Museums in Somerset
With an emphasis on heritage and history museums
The Jane Austen Centre is located on Gay Street, Queen's Square, only a short distance from the house where Austen lived briefly in 1805. The novelist was resident in Bath between 1801 and 1806, and the city features prominently in several of her works.
40 Gay Street, Queen Square, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 2NT
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King John's Hunting Lodge is a beautiful timber-framed building in the marketplace in Axbridge. The Lodge is a well-preserved wool merchant's house built in the late 15th century, and it now houses a fascinating local history museum.
The Square, Axbridge, Somerset, England, BS26 2AP
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Heritage Highlight: Excellent example of 15th century timber-framing
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An innovative hands-on exploration of the development of the Georgian city of Bath. The museum, which is housed in the historic Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, interprets the architectural heritage of Bath, tracing the personalities and work of the architects and craftsmen responsible for transforming the medieval core of the city into the elegant Georgian city we can see today.
The Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, The Vineyards, The Paragon, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 5NA
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There can be few more unusual venues for a museum in England - the Museum of Bath at Work is housed in an 18th-century real tennis court. The museum traces the history of retail and manufacturing in the Bath area since the 17th century, and more generally, how people lived and worked in Bath since Roman times.
Camden Works, Julian Road, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 2RH
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Sally Lunn's Bakery occupies one of the oldest houses in Bath. The Bakery is home to one of Bath's most famous products - the Bath Bun. Sally Lunn's bakery, teashop, and museum stand on foundations that date back to the Roman period. Take a tour of the cellars and see the original kitchens where the first Bath Bun was baked.
4 North Parade Passage, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 1NX
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Heritage Highlight: Set in perhaps the oldest house in Bath
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Located at Washford rail station, this museum details the long, rich history of the Somerset and Dorset Railway. See railway memorabilia and rolling stock.
Washford Station, Washford, Somerset, England, TA23 0PP
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Heritage Highlight: 19th century rolling stock
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The Museum of Somerset stands within the historic confines of 12th-century Taunton Castle in the centre of Taunton, the county town of Somerset. The museum tells the story of Somerset from prehistoric times, exploring the history, geography, and archaeology of the county.
Taunton Castle, Castle Green, Taunton, Somerset, England, TA1 4AA
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Heritage Highlight: The Frome Hoard of Roman coins
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The Victoria Art Gallery was opened in 1900 and stands near Bath's historic Pulteney Bridge. The gallery is free to visit, and features art from 1500 to the modern era, focussing in particular on the history of British painting. A special exhibit of works depicts Bath through the ages.
Bridge Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA2 4AT
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This fascinating museum is housed in a historic railway shed at Watchet Station and tells the story of the traditional 'flatner' boats used by Watchet fishermen to navigate the shallow mud-flats along the Bristol Channel.
Harbour Road, Watchet, Somerset, England, TA23 0AQ
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Heritage Highlight: The last sea-going flatner boat
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Beside the historic harbour in Watchet is the 19th century Market House, once a combination market place and gaol, but now home to the Watchet Market House Museum, a free museum with fascinating displays on the geology, prehistory, and maritime heritage of Watchet and the surrounding area.
Market Street, Watchet, Somerset, England, TA23 0AN
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