Allhallows Museum of Lace & Antiquities

Allhallows Museum, High Street
Honiton EX14 1PG

honitonmuseum.co.uk

In the town famous for lace-making Allhallows Museum has one of the most comprehensive collections of Honiton Lace in the world. Lace-making demonstrations are given daily by volunteers throughout the months of June, July and August.

Arlington Court & the National Trust Carriage Museum - National Trust

Arlington
Barnstaple EX31 4LP

nationaltrust.org.uk

Arlington Court is an impressive Regency house with a vast collections of artefacts from paintings to pewter and ships to shells. Set in grounds of 2700 acres with formal gardens and woodland.

Ashburton Museum

1 West Street
Ashburton TQ13 7AB

ashburton.org

No visit to Ashburton would be complete without a visit to the Town's Museum. Originally started in a private house, it moved to the tower of St Lawrence Chapel and, when it outgrew that, in 1962, to the old blacksmith's shop behind the chapel (part of the old grammar school site).

Axe Valley Heritage Museum

Town Hall, Fore Street
Seaton EX12 2LD

seatonmuseum.co.uk

The museum is situated on the top floor of Seaton Town Hall in Fore Street. Of particular interest is the large collection of photographs and documents illustrating life in Seaton in past days. Displays illustrate the history of the Axe Valley, including archaeology, natural history and geology.

Axminster Museum

Church Street
Axminster EX13 5AQ

goo.gl

Originally the Old Police Station and Courthouse, the museum is opposite St Mary's Church in the centre of Axminster. Collections: Visitors can discover old police cells, see displays in the former courtroom, and view collections ranging from agricultural tools to Axminster carpets, archaeology to old photographs.

Barnstaple Heritage Centre

The Strand
Barnstaple EX31 1EU

goo.gl

On your journey through time, you can experience Saxon life in Barnstaple, find out what was on offer in the medieval market, listen to merchants trading at the Tome Stone, and make sure the enemy does not surround you as the Civil War reaches town! Escape the battles to reach the genteel 18th century, and tread the boards with John Gay's Beggar's Opera.

Barometer World Museum

Quicksilver Barn
Merton EX20 3DS

barometerworld.co.uk

The Barometer World Exhibition is bound to be of interest to many visitors, with an incredible variety of weather predictors from conventional mercury and aneroid barometers, rare and strange instruments from the past to unusual natural weather forecasters including sharks, frogs and leeches.

Berry Pomeroy Castle - English Heritage

Totnes TQ9 6LJ

goo.gl

Tucked away in a steep wooded valley, Berry Pomeroy Castle is the perfect romantic ruin. Within the 15th-century defences of the Pomeroy family castle, still displaying a wall painting of the Three Kings in its gatehouse chamber, looms the dramatic ruined shell of its successor, the great Elizabethan mansion of the Seymours.

Bill Douglas Centre for the History of Cinema & Popular Culture

University of Exeter, Old Library Building, Prince of Wales Road
Exeter EX4 4SB

exeter.ac.uk

The Bill Douglas Centre opened in 1997 as part of the University of Exeter's developing film studies programme. The museum is dedicated to the history of the moving image. Collections: The centre houses one of the largest collections of film- and cinema-related memorabilia in the UK, including Disney toys, posters, film stills, sheet music, postcards, campaign material and an extensive library. The collections also represent the wealth of Victorian optical entertainments, including shadow puppets, magic lanterns, panoramas, zoetropes and peepshows.

Bishopsteignton Museum of Rural Life

Shute Hill
Bishopsteignton TQ14 9QL

devonmuseums.net

Our museum is quite small but contains a wealth of exhibits relating to the history of the village and its inhabitants. We have a large collection of documents relating to the population over the years and our curator is happy to help visitors seeking family information.

Branscombe - National Trust

Branscombe
Seaton EX12 3DB

nationaltrust.org.uk

Nestling in a valley that reaches down to the sea on east Devon's dramatic Jurassic Coast, the village of Branscombe is surrounded by picturesque countryside with miles of tranquil walking through woodland, farmland and beach. Branscombe's charming thatched houses, working forge and restored watermill add to the timeless magic of the place. An easy graded trail winds up from the beach to the village passing Manor Mill, the Old Bakery tearooms and the working forge.

