristol DockyardsTechnology · Bristol
- Victoria Art GalleryArt · Bath
By category
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many museums are there in South West England?
Our directory currently lists 111 museums in South West England across 66 towns and cities.
What are the best-known museums in South West England?
Some of the best known are Tintagel Castle, Bristol Dockyards, The Tank Museum, Roman Baths, and Dunster Castle and Watermill.
Which museums in South West England offer free admission?
11 museums are free to visit – for example Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Okehampton Castle, Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, and Arnolfini.
Which museums in South West England are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 61 are open, such as Tintagel Castle, The Tank Museum, and Roman Baths.
Which museums in South West England are wheelchair accessible?
21 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Bristol Dockyards, The Tank Museum, and Tate St Ives. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit museums in South West England?
A regular adult ticket costs £14 at the median, with prices ranging from £3.95 to £36. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other regions: North East England · North West England · Yorkshire and the Humber · East Midlands · West Midlands · East of England · London · South East England · Scotland · Wales · Northern Ireland