For things to do in Kent look no further than the rich tapestry of the county’s history and heritage through its captivating museums covering a vast array of collections. Museums in Kent include seaside delights, aviation history, agricultural displays, town treasures, heritage collections, nature and lots more. We’ve conveniently categorized the museums by region by area: Museums in Kent – West Kent, Museums in Kent – South Kent, Museums in Kent – North Kent and Museums in Kent – East Kent.
MUSEUMS IN KENT
WEST KENT
Covering Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells
THE AMELIA
Tunbridge Wells
The collection was founded by the Tunbridge Wells Natural History and Philosophical Society in 1885, and the Council later adopted the collection in 1918. Amelia Scott was a social reformer and campaigner for women’s suffrage, and the new building is named after her. She was a supporter of municipal museums and libraries and believed it was ‘a necessity that cannot be postponed indefinitely’. They have a long history of collecting and engaging with the local community, and a new home for the collection, The Amelia, reflects many aspects of the story of Tunbridge Wells and the High Weald. Overall, they care for around 60,000 objects covering local history, natural history, archaeology, fine and decorative arts, and social history. They host regular events including workshops, talks, festival shows and lots more. Open daily – see our listing for more details. Price: Free entry – though some events may incur a charge.
THE SALOMONS MUSEUM
Tunbridge Wells
Part of the Salomons Estate the museum is formed from two ground-floor rooms and packed with fascinating exhibits that chart the history of three remarkable generations of the Salomons family, with collections of paintings, photographs and mementoes documenting the history of the family. Time: Daily
9am-5pm. Price: Free. Read More
CRANBROOK MUSEUM
Tunbridge Wells
The collection showcases the history of the village and its inhabitants, covering family history, business and building heritages and with collections constantly being updated is Grade II listed. The three-floor museum, housed in a 15th Century timber-framed building has a mix of exhibitions and displays featuring boot making, millinery, military memorabilia, and lots more. Time: April to October, Tuesday to Saturday & Summer Bank Holidays, Sunday in August: 2pm-4.30pm. Price: Free – donations welcome. Read More
SEVENOAKS MUSEUM
highlight key events and people that have shaped the local area, such as the town’s first fire brigade in the 1800s and the Women’s Land Army in WW2. There are over 4,000 objects held in the museum’s collection, including a mammoth tooth, Roman jewellery, medieval floor tiles, an early cricket bat, a printing press, and an embroidery made by WW2 evacuees. Children can dress up and play games. The museum is part of Kaleidoscope, which incorporates the library, museum and contemporary art gallery. Opening hours: Monday- except Bank Holidays 10am-6pm, Tuesday to Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-4pm. Price: Free. Read More
BIGGIN HILL MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Westerham, Sevenoaks
Lots to do and see at this museum that tells the story of RAF Biggin Hill through the personal experiences of those who served there, and the community which supported them. Its high altitude and strategically important location between London and continental Europe, make it one of Britain’s oldest aerodromes. Its particular focus is the Battle of Britain, in which it played a pivotal role. Time: Tuesday to Saturday: 10am-4pm. Price: With gift aid/without gift aid: Adult: £8.25/£7.50, Child: £4.60/£4, Under 5 years: Free, Family of 6 – 2 adults & up to 4 children: £18/£15, Defence Discount Service Card/Blue Light Discount Card & English Heritage Membership Card: 10% discount, discount for TN16 Residents. Read More
THE SHOREHAM AIRCRAFT MUSEUM
Sevenoaks
The museum houses hundreds of aviation relics excavated by the group over many years from crashed British and German aircraft, including flying helmets, uniforms and insignia and Home Front memorabilia. The Museum also features documents, letters, photographs and eyewitness accounts alongside the artefacts. Together they tell the stories of the men who fought in the skies over Europe during World War II. Time: Easter to Remembrance Sunday, 10am-4pm. Price: Adults: £5 includes an optional conducted tour. Child – under 16 years: Free, Museum Members: Free. Read More
EDEN VALLEY MUSEUM
Edenbridge, Sevenoaks
Collection of local artefacts from residents past and present that represent the various trades and crafts practised in Eden Valley. With more than 4,000 photographs, paintings and drawings that also tell the stories of local communities born and raised in Eden Valley. Time: Wednesday & Friday: 2pm–4.30pm, Thursday & Saturday: 10am–4.30pm. Price: Free. Read More
THE KENT AND SHARPSHOOTERS YEOMANRY MUSEUM
Edenbridge, Sevenoaks
The museum was formed in 1966 to preserve the existing property of the regiment and moved to Hever Castle in 1985. The Museum follows the history of the regiments from 1794 when part-time volunteers formed the Kent Yeomanry to defend against possible invasion by the French. Time: Open when Hever Castle’s grounds are open. Price.: With a Hever Castel entry ticket – see our Hever Castle listing here for times and prices.
