The UK's top museums for kids

Eureka in Halifax is the National Children's Museum: a unique space designed to help children learn through play. Visit, and you can explore six zones, with themes like All About Me, Sparks, and Living and Working Together. Younger visitors will love the dedicated under 5s sections: Desert Discovery and the lovely Sound Garden. Plus, there are extensive grounds to explore when the weather's good, as well as special events and craft workshops at certain times like school holidays and half terms.
Where: Eureka! The National Children's Museum , Discovery Road, Halifax HX1 2NE

Shildon,County Durham is the world's first railway town, and a sure-fire hit with any young fans of trains, railways and engineering. It's a really interactive museum with the chance to play with train tables, build towers, listen to stories and sounds, and watch model trains. Look out for the train-themed cafe, or take a picnic which you can enjoy inside or outside. And don't miss the locomotive-themed play area outside if the weather's good!
Where: Locomotion , Dale Road Industrial Estate, Shildon DL4 2RE

Another fab museum for young fans of trains, busses, underground railways and play. There are so many interactive treats at the London Transport Museum: little ones can 'drive' busses and taxis, repair trains, sail Thames Clippers, make transport announcements and more. Older kids will also find things to love, including the Smooth Operator game where you can test your reactions against a train-based computer game.
Where: London Transport Museum , The Piazza, London WC2E 7BB

Who doesn't love playing postman? At the Postal Museum in London, you can learn all about the history of the postal service in a brilliant, interactive setting. Book a slot at Sorted! the fabulous indoor play area specially for kids aged 8 and under. And then take the 15-minute ride on the Mail Rail, through the original tunnels and station platforms of London’s 100-year-old postal railway.
Where: Postal Museum , 15-20 Phoenix Pl, London WC1X 0DA

A trip to London's Maritime Museum can feel like a day out at the seaside, thanks to the brilliant hands-on Ahoy! and Sea Things galleries. Little pirates will also love playing around the Great Map. Combine a trip to the National Maritime Museum with a visit to the incredible Cutty Sark and the wonderful adventure playground in nearby Greenwich Park.
Where: National Maritime Museum , Romney Road, London SE10 9NF

The World Museum, Liverpool really does give kids a great choice when it comes to things to see: choose between the planetarium, dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt gallery, a bug house and an aquarium. Don't miss Little Liverpool, a daily, hands-on fantasy world especially for children under the age of six to play and learn.
Where: World Museum , William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EN

Step back in time at People's History Museum and see how fast you can work at the Bryant & May match factory through an arcade-style game; visit the suffragette kitchen to play the Pank-a-Squith board game; and play your favourite songs on a vintage jukebox. People's History Museum is family-friendly throughout, with hands-on activities in every gallery for all visitors to enjoy.
Where: People’s History Museum , Left Bank, Manchester M3 3ER

Located in the brilliantly named 'Discovery Quay', Cornwall's Maritime Museum is a vast building with five floors of treasures to discover. Let little ones' imaginations run wild at the Treasure Island Play Zone. Dress-up as pirates, watch-out for enemies and navigate the high seas. Then climb to the top of the Look out for breathtaking views over the harbour, docks and estuary. Don't miss the Boat Pool when you can sail model boats ... and maybe even have a race!
Where: National Maritime Museum Cornwall , Discovery Quay, Port Pendennis, Falmouth TR11 3QY

Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne offers a planetarium, dinosaurs, Romans and Ancient Egyptians, and a Crystals and Gems display. We love the Explore! gallery, with its mishmash of butterflies, drums, ancient flints and modern flip-flops! The Mouse House is perfect for younger visitors and their families. Designed to excite curiosity and encourage children to explore, the Mouse House gallery is full of surprises introducing the museum’s diverse collections. Choose an activity from the walls of the Mouse House to help you explore the rest of the museum.
Where: Great North Museum: Hancock , Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4PT

Head to the Museum of Science and Industry for amazing insights into the city's past. Explore Manchester's rich legacy of scientific discoveries in Revolution Manchester, find out how the city's heritage is interwoven with the cotton industry in the Textiles Gallery, and see science in action in Experiment, the family-friendly interactive gallery. Here you can build bridges and towers, make music with your body, create glow-in-the-dark art and discover whether you’re strong enough to lift a car with one hand! We love the Curiosity Stops (Weds-Sun) where the museum's super-friendly explainers lift the lid on some science secrets around the museum.
Where: Museum of Science and Industry , Liverpool Road, Manchester M3 4FP

At the National Railway Museum in York, you can see world-changing inventions like Rocket and the Japanese Bullet Train, as well as the world's fastest steam locomotive, Mallard, and see Queen Victoria's 'Palace on Wheels'. Under 6s will love the indoor play area, while over 5s can let off steam(!) and conquer gravity in the outdoor playground. Look out for the family-friendly science shows and storytelling too. We love the Treasure Hunters app for older kids: a chance to compete with your family and score points by taking photos in and around the museum.
Where: National Railway Museum , Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ

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Perfect for budding astronauts looking for a days out that's out of this world, the National Space Centres in Leicester offers six interactive galleries, the UK's largest planetarium, and an iconic 42m high Rocket Tower. Become a trainee astronaut in the Space Centre's Tranquillity Base; chart the planets and see what you can discover as you peer through telescopes. Kids over 5 will love the huge Sir Patrick Moore’s Planetarium; for toddlers there is a specific EYD show available throughout the day in the Tinytarium.
Where: National Space Centre , Exploration Drive, Leicester LE4 5NS

