Wollaton Hall and its Natural History Museum in Nottingham is truly an exceptional place to visit…read moreand easily one of the most impressive heritage sites in the region. From the moment you approach the magnificent Elizabethan mansion you are greeted with architecture that feels almost otherworldly. The hall stands proudly at the top of the hill surrounded by vast parkland roaming deer and beautifully maintained grounds. The setting alone is enough to make the trip worthwhile but what awaits inside is even more remarkable. The Natural History Museum housed within the hall is extensive captivating and full of fascinating detail. Every gallery is thoughtfully curated with exhibits that span everything from fossils and geology to wildlife specimens and cultural artefacts from around the world. The displays are rich with information yet accessible and inviting even for those who may not usually be drawn to natural history. There is a sense of wonder in each room whether you are standing in front of the towering dinosaur skeletons learning about ancient civilizations or examining the intricate details of preserved animals. What truly elevates the experience at Wollaton Hall is the staff. Every member of the team I encountered was incredibly helpful friendly and knowledgeable. Their passion for the museum its collections and the history of the hall is evident in every conversation. They answer questions with genuine enthusiasm sharing insights that you would not find on the information boards and they are always eager to help visitors get the most out of their visit. Whether offering historical context pointing out details you might have missed or simply greeting guests with warm smiles they create an atmosphere that is welcoming and engaging. The staff's knowledge is especially impressive. They speak with confidence and depth about the collections and their enthusiasm is infectious. It is clear that they take real pride in their work and in preserving and sharing the stories held within the museum. This level of personal connection and dedication makes the visit feel even more meaningful. The hall itself is stunning inside and out. Its rooms are filled with ornate architectural details historic artwork and glimpses into the lives of the people who lived there centuries ago. Wandering through the halls feels like stepping into a different time period and the museum's design allows you to explore both the historical building and the natural history collections seamlessly. The parkland surrounding Wollaton Hall is an added delight with peaceful walking paths lakes and of course the famous deer that roam freely. It is easy to spend an entire day here exploring the grounds taking in the scenery and enjoying the blend of history nature and culture. In every aspect Wollaton Hall and its Natural History Museum exceed expectations. The combination of breathtaking architecture immersive exhibits and exceptional staff creates a truly unforgettable experience. It is a place that appeals to families history enthusiasts nature lovers and curious visitors of all kinds. I cannot recommend it highly enough and I will definitely be returning.

Wollaton Hall is a superb Tudor-era mansion on a small but notable hill a little north-west off the…read morecity centre of Nottingham. It is home to a natural history museum caught in time, i.e. given today's plethora of information and entertainment in the form of TV/cinema documentaries, not really exciting or essential any more. Still, the architectural minutiae, the lovely surrounding deer park and the occasional special events - such as the vintage cars and bikes display when I was there - merit a visit. The architecture of Wollaton Hall is terrific, but the museum inside is quite a bit dated and truly feels like an old style museum trapped in time. Good thing then, that when I visited in early October, there was a congregation of collectors of classic cars and bikes, which added tremendously to the overall excitement. The deer park is as vast as it is attractive. All of these are/were free of charge, and there are several cafés strewn across the grounds. There is also an industrial history museum. Since Nottingham is rather short on attractions (there's Nottingham Castle, and not much beyond that!), Wollaton Hall is the runner-up!

RAF Coningsby, on the B1192 south of Horncastle, Lincolnshire. About half a mile from Coningsby…read morevillage, 13 miles north-east of Sleaford on the A153. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight operates a Lancaster, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes, two Chipmunks, and a Dakota. In 1986, it became possible to view these historic aircraft, at their base at RAF Coningsby. In the years immediately following World War Two it became traditional for a Spitfire and Hurricane to lead the Victory Day flypast over London . From that event there grew the idea to form an historic collection of flyable aircraft, initially to commemorate the RAF's major battle honour. Since it began in 1957, the aircrew on the Flight have been drawn from volunteers who maintain the 12 historic aircraft both at Coningsby and out on the display circuit. Visitors are led on a guided tour around the BBMF hangar by knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteer guides, who give freely of their time and who, in many cases, have first hand experience of the aircraft Entry to the exhibition centre, souvenir shop and car park is free; there is a small charge for guided tours of the hangar, with special rates for groups Well stocked shop offering an extensive range of aviation gifts. There is a permanent exhibition gallery exploring Lincolnshire's links with the RAF plus regular programme of temporary exhibitions. Open Monday to Friday 10.00am - 5.00pm Guided tours of the hangar from 10.30am - 3.30pm (3.00pm November - February) but of course in show season they cannot guarantee certain planes will be there. You will see them flying somewhere though. These are REAL planes folkand I love 'em!

A great place of historical significance to check out. They have an Avro Lancaster and a de…read moreHavilland Mosquito to see, along with some of the original building from the WWII days when the RAF flew out of here. They also had pieces of Handley Page Hampden bomber and a Vickers Wellington bomber. They get docked a star because they keep you far, far away from the aircraft, and you cannot quite appreciate them.

This is a must if you are a World War Two history buff. Located right in the bomber command area…read moreof Lincolnshire this aviation centre is fantastic. It is absolutely essential that you allow a minimum of half a day to do this centre justice, better still a full day. Lots of personal stories with a large hangar dedicated to recovery of plane wreckage and the stories that go with them. We did the museum in winter, and while there were no special events and some of the site was under winter maintenance, including the two Lancaster Bombers on site it was still fantastic. Cannot recommend this highly enough. Only drawback is that it is not open on Sundays, but otherwise it's great. About 35 minutes from Lincoln, don't be scared of the distance, just do it. Has free parking, facilities and a great cafe/resturant. The £7 entrance fee is exceptional value for money.