SOUTH KENT
Covering Deal, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe
SANDWICH MEDIEVAL CENTRE
This maritime and land-based craft living museum is based at the wooden boatyard building on the slipway by the Quay in the town. It is a base for educating and mentoring in medieval crafts and skills to ensure that the rich history of Sandwich in this period is not lost to future generations. With regular workshops and events including reenactments. Winter opening hours: Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday 11am-2pm. Price: Free entry, though for some events there is a charge. Read More
SANDWICH GUILDHALL MUSEUM & ARCHIVE
The museum holds documents and material related to the history of Sandwich. The collection includes maps, plans, photographs, as well as books and research that provide a background to the historic town’s and nearby towns history. It also includes the 1300AD Sandwich Magna Carta in this 16th-century building. Time; Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-4pm. Price: Free entry. Read More
DEAL TIMEBALL TOWER & MUSEUM
A Victorian maritime Greenwich Mean Time signal is located on the roof of a museum that showcases exhibits about the history of the tower and its use for navigation aid, the fight against smuggling, signalling, and the mechanics of the Timeball itself. Telescopes on the top floor give unrivalled views of the town and the sea. People can regularly see the dropping of the ball at various times, which in the past was to show people the time. Time: Various – see our listing for dates. Price: Adult: £3, Child – 5 years +: £2, Concession: £2, Child – under 5 years: Free.
KENT MUSEUM OF MOVING IMAGE – MOMI
Deal
The museum explores the history of the moving image. from the days of candle-lit magic lantern performances and hand-painted slides, through Victorian visual experimentation, to the advent and heyday of the cinema. Tours are also available. Time: Friday to Sunday & Bank Holidays: 11am-5pm. Price: Tickets last for a year – Adult: £7, Concessions – Senior Citizens, Students, & Unemployed: £6, Under 16 years: £4. Read More.
DEAL MARITIME AND LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Housed in an old industrial building on the site of a former market garden, Deal Maritime and Local History Museum itself has as rich a history and portrays the changing history of Deal, Walmer and surrounding areas that are ‘packed to the rafters with fascinating glimpses into the past’. It has maritime and local history galleries as well as Royal Marines exhibition. Time: April to October. Price: Free – donations welcome. Read More
KENT MINING MUSEUM
Betteshanger Country Park, Deal
Built on the former Betteshanger Colliery site, draws on the collection built up over the years by the East Kent coalfield communities and aims to complete the story of mining in the UK. It offers a range of exhibitions, events and experiences including meet a miner at this mining heritage centre.
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 9.30am-4pm. Price: Free to enter – donations welcome. Parking charges apply for the park. Read More
DOVER MUSEUM & BRONZE AGE BOAT GALLERY
famous for its Bronze Age Boat, the world’s oldest known seagoing vessel, discovered in 1992 and thought to be around 3,000 years old. The museum is one of the oldest in Kent, originally founded in 1836. As well as the castle, Dover’s rich history from prehistoric times, Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages are showcased. Time: April to September, Monday to Saturday: 9.30am to 5pm, Sunday: 10am to 3pm. October to March, Monday to Saturday: 9.30am to 5pm. Price: Free. Read More
PRINCESS OF WALES’S REGIMENT AND QUEEN’S REGIMENT MUSEUM
Dover
Discover the history of the Princess of Wales’s Regiment and Queen’s Regiment through displays, collections, interactive videos and recordings, dating as far back as 1572. The Museum can be found in English Heritage’s Dover Castle’s Keep. Opening hours – vary throughout the year see our listing here for full times, entry prices, and further details.