Oxford's Story Museum is a unique and wonderful place with an Enchanted Library, a story-filled whispering wood, a studio theatre, and a Small World gallery perfect for the under 5s. Book 60-minutes play in the Small World space for preschoolers, and you can go on a Bear Hunt, discover Traction Man’s under-sink world, ride on the Story Bus and enjoy Winnie and Wilbur’s miniature theatre. These sessions include songs, storytelling, and a craft activity perfect to engage little imaginations.
Where: Story Museum , 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP

We The Curious in Bristol is a brilliant, collaborative science and learning centre, all about asking questions, getting creative and testing things out. You're encouraged to interact with all the exhibits, to take part in experiments, get involved, laugh and play. There's a planetarium, a Theatre of Curiosity and a Box art gallery, as well as storytelling in the Studio and activities in the Tinkering Space and The Den.
Where: We The Curious , 1 Millennium Square, Anchor Road, Bristol BS1 5DB

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden is a magical place where you can come face-to-face with the Fantastic Mr Fox, pull a power pose next to Matilda, and discover Roald Dahl's famous Writing Hut – the birthplace of many your favourite fictional characters. Look out for additional activities like storytelling in the school holidays.
Where: Roald Dahl Museum , 81-83 High Street, Great Missenden HP16 0AL

Thinktank is Birmingham's Science Museum, packed with loads of activities and galleries which are perfect for kids. Look out for the 4k planetarium where you can explore the outer reaches of space, get up close to constellations, and adventure through the solar system. MiniBrum is an interactive gallery where under 8s can build a den, burrow with animals, fix a race car, shop in a post office and role play so many other ideas. In good weather, don't miss the Science Garden, which brings engineering, mechanics and transportation to life through more than 30 hands-on exhibits.
Where: Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum , Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham B4 7XG

Visit the Life Science Centre in Newcastle and you can explore galleries called Brain Zone, Experiment Zone, Space Zone and more. The Play Zone is perfect for under 7s, with a soft play area, a mini-kitchen and café, light play and more. We also love the Life Science Centre's Discovery Backpacks for kids of all ages, featuring different themes including 'listen', 'look' and 'earth'.
Where: Life Science Centre , International Centre for Life, Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4EP

Beamishis a world famous open air museum, telling the story of life in North East England during the 1820s, 1900s, 1940s and 1950s.
Kids will love riding the tram, and exploring life as it was in pre- and post-war towns and villages in the North East in this unique setting. Highlights for children include the traditional school playground, the Rowley Railway Station, and meeting the ponies at the Pit Pony Stables.
Where: Beamish, the Living Museum of the North , Regional Resource Centre, Beamish DH9 0RG

From portraits and photographs to meteorites and Miss Ballantyne’s salmon, there is a fascinating array of objects from the collections on display at the Perth Museum and Art Gallery. The local treasures on show are complemented by in-gallery activities for families: look out for storytelling, crafts and activity sessions on offer throughout the year.
Where: Perth Museum and Art Gallery , 78 George Street, Perth PH1 5LB

There's so much to explore at the Glasgow Science Centre, including an IMAX, a planetarium, an outdoor area called Outer Space(!) and the impressive Glasgow Tower. Under 7s will love the new Explore! exhibit where you can make coloured shadows and look at yourself in amazing distorting mirrors. Elsewhere you can also take on a robot at a game of noughts and crosses, race cars on a giant Scalectix track, and complete puzzles in the Bodyworks gallery.
Where: Glasgow Science Centre , 50 Pacific Quay,
Glasgow G51 1EA

From Dolly the Sheep to a giant T rex skeleton to the massive skull of Moby the Whale to the ancient Lewis Chessmen you might recognise from Harry Potter; and modern-day fashions by Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes, there really is something for everyone at the National Museum of Scotland. We particularly like the Family Puzzle Trail – a great way to explore the museum's galleries.
Where: National Museum of Scotland , Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF

Science Discovery Centre in Cardiff Bay is a fab, family-friendly museum with two floors of hands-on interactive exhibits, a science theatre, planetarium, and a laboratory. The Toddler Days are an excellent opportunity for preschoolers to explore the museum in a safe, kid-friendly way, with storytelling, water play, craft sessions and more.
Where: Techniquest , Stuart Street, Cardiff CF10 5BW

More than just a museum, St Fagans National Museum of History includes a park, farm, traditional cottages and a school, making it a place to enjoy nature as well as explore history. Look out for monthly food and makers' markets, as well as other special events celebrating the seasons throughout the year.
Where: St Fagans National Museum of History , Cardiff CF5 6XB

Visit Big Pit National Coal Museum, a real coal mine with underground tours and miner guides. Learn about children in the mines, health, home life and the mining communities. See how the life and work of a miner has changed from 1850 to 2000 and find out about the geology and uses of coal; mining disasters, and get a closer look at some mining memorabilia.
Where: Big Pit National Coal Museum , Blaenafon, Torfaen, NP4 9XP

Ulster Museum is the home of Northern Ireland’s treasures – past and present. The museum contains a rich collection of art, history and natural sciences taking you on a journey across the globe and to the far reaches of space. Choose between the Blue (Art), Yellow (History) or Red (Nature) route and find treasures like fossils, zirconium, and a silk satin wedding dress 1896 as well as modern-day art by Patrick Goddard.
Where: Ulster Museum , Botanic Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AB

Titanic Belfast is wonderful, family-friendly attraction based at the TitanicSlipways, the Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and Hamilton Graving Dock – the very place where Titanic was designed, built and launched. The museum tells the story of Titanic from her conception, through her construction and launch, to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history. Kids will love the nine interactive galleries where you discover the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the ship, as well as the people and city that made her.
Where: Titanic Belfast , 1 Olympic Way, Queen's Road, Belfast BT3 9EP