The UKs Most Family Friendly Museums to Visit in 2023

25/05/2023

The UK is home to many fascinating museums that cleverly combine education with entertainment, making it the perfect destination for a fun yet fact-filled family day out. With interactive exhibits, hands-on experiences and plenty of educational adventures, museums are brilliant places to visit for some quality family time. 

Let’s take a look at some of the UK’s most entertaining museums to visit with the family this year.

Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, Buckinghamshire

Berkeley Inspiration - The UK's Most Family Friendly Museums to Visit in 2023 - Roald Dahl Museum

The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden is every child’s – and parent’s – dream come to life. You’ll come face to face with much-loved characters from many of the world-famous books, including Matilda, Fantastic Mr Fox, the BFG and more. 

Just half an hour’s drive from Abbey Barn Park and Berkeley Place, the museum offers over 40 different activities to enjoy with the kids, from arts and crafts to gallery trails. You can even visit the Writing Hut, where many of the books were created, or explore the local area that inspired the legendary tales, including a visit to the Wondrous Woods of Mr Fox.

ThinkTank Science Museum, Birmingham

Birmingham’s ThinkTank Science Museum is the perfect day out for families of all ages. Learn all about Birmingham’s industrial past and explore the steam engines, trains, cars, and planes that have stood the test of time. 

For something a little more adrenaline-filled, the Science Garden has over 30 exciting hands-on exhibits to explore, including a human-sized hamster wheel! If your kids love space, the 4k Planetarium allows them to see stars, planets, and constellations come to life before their very eyes.  

For little ones, MiniBrum, the child-sized mini city, is perfect for those under 8, with play zones, a park, and a racetrack inspired by Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games. There’s even a workshop where children can learn how to fix a car engine or change a tyre. 

London Transport Museum, London

Berkeley Inspiration - The UK's Most Family Friendly Museums to Visit in 2023 - London Transport Museum

The famous London Transport Museum offers visitors of all ages the chance to discover over 200 years of London and its fascinating transport history. Here, you can explore transport icons from the past with your very own eyes, from London’s classic red bus to the first-ever Tube map.

Visitors can follow the evolution of London’s transport, marvel at the world’s first underground steam train, and experience train carriages dating all the way back to the 1800s. The London Transport Museum is a wonderful way of teaching younger children how intricate the capital’s transport system is and how it became an integral part of London’s growth and culture. 

Rural Life Centre, Surrey

The Rural Life Centre is an open-air museum set in over 10 acres of tranquil woodland in Surrey. First opened by husband-and-wife Henry and Madge Jackson in the 1970s, the centre tells the story of the local countryside and its remarkable farming heritage. 

There are more than 30 buildings filled with weird and wonderful agricultural machinery and 40,000 artefacts. Explore what it would have been like to work in a 1950s sawmill when you visit the Woodyard or discover the ever-popular egg dispensing machine when you visit the Tilford Building.

For the little ones, there’s a 1950s-style Children’s Playground for them to enjoy, or they can take a ride on the Old Kiln Light Railway to experience what it was like to travel on a steam and diesel locomotive. Before you leave, make sure you stop off at the Arboretum, a beautiful botanical garden filled with over 100 different types of trees from across the world, including the magnificent 200-year-old English Oak.

Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium, Hampshire

Berkeley Inspiration - The UK's Most Family Friendly Museums to Visit in 2023 - Science Centre and Planetarium

The Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium is home to action-packed, science-themed family adventures. Perfect for young children, the Winchester Science Museum features a fascinating planetarium with a massive 360º screen that will make you feel like you are flying through space. 

Choose to watch a full-dome film and follow fascinating characters on exciting adventures through space or watch a live show and listen to hero Inspirers as they educate you about the Solar System. For your aspiring astronauts, head to Explorer:Space, where they can learn all about robots, coding, stardust, and meteorites.

There’s also an exhibition dedicated to sound, hearing and vibrations. Step inside a giant guitar to feel the vibrations or climb inside an ear to see how it works. With multiple hands-on exhibitions and interactive displays, the Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium is sure to be fun for all the family!

Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, Kent

At Kent Life, heritage, history, and fun are combined to provide the perfect destination for a family day out. This 28-acre site offers something for everyone. You can learn all about Kent’s fascinating history, burn off some energy at Mr Moo’s Messy Play, or get creative at the Paint-a-Pot studio.

If your kids love animals, they’ll love getting up close and personal with the friendly farm animals. Learn how to groom a pony, feed the pigs and goats, and meet the infamous Kevin the Sheep. Plus, during the warmer months, there’s a land train and tractor-trailer rides for all the family to enjoy.

Natural History Museum, London

Berkeley Inspiration - The UK's Most Family Friendly Museums to Visit in 2023 - Natural History Museum

If you live in London, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to fascinating museums. One of the most iconic must be the Natural History Museum. History lovers will be in their element as they explore the evolution of planet Earth, discover extraordinary fossils in the dinosaur’s gallery, and be shaken by the incredible volcano and earthquake exhibition.

If your kids love nature, they’ll love seeing Hope, the huge blue whale skeleton, up close in Hintze Hall.  If you’re quick, you’ll also see 100 breath-taking wildlife photos in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition. With more than 20 galleries and countless exhibitions to explore, The Natural History Museum is a place where you and your family can get lost in for hours. 

If you’re looking to live closer to all these incredible attractions, Berkeley Group has homes available in some of the UK’s most sought-after destinations, including Kent, London, Surrey, and beyond.

So, whether you’re looking for a new property in Buckinghamshire or a stylish apartment in Birmingham, you’ll find what you need with Berkeley Group. Take a look at all our latest opportunities here.