DOVER TRANSPORT MUSEUM
See exhibits of vintage transport and historic vehicles with attractions that will interest all the family. Two exhibition halls reveal street scenes of Dover’s past such as vintage garage and motorcycle shop fronts, that will trigger fond memories for grandparents. There is a large visitor-operated model railway and a taxi & bus hunt for children. In addition to the extensive collection of transport memorabilia, there is also a Romany life display. Time: Wednesday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 10.30am-3.30pm. Last entry 2.30pm. Price: Tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, but not if purchased for a special event. Adult: £12, Child – 5-16 years: £6, Child – under 5 years: Free, Family – 2 adults +2 children:/1 adult +3 children: £25, Carer: Free. One child free per Max Card when accompanied by a paying adult or carer. Read More
FOLKESTONE MUSEUM
The Museum is full of treasures found in the town that date back as far as the Bronze Age. Locals also donated items such as costumes, artworks and engravings that showcase the town’s history. Time: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm. Advised to check their website before visiting. Price: Free – donations welcome. Hold regular events throughout the year. Read More
KENT BATTLE OF BRITAIN MUSEUM
Folkestone
Located on a former RAF airfield, the museum has the largest collection of memorabilia, artefacts, and relics from The Battle of Britain between July and October 1940, and was a major air campaign with 3,000 RAF fighters. With over 700 crashed aircraft on display, including two full-sized replicas built for the 1968 film The Battle of Britain. Time: 29th March to 10th November 2024, Tuesday to Sunday, and Bank Holidays. May to September
10am-5pm, October to November: 10am-4pm. Price: Adult: £10, Senior Citizen – 60 years+: £9, Child – 5-15 years: £4. Read more
ELHAM VALLEY LINE TRUST COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE & RAILWAY MUSEUM
Folkestone
Elham Valley Railway Line, the Museum showcases the highlights of the railway that ran through Elham Valley between Canterbury and Folkestone from 1884 to 1947. Exhibits include artefacts and models, including a working scale model of the Channel Tunnel terminal at Cheriton. There is also a miniature railway ride for children. The Countryside Centre is housed in a 290-year-old barn close to the Museum, where you can learn about the barn’s history and machinery used in the Channel Tunnel’s construction. You can also get on board the last remaining man-rider which carried workers to the tunnel. Time: Two weeks before Easter until the end of November, weekends and Bank Holidays: 10am-4pm. Price: Adults: £4, Child – under 16 years: £3. Read More
HYTHE LOCAL HISTORY MUSEUM
local history museum is based within the Town Council house, a former Doctor’s home and surgery adjacent to the Royal Military Canal, and accessed via the local library. Travel through the history of Hythe from Roman times and then as a Cinque Port, with maps, furniture, costume, military equipment (linked to the Small Arms School of Musketry in Hythe for over 100 years before it was moved to Warminster), commercial, civic and social objects. Opening Hours – when Hythe Library is open – Monday: 9.30am-5pm (while Folkestone Library is closed) Tuesday to Friday: 9.30am-5pm, Saturday: 9.30am-4.30pm. Price: Free. Read More
ROMNEY MARSH WARTIME COLLECTION
Collection of aircraft, engines, cockpits, and uniforms from Air Force, Navy, Army and Ghurkha items, plus lots more. Housed in a formerly Land Army Hostel. Time: April to October – check website for exact dates – Saturday and Sunday, Monday during school and bank holidays: 10.30am-4.30pm. Adult: £6, Concession: £5, Child- under 16 years: Free. Romney Marsh Maritime Weekend: Adult: £8, Concession £8, Child- under 16 years: Free. Read More
NORTH KENT
Covering Dartford, Gravesend, Maidstone, Rochester, Gillingham, Chatham and Isle of Sheppey
EASTGATE HOUSE
Rochester
Eastgate House is a Listed 16th and 17th-Century townhouse, with the building itself having a fascinating past including being the private home of five generations of the Buck family, a girls’ boarding house, a public library and a museum and centre dedicated to the work of Charles Dickens. Visit and learn about the people whose lives have been part of its past. Visit and learn about the people whose lives have been part of its past, and explore a maze of beautiful rooms and displays telling their stories. Holds regular events, children’s trails, theatre events and lots more. Opening hours vary throughout the year see our listing for times, prices, and current events.
GUILDHALL MUSEUM
Rochester
The museum was founded in 1897 within this 17th-Century civic building and includes the ornate Chamber which featured in Dicken’s novel, Great Expectations. Learn all about the building’s history and the heritage of the area. The many displays include a full-size reconstruction of part of a Medway prison hulk, archaeological objects, civic silver and regalia from Medway’s past, and lots more. The permanent exhibition on Charles Dickens, The Making Of Mr Dickens, looks at the author’s life and what shaped his work. Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Price: Free entry. Read More
THE HUGUENOT MUSEUM
Rochester
The museum is the first and only Huguenot history museum in Britain, including oil paintings, silver, documents, silk samples, and personal items that tell the important story of Britain’s first refugees. Showcasing the crafts, trades, and skills the Huguenots brought with them and the impact their contribution has had on the country’s development. Time: Selected days – check their website for monthly dates: 11am-4pm. Price: Adults: £5.50, Concessions: £4.50, Child – 6 to 17 year: £4, Child – under 5 years: Free, Family – 2 adults, + 2 children: £16. Ticket lasts for 12 months. Read More
OLD BROOK PUMPING STATION MUSEUM
Chatham, Medway
A former sewage pumping station built in 1929 showcases exhibits about its heritage, as well as the industrial history of the Medway Towns and the surrounding area. Time: First Saturday of the month: 11 am-3 pm. Price: TBC – see our listing here.