A fascinating perspective on the contributions by the people of the Manchester area to major…read moreinnovations in science and industry throughout history. Numerous displays and examples of equipment and machinery large and small. Steam engines to electron microscopes on display, with emphasis on Manchester's relationship with the cotton industry, both good and bad. Something for everyone here, young and old. Free to enter, donations appreciated. Reservations will make sure that you don't need to wait for entry. A must-see if you are in the area.

Fantastic place for families with children! Adults can enjoy the many exhibits while young ones can…read moreenjoy the hands on displays. We liked watching the textile demonstration in the Textile area. This place has so much to see and do. And it's free! Contributions are gladly accepted to keep this fabulous museum operational.

Bowling Hall is a large museum in a medieval building, it is set in a leafy garden with a large…read morepark across the road. It was a stronghold in the 'siege of Bradford' and where a ghost requested that we 'pity poor Bradford'! The exhibits are quite 'traditional', but this doesn't detract from the charm of the museum, in fact quite often you can be the only people in the attraction which gives it a certain atmosphere, especially when you are wandering around the haunted rooms! The museum is large enough to while away an hour, but not too big that it would be boring for younger visitors. The promise of a play in the park and an icecream should keep them quiet and on their best behaviour too - the park opposite the museum is large and well kept and has something for everyone.

This is a lovely old house situated in the Bradford 4 area…read more The ground floor where you enter is slighlty darker than the rest and can frighten some younger children. There is many things on show, that can teach young children and older children about how people used is to live. This place is said to be haunted and appeared on most haunted. It has different events happening through out the years and is a good place to vist.

This is a very impressive museum full of artifacts and exhibits. We loved everything about this…read moremuseum and the best part was the entrance is free! They have artifacts from Egypt, Africa, and many locations. They have quite a bit of wild animal exhibits representing the different species in the UK. They have a nice cafe to sit and rest also. They have a lift. I definitely recommend this museum. So nice and so much to see.

Imagine it is 150 years ago, and you are a rich, white English dude. You travel the world and…read moresimply help yourself to whatever catches the fancy of your magpie little brain. You plunder flora and fauna, antiquities, important cultural objects from other peoples. You compete with other rich, white dudes to create the biggest collection of the most random things someone could think of. "I have one of every butterfly on each of the inhabited continents!" "Oh yeah, my stuffed 2-toed sloth is bigger than yours!" Fast forward to the present, and the current caretakers of this hodgepodge of objects of dubious provenance are tasked with creating cohesive exhibits for the public. There are some really interesting pieces in the museum. I was able to hold a 2,000 year-old carved stone perfum vial. See the cross section of a turtle skeleton (so cool how the spines follow the inner curve of the shell), admire a stuffed porcupine. It was fascinating to think about what caught the fancy of people in the past. I would have loved to have seen more discussion of how these objects came to be, and what that tells us about classism, racism, and the history of imperialism. Be that as it may, I'm glad to see that someone's past light fingeredness is at least entertaining and educating the public today, instead of collecting dust in a storage facility somewhere.

Great collection of buses here and a collection of milk floats and other electric vehicles. There…read moreis an exhibition about bus services in the Midlands, which is well done. Interpretation in the bus halls is less good, with some displays awkwardly positioned and I spotted one description of the wrong bus. The cafe is very basic, a pity it does not do cakes and cream teas etc. However, we worth a visit an what is excellent here is that they have running days when buses offer rides that really demonstrate well what these venerable vehicles sound like and feel like to ride on.

We've all taken a bus ride in our time but how about a trip down memory lane with this excellent…read moremuseum. With buses from all eras you'll probably spot one that you used to catch often. There are all sorts of buses here which have been beautifully restored and maintain by the members. Many of the vehicles are still running, I have to admit I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to large vehicles, not quite a train spotter, but close! I defy anyone not to be impressed by the finest and largest collection of beautifully preserved buses this country has. If you are into trains as well then there's also a miniature steam railway too. This is a fabulous day out for the whole family, take grandma and pops, they'll love it. Admission is £3.00 for adults £1.50 for children.

The Melton Carnegie Museum is divided into thematic sections that give an overview of major events…read moreand industries that dominated the history of Melton-Mowbray. Learn about the role of the fox hunt in the local community, see displays explaining how Stilton and pork pies are made, and read about early settlers in the area. Admittedly this is not the most exciting museum we've ever been to, but it's completely free, and there isn't much else to do in Melton. Great resource for kids though, and they surely get many school groups. Worth checking out if you're in Melton anyway.

Free museum in Birmingham city centre focusing on contemporary art. It's in a very grand building,…read moreso I thought the museum would be big too, but it wasn't. Well there is a lot of empty space, and not that much to see. Few different rotating exhibitions, I saw some on the rave scene in the 80s and also racial violence from the 60-90s. On the way out I accidentally insulted one of the artists, but he just brushed it off.

We visited this museum yesterday and we really liked it. Both the exterior and interior of the…read morebuilding are beautiful. The museum has a terrific selection of paintings from the 15th, 16th & 17th centuries and a particularly good selection of Pre-Raphaelites. There's a *gorgeous*/large Edwardian tea room and also a separate café (the latter is small and attractive). The gift shop isn't very large, but it had some nice items. Also, I had a wonderful conversation with one of the guards; she was very friendly and kind-hearted.