England
Somerset

Museums in Somerset

American Museum and Gardens    Built in 1820, Claverton Manor has housed the American Museum since the 1950s. 18 period rooms document the development of American decorative arts from the 1680s to the 1860s. Folk and Native American art, and an extensive collection of quilts. North American gardens. Claverton Manor, Bath, Somerset, England, BA2 7BD Attraction Type: Museum Location: 2 m SE of city centre Website: American Museum and Gardens Email: info@americanmuseum.org Phone: 01225 460 503 Fax: 01225 469 160 Location map OS ST784640 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Bath Postal Museum    The museum traces the history of the postal service, including a recreation of a 19th century post office. 27 Northgate Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 1AJ Attraction Type: Museum Website: Bath Postal Museum Email: info@bathpostalmuseum.org Phone: 01225 460 333 Location map OS ST751 650 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Beckford's Tower    Climb the spiral staircase of the 120-foot neo-classical tower built in 1827 for William Beckford, writer, collector and patron of the arts. Museum houses items from his collection. Set in Victorian Cemetery housing Beckford's tomb. Lansdown Road, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 9BH Attraction Type: Museum Website: Beckford's Tower Email: admin@bptrust.org.uk Phone: 01225 460 705 Fax: 01225 481 850 Location map OS ST738 676 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Blake Museum    A local history and archaeology museum in a historic house believed to be the birthplace of Admiral Robert Blake. Blake Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, England, TA6 3NB Attraction Type: Museum Website: Blake Museum Phone: 01278 456 127 Location map OS ST300103 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Building of Bath Museum    Innovative hands-on exploration of the development of the Georgian city. The Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, The Vineyards, The Paragon Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 5NA Attraction Type: Museum Location: in city centre Website: Building of Bath Museum Email: admin@bptrust.org.uk Phone: 01225 333 895 Fax: 01225 445 473 Bath Preservation Trust Location map OS ST7506 654 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Glastonbury Tribunal    The well-preserved Tribunal townhouse, thought to have been a 15th century merchant's house as well as the courthouse for the Abbey, houses the TIC and the Glastonbury Lake Village Museum, where you will find artifacts from the fascinating archaeological site. 9 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, England, BA6 9DP Attraction Type: Museum Location: At the bottom of Glastonbury High Street, in the centre of town, just around the corner from the entrance to Glastonbury Abbey Website: Glastonbury Tribunal Email: glastonbury.tic@ukonline.co.uk Phone: 01458 832 954 Fax: 01458 832 949 Location map OS ST43NE86 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Haynes Motor Museum    The largest collection of historic cars in Britain, featuring over 340 international vehicles as old as 1886. Eleven large halls of cars, with vehicles as diverse as a 1900 Clement, 1931 Duesenberg, and classic British motorcycles. The Red Room showcases 50 red sports cars, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and AC Cobra models. Sparkford, nr Yeovil, Somerset, England, BA22 7LH Attraction Type: Museum Location: just off the A303 at Sparkford Website: Haynes Motor Museum Email: info@haynesmotormuseum.co.uk Phone: 01963 440 804 Fax: 01963 441 004 Location map OS ST614302 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Holburne Museum of Art    It's impossible not to notice that Bath is a marvelous city for museums. This one is a treasurehouse of items from the collection of Sir William Holburne: silver, Old Masters, Italian bronzes, porcelain, majolica, miniatures, and much more. Great Pulteney Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA2 4DB Attraction Type: Museum Website: Holburne Museum of Art Email: holburne@bath.ac.uk Phone: 01225 466 669 Fax: 01225 333121 Location map OS ST756652 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

King John's Hunting Lodge    Well-restored woolmerchant's house from 1500 houses a local history museum. The Square, Axbridge, Somerset, England, BS26 2AP Attraction Type: Museum Location: on the corner of the High Street, off the A371 Website: King John's Hunting Lodge Email: kingjohns@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01934 732 012 National Trust Location map OS ST45SW68 Photo Credit: David Ross and Britain Express Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Museum of Costume and Assembly Rooms    Splendid 18th century buildings houses public staterooms as well as the fascinating museum of costume through the ages, from the 16th century though the present day. Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 2QH Attraction Type: Museum Location: near town centre Website: Museum of Costume and Assembly Rooms Email: fashion_bookings@bathnes.gov.uk Phone: 01225 477 173 Fax: 01225 477 743 Location map OS ST749 653 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Somerset and Dorset Railway Museum    Museum detailing the long, rich history of the Somerset and Dorset Railway. Lots of railway memorabilia on view. Washford Station, Washford, Somerset, England, TA23 0PP Attraction Type: Museum Location: Off the A39 Website: Somerset and Dorset Railway Museum Email: sales@sdrt.org Phone: 01984 640 869 Location map OS ST044504 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Somerset County Museum    Museum of Somerset natural and local history. The most popular exhibits include the Low Ham Roman mosaic, Icthyosaur fossils, memorabilia of the Somerset Light Infantry Regiment, and local ceramic and silver displays. Castle Green, Taunton, Somerset, England, TA1 4AA Attraction Type: Museum Location: Closed until summer 2010, when it will reopen as the Museum of Somerset Location map OS ST226102 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

Westonzoyland Pumping Station    An engine house dating to 1830-s hoses the oldest working steam-powered drainage pump on the Somerset Levels. The museum features steam pumps and stationery steam engines as well as a narrow-gauge railway. Hoopers Lane, nr Bridgwater Westonzoyland, Somerset, England, TA7 0LS Attraction Type: Museum Location: one mile from Westonzoyland towards Burrowbridge Email: bill.jewell@lineone.net Phone: 01823 698532 Location map OS ST341703 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering

William Herschel Museum    If you are interested in astronomy, this is the place to go in Bath. This Georgian townhouse was the home of the astronomer William Herschel and the site of his 1781discovery of the planet Uranus which doubled the size of the then-known solar system. 19 New King Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 2BL Attraction Type: Museum Website: William Herschel Museum Email: admin@bptrust.org.uk Phone: 01225 446 865 Fax: 01225 446 865 Bath Preservation Trust Location map OS ST76SW88 Accommodation: nearest hotels - nearest Self catering