FORT LUTON
Fort Luton has three museums on two sites revealing the history of not only the Fort but also the story of Dunkirk with original artefacts and personal stories of those who served and were affected by the events of 1939-40. In another museum visitors can learn about life for those who lived through World War II, displaying everyday items from that time. Another museum tells the story of the Fort, its construction, the Siege Trials, and its resilience during two World Wars. It is one of 80 forts constructed after a Royal Commission in 1859 reviewed the nation’s defences, which was instigated because of the possibility of a French attack. Fort Luton hosts a range of activities during the year, including theatre productions, comedy nights and workshops, and with a children’s play area. Price: Time: Open selected weekends – see our listing for more details.
MAIDSTONE MUSEUM
Opened in 1858, now showcasing more than 600,000 artefacts and specimens, the Museum has been compared to a smaller version of the Victoria & Albert Museum. The collections include ancient Egyptians, archaeology from Anglo-Saxon to remnants of Roman occupation in Maidstone, costumes and textiles, ethnography, natural history and biology artefacts that showcase the towns and the country’s mixed heritage. They hold regular activities throughout the year for all ages. Time: Various throughout the year – see our listing for details. 7th June to 22nd July 2023, Wednesday to Saturday, 24th July to 31th August 2023, Monday to Saturday. Closed 29th August. 10am-4pm. Price: Free entry some events may incur a charge. Read More
THE MAIDSTONE CARRIAGE MUSEUM
Housed in the 14th Century stables of the Archbishop’s Palace complex used by the Archbishop of Canterbury when travelling through the county, the collection was the gift of Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake, the 12-time Mayor of Maidstone. He started the collection when he realised that they were being replaced by cars. Opened in 1946, it is the first of its kind and is considered one of the finest collections in Europe, with over 60 vehicles on display. Time: 6th April to 21st September: 11am-3pm – subject to staffing. Price: Free – donations welcome. Read More
DARTFORD BOROUGH MUSEUM
Within the Dartford Library, this is one of the smallest museums in Kent showcasing the chronological story of the town as revealed by archaeology with social history items of more recent periods. Artefacts on display include from the Stone and Bronze Ages, jewellery from the Anglo-Saxon period, and the Darenth Bowl, a moulded glass vessel dated from the 5th Century as well as a reconstruction of a draper’s shop that once existed in the High Street. Time: Monday to Friday: 10am-5pm, Saturday: 10am-4pm. Price: Free. Read More
ROSE COTTAGE OF CURI0SITIES
Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey
This eclectic museum offers changing exhibitions, displays and objects of interest, to celebrate the island’s life through a festival of arts, history and culture.
From April, Tuesday Thursday to Saturday, 11am-3pm. Adult: £1, Child: Free. Read More
BLUE TOWN HERITAGE CENTRE
Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey
Home to memorabilia and artefacts about the Isle of Sheppey. At its centre is The Criterion, a room that fell into disrepair after a German bombing raid in World War II, that now hosts entertainment shows and cinema screenings. Opening Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 10am-3pm. Price, Adult: £2.50, Child – school age: Free, Friends: Free. Read More
MINSTER GATEHOUSE MUSEUM
Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey
The museum is home to displays of artefacts from local archaeological digs, art, and displays of everyday lives from Victorian times. It also houses a large selection of radios in its collection dating back to the early 20th Century, paintings by local artist Harold Batzer, and more. Its fossil collection endorses the fact that Sheppey is also famous as a ‘fossil island’. Time: Saturday: 2pm-4.30pm. Price: Adult: £2, Child – up to 18 years: £1, Concession: £1.50, Family – 2 adults + up to 3 children: £5. Read More
EASTCHURCH AVIATION MUSEUM
Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey
The museum focusses on preserving and maintaining the rich history of aviation on the Isle of Sheppey and is based in one of the RAF training rooms built in the 1920s. Time: Tuesday, Thursday Friday and Saturday: 10am-3pm. Price: Free – donations welcome. Read More
THE QUEENBOROUGH GUILDHALL MUSEUM
Isle of Sheppey
The museum history of the town from a small Saxon settlement to a weather borough and royal castle built by Edward III. It is full of Victorian heritage and Queenborough was also home to hundreds of minesweeping vessels during World War II. Artefacts from its rich heritage can be seen and visitors can view the first courtroom of the Guildhall on the Isle of Sheppey, and also take a trip down to the dungeon. Time: April to October, Saturday: 2pm-5pm. Price: Adult: £0.50, child: Free. Read More
ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM
Gillingham
The Royal Engineers Museum is Kent’s largest military museum charting the history of the Royal Engineers and their involvement in helping the British army live, move and fight for over 300 years. With a collection designated as being of historical and international importance, including the world’s first guided torpedo, Wellington’s map of Waterloo, a Harrier Jump Jet and 25 Victoria Crosses.
Time: Tuesday to Sunday & Bank Holidays, 10am-5pm. Price, ticket valid for 12 months: Adult: £14, Local Adult: £12, Senior Citizen & Student: £12, Child – 5-15 years: £6, Child – under 5 years: Free, Family – 2 adults & 2 children: £32. Read More
QUEEN’S OWN ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENTAL MUSEUM – Maidstone
The museum within a museum – the Maidstone Museum – documents the history of Maidstone’s local regiment from its foundations in 1756 to its amalgamation in 1961. The regiment was involved in many of the British Army’s campaigns of the 18th and 19th Centuries, World War I and II. The gallery is full of fascinating, colourful and thought-provoking objects such as the Sutlej Gun and four Victoria Crosses, with a focus on the stories objects tell and the people at the heart of the regiment. Low Season / Term Time: Wednesday to Saturday. High Season/School holidays: Tuesday to Saturday – 10am-4pm – though some variations during the year. Price: Free entry. Read More
EAST KENT
Covering Ashford, Tenterden, Canterbury, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Margate, Birchington, Herne Bay, Whitstable, Faversham and Sittingbourne
FLEUR DE LIS MUSEUM
Faversham
Step back in time to trace Faversham’s growth from early settlement to the height of its prosperity, explained in words, illustrations, photographs and sound. Hop growing, fruit growing, charcoal production for explosives, clay field for brick, and the importance of Faversham Creek are highlighted in the Museum through over 40,000 objects, artefacts and images that can be explored to learn more about Faversham’s rich history. The gallery hosts a changing programme of artistic and historical exhibitions, with work by both local artists and showcasing items from the Museum’s collections. Friday and Saturday, 11am to 3pm. Price: Free entry. Read More
THE KENT POLICE MUSEUM
Faversham
An extensive collection that details the history of Kent Police dating back to 1857 where you can try on a police uniform and hear real-life stories. Explore photographs, artefacts, documents and lots more. Time: Open from 30th March 2024, times TBC. Price: free. Read More
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY MUSEUM & GALLERY
Learn about local stories of diving, fishing, shipwrecks and more. On display is one of the world’s oldest railway locomotives, Invicta, as well as an 1867 fire engine and an 1830 stationary beam engine. This volunteer-run Museum also offers interactive activities for children, including dressing up in Victorian clothes and a Museum Trail, and is proud to say it is bigger than it looks. Time: Term Time Thursday to Saturday, School Holidays
and Bank Holidays: 10.30am-4.30pm. Price: Adult: £3, Child – under 18 years: Free, Concessions – aged 60 years +: £2, Student: £1 Local Residents – CT1 to CT6: Free. Read More
OLD FORGE WAR TIME HOUSE
Sittingbourne
First built in the 1700s as a home and working forge then was later converted into a 1940s living Museum with a 1930s themed tearoom. Hosting events recreating homefront scenes from World War II, with costumed performers and period interiors, visitors can step back in time and experience life at home during the war years as re-enactors take you back to this era. Learn more about rationing, evacuation, and what it was like to sit in an Anderson Shelter with bombs falling. This is a living museum and tearoom – both open most Saturdays – 10am-4pm, please book in advance. Price: TBC. Read More
THE SEASIDE MUSEUM
Herne Bay
See collections of amusements, piers, pastimes and souvenirs, such as a real Punch & Judy set and displays. The museum’s history dates back to collections started in 1932, mainly thanks to a local doctor and keen archaeologist who founded the Herne Bay Historical Records Society, Tom Bowes. These include the impact of the 1953 floods in the town, and links to the 1943 Dambuster raids. They also run several events at the museum and locally, including workshops and Seashore Safaris. Time: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am-4pm. Price: Adult: £3, Concessions: £2, Children under 16 years accompanied by an adult: Free. Annual passes are available. Read More
WHITSTABLE COMMUNITY MUSEUM & GALLERY
Larger than it looks where you can learn about local stories of diving, fishing, and shipwrecks and more about the town, and neighbouring Chestfield, Seasalter, Swalecliffe and Tankerton. It features one of the world’s oldest railway locomotives, Invicta, an 1867 fire engine and an 1830 stationary beam engine. This volunteer-run Museum also offers interactive activities for children, including dressing up in Victorian clothes and a Museum Trail. Time: Term Time
Thursday to Saturday. School Holidays: Wednesday to Saturday and Bank Holidays, 10.30am-4.30pm. Price: Adult: £3, Concessions – aged 60 years +: £2, Student: £1, Child – under 18 years: Free, local residents – CT1 to CT6: Free. Read More
THE BEANEY HOUSE OF ART & KNOWLEDGE
Canterbury
The Beaney in Canterbury is a building to be admired in its own right. It is an art gallery, library and visitor information centre and houses collections including silverware, mosaics, and sculptures, with displays of children’s favourites Rupert Bear and Bagpuss. It features sculptures of the Magna Carta Barons, created for the Palace of Westminster when rebuilt after the fire of 1834 and given to the museum in 1906. Holds regular exhibitions and activities for children and adults throughout the year. Time: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday. 11am-4pm. Price: Free, donations welcome, and may be a charge for some events. Read More
THE KENT MUSEUM OF FREEMASONRY
Canterbury
The museum has a rare collection of national and international exhibits regarding Freemasonry history. Items on display include books, regalia, and coves all Masonic orders through the ages. Time: various, 10am-4pm – check before visiting as vary month-by-month. Price: Free – donations welcome. Read More
CANTERBURY ROMAN MUSEUM
collections include mosaics, jewellery and silverware, and an example of underfloor heating from that era. The museum’s story began when workmen digging trenches for a new drainage system unearthed a beautifully preserved Roman floor mosaic in 1868. Then in the aftermath of World War II, excavations in cellar shops uncovered an under-floor heating system, wall paintings, a mosaic corridor and the remains of a large Roman Town House. Over time a museum arose to encompass the remains and preserve what is now known to be one of the UK’s only remaining in situ Roman pavement mosaics and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Time: 10am-5pm. Price: Adult – 16 to 64 years: £10.50, Concessions – students/60 years +/disabled visitors: £8, Child – 5 to 15 years: £5.35. Child – under 5 years: Free, Members: Free, Carers: Free, Canterbury Residents: Free, My Town My City Members: Free. Read More
THE WESTGATE TOWERS MUSEUM & VIEWPOINT
Canterbury
The largest and arguably the finest of the country’s surviving medieval gateways, the Westgate was built during the One Hundred Years’ War to defend Canterbury from foreign incursion he current museum covers four themes including City Wars, Crime & Punishment, Westgate Through History and Magna Carta & The Maquettes, with breathtaking views over the City. Time: Monday to Friday and Sunday, 12Noon-3.45pm – unless closed for an event.Price: Adult: £4, Child – 5-17 years: £2, Child – under 4 years: Free, Student: £3, Concession: £3, Family: £10. Read More
ASHFORD BOROUGH MUSEUM
A varied collection, including a pre-historic collection featuring a 200 million-year-old dinosaur leg bone. Visitors can also explore artefacts from the Neolithic, Romano-Briton, and Anglo-Saxon periods, and the World War I feature, Life in the Trenches. This World War II prisoner-of-war display highlights the military history of the town. Local businesses past and lost, exhibits of medical instruments from the old Ashford and cottage hospitals, the lives and the demise of a smuggler gang, and railway memorabilia including two model railways. Time: April to October, Tuesday to Saturday: 11am-2pm. Price: Free. Read More
BROOK RURAL MUSEUM
Ashford
This museum in the Garden of England houses a wide range of Kent-related agricultural objects, with machinery and artefacts showcasing an impressive collection highlights the history of agriculture in the area. Started in 1931 this museum also shows how agriculture and Kent are inextricably linked. For our listing see here. June to September, 2pm-5pm. Price: Free to residents of Brook and school groups, Adults: £5, Child – 14 years and under: £2, Senior – over 60 years: £4, Group 5+: £3 per person. Read More
C M BOOTH COLLECTION
Rolvenden, Ashford
The Morgan Motor Museum was opened in 1972 and features several Morgan 3 Wheelers, of particular interest to Mr Booth, who started the collection. Eleven are normally on display dates from 1909, when the first Morgan was built, to 1935. time: Monday to Saturday: 10am-5pm – occasional closings so advised to call to check open before visiting. Price: Adult: £5, Child – age 4 to 14 years: £1. Read More
THE LASHENDEN AIR WARFARE MUSEUM
Ashford
One of the longest-established aviation museums in the country started life in 1970 by members of a local Royal Air Forces Association. The museum aims to educate and preserve the aviation and military heritage of the country. Exhibits on display include a Fieseler Fi 103R4 Reichenberg Piloted V1 Flying Bomb, as well as artefacts and displays and the world’s only fully restored and working example of his World War 2 airfield defence fort. Time: 6th April to October 2024, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 10am-5pm. Price: Adult: £3, Child – 5 to 16 years: £1, Child – under 5 years: Free, Over 60 years: £1. Tours of the main aircraft hanger during museum hours: Minimum donation of £2. Read More
WOODCHURCH VILLAGE LIFE MUSEUM
Between Ashford and Tenterden
Housed in an 18th Century oak-framed barn and 17th Century cart shed, on a rural site with a varied collection from wagons to coins. Artefacts from the Stone Age to the present day are all linked by a connection to the village of Woodchurch. Time: Easter to late October, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 10am-4pm. Price: Free. Read More.
THE COLONEL STEPHENS RAILWAY MUSEUM
Tenterden
Based at the Kent and East Sussex Railway focuses on the work and life of the engineer, Holman Fred Stephens, who was significantly involved in building 16 light railways. The museum features a range of artefacts and articles about the engineer’s work and family, and locomotives and vehicles. Time: Easter to October on the railway’s operation days. Price: Free – donations welcome. Read More
TENTERDEN & DISTRICT MUSEUM
Tenterden
Housed over two floors and has exhibits and works that showcase the history of the Cinque Ports, the importance of the busy seaport of Small Hythe, and the development of Tenterden around its 13th-Century market area. It also has a Tapestry Room that has 14 panels that depict the town’s history – from Roman times and exhibits from local potteries, the tannery, and the brewery as well as the emergency services. There are 19th Century hop press and harvesting illustrations displayed, photographs, old maps, postcards, and even a Horse Drawn Fire Engine. Time: 1st April – or Good Friday if earlier until mid-December – Mondaty to Saturday: 10am to 4pm, Sunday: 1pm-4pm. Price: Adults: £3, Child – under 18 years, and students: Free. Read More
MARGATE MUSEUM -= Currently Closed
Thanet
Housed in a Grade II listed building over two floors. Formerly the Magistrates Court and police cells, the museum opened in the 1990s presenting a unique collection of Margate´s history including that of the Borough Police from 1857, sea bathing and bathing machines, the 1815 arrival of Paddle Steamers, Cobbs Brewery, and Bank. They have their own Punch & Judy and collections include artworks and historical records under the title ‘original seaside’. The town is considered to be one of the first seaside tourist destinations. The collection also includes exhibits about Margate in wartime, Roman-British History, Dr David Jarvis´s Wooden Jetty of 1824, and Eugenius Birch´s Iron Jetty of 1857. Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 11am to 3pm. Adult: £2Child – under 16 years: Free Seniors £1.50. Read More
CRAB MUSEUM
Margate
discover their secrets, from how these crustaceans maintain the oceans to how they help with important new medicines. Europe’s only museum dedicated to the world of the decapod which is incredibly diverse – all sizes, all types form vulnerable to indestructible and those a million years old. Crabs can teach us about biology, climate change, evolutionary history and much more. Discover the many facets of the crab at this fascinating new museum. Friday to Sunday
11am-5pm, school holidays times may vary. Price: Free entry. Read More
THE WONDER WORKS
Margate
The Wonder Works, formerly the Hornby Hobbies Visitor Centre, charts the history of some classic toys including rare products on display from brands such as their namesake Hornby, Airfix and Corgi. At this reimagined space, operate and bring model railway layouts to life with the new HM7000 Control System and experience the Grand Prix Du Margate Circuit and Batman’s Gotham City. Time: 10am-4pm.Price: Adult: £5, Child – 5 to 15 years/Senior Citizen: £2.50, Family Ticket – 2 adults + up to 2 children: £12.50. Read More
DICKENS MUSEUM
Broadstairs, Thanet
Housed in a cottage that was Victorian novelist Charles Dickens’ inspiration for the home of Betsey Trotwood in his novel David Copperfield. Miss Mary Pearson Strong often served tea and cakes in her parlour to the writer and inspired the character of Betsey, according to reminiscences of his son Charley. Items on view include his writing box and a sideboard, with the rooms and items also featured in the novel. 29th March to 3rd November 2024
Wednesday to Sunday. 1 pm to 4.30pm – Last entry 4pm. Price: Adult: £4.50, Child – under 16 years: £2, Family – 2 adults + 2 children: £10, Student – 16 to 18 yrs or student card: £3.50. Read More
CRAMPTON TOWER
Broadstairs, Thanet
This museum in Thanet pays homage to railway history and Thomas Crampton. He designed a steam-generated rolling machine at the age of 16, and also worked as an assistant to elder Brunel and designed for the first locomotive, Firefly, for the Great Western Railway. Recognised by Napoleon III, his work in trains and railways is showcased here, as is his concern with gas, waterworks, and the submarine telegraph cable. There is a miniature railway that children can ride on, exhibits, and displays for visitors to explore. Time: 29th March to late December 2024 (Date TBC), Friday to Sunday and Bank Holidays: 2pm-4.30pm, Last admission 4pm .Price: Adults: £4, Child – 4-16 years: £2, Family – 2 adults + 2 children: £10. Museum shop: Free entry. Read More
MICRO MUSEUM
Ramsgate
Go back in time and play the games consoles, computer games, and more of yesteryear, with the history of computers with the stories of inventors Ada Lovelace and Charles Baggage as well as others. Learn the history of gaming, sounds, graphics, robotics, and computer languages in this unique museum. Time: Selected dates from March to September. Price: £5, Student: £4, Family (of 4): £15, Child – Under 3 years: Free. Read More
POWELL-COTTON MUSEUM
Birchington, Thanet
The Museum’s collection includes over 20,000 ethnographic objects; 6500 mammal specimens; fine and decorative arts from across Asia; approximately 8,000 archaeological finds from the Thanet coastline and an archive of supportive material including over 30,000 photographs and 40,000 documents. Quex House was built between 1806 and 1813 and expanded in the early 1900s. The gardens are spread over 7 acres and include a Victorian walled garden, woodland walk, Koi pond, and a croquet lawn. It hosts regular events and workshops for all ages. Time: Varies, for more details see our listing. Price: Powell-Cotton Museum Member: Free, Adult: £4, Child- 4 to 16 years: £3, Child – 3 years and under: Free, Concession- over 65 years,/Disabled/Student: £3, Carer: Free, Surestart Adult: £1, Surestart Child:- 6 to 17 years: £1, Surestart Under 5 years: Free. Read More
THE RAF MANSTON HISTORY MUSEUM
Manston, Thanet
The museum houses aircraft, vehicles, and showcases what life would have been like in 1940 under the bombings and rations of World War II, as well as a model railway of how the RAF Manston looked in the 1930s. It charts the history of the Royal Naval Station in 1916 with a base at Westgate Bay for seaplanes and a base for training. World War II saw the first jet fighters arrive at the station and then the longest and widest runway was built to house badly damaged aircraft returning from Europe. It was home in 1950 to the Americans for eight years and then returned to the RAF as a haven for aircraft in trouble and training until they left in 1969 when it was used for civilian aircraft. The RAF returned in 1974 with air and sea rescue helicopters until the RAF left in 1999, though a civil aircraft remained until 2014. Time: Monday to Friday: 10am-3pm, Weekend: 10am-4pm. Price: Adult: £6, Child: £3, Child – under 5 years: Free, Family – 2 adults + up to 4 children: £18, Carer: Free. Some events may incur extra charges. Read More
SPITFIRE AND HURRICANE MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Manston, Thanet
The museum dates back to World War I when, from the outset of the war, nearby St Mildred’s Bay inn Westgate-on-Sea was used as a landing strip for aircraft. In 1915-1916, aircraft started to use the open farmland of Manston as an emergency landing site. Soon the Admiralty established an aerodrome at Manston and was integral in providing air defence. It also is heavily involved in World War II, where it was heavily bombed during the Battle of Britain. The collection has a plethora of historic artefacts from the Second World War including a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane and you can book a flight on their Spitfire simulator. Time: Tuesday to Sunday, open Bank Holiday Monday: 10am-5pm. Price: Free, Spitfire Simulator: £30. Read More
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Picture credit: © THE RAF MANSTON HISTORY MUSEUM.