Braunton & District Museum

The Bakehouse Centre, Caen Street
Braunton EX33 1AA

explorebraunton.org

The Bakehouse Centre was specially converted from a former bakehouse and two cottages to house today's Museum. Museum Staff are pleased to welcome visitors and offer a guided tour if requested. A printed guide to the collection is also available.

Britannia Royal Naval College Museum & Archives

The Britannia Museum, Britannia Royal Naval College
Dartmouth TQ6 0HJ

goo.gl

This small yet fine museum has collected together many pictures and artefacts showing the history of BRNC from its beginnings in 1863 as two vessels moored in the River Dart, through the opening in 1905 of today's College.

Brixham Heritage Museum

The Old Police Station, New Road
Brixham TQ5 8LZ

brixhamheritage.org.uk

Brixham Museum & History Society was founded in 1957 to record, save and display the heritage of the historic town and fishing port. The museum moved to its present location, the 1902 Police Station and Sergeant's House, in 1976.

Burton Art Gallery & Museum

Kingsley Road
Bideford EX39 2QQ

burtonartgallery.co.uk

The Burton Art Gallery and Museum consists of Bideford Museum display area, temporary exhibition spaces and a craft gallery.

Combe Martin Museum & Tourist Information Point

Cross Street
Combe Martin EX34 0DH

combe-martin-museum.co.uk

A volunteer run museum which gained Heritage Lottery and Devon Rennaisance funding in 2008 to relocate to newly renovated premises in historic Cross Street.

Crediton Area History & Museum Society

The Old Town Hall, High Street
Crediton EX17 3LF

creditonhistory.org.uk

Local museum & history society for Crediton and surrounding villages in Mid-Devon. Exhibitions are usually based on local themes and use the society's archive of documents and photographs.

Dartmouth Museum

6 The Butterwalk, Duke Street
Dartmouth TQ6 9PZ

dartmouthmuseum.org

A small and unusually interesting Museum housed in an old Merchant's House, dated 1640. The museum houses marine and local artefacts, including a superb collection of ships in bottles and an extensive photographic archive of the local area, shipbuilding and shipping on the Dart.

Dawlish Museum Society

The Knowle, Barton Terrace
Dawlish EX7 9QH

devonmuseums.net

Knowle House was built as a gentleman's residence in 1805, and has been used for various purposes since. It now houses Dawlish Museum.

Devon & Cornwall Constabulary Heritage & Learning Resource

Okehampton Police Station, Exeter Road
Okehampton EX20 1NN

goo.gl

Previously known as the Force Museum, Devon & Cornwall Constabulary's Heritage & Learning Resource is now based in Okehampton. One of our long-term aims is to open as a Police Heritage Centre which will illustrate aspects of police history as well as policing today.

Devon Rural Archive

Shilstone, Nr Modbury
Plymouth PL21 0TW

devonruralarchive.com

The Devon Rural Archive was launched in 2006 to promote a greater understanding of the county's rural domestic architecture. Our growing reference library is open to the public two days a week for private research and provides the perfect place to explore Devon's architectural heritage.

Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre

The Fairground Heritage Trust, Milford
Lifton PL16 0AT

fairground-heritage.org.uk

The Fairground Heritage Trust, formed in 1986, is a charity which is committed to saving, conserving and sharing historic fairground equipment. Our aim is to establish Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre as a remarkable and fascinating experience; a place to visit offering fun, enjoyment and learning for a broad range of audiences. In addition to our other collections, the Trust also has access to an extensive collection of ephemera and a large photographic archive.

Exeter's Underground Passages

Romangate Passage, Off High Street
Exeter EX4 3PZ

exeter.gov.uk

A visit to Exeter's Underground Passages is a most unusual event and one of the most exciting things available for young people in the City of Exeter. The passages welcome bookings from schools, student groups, clubs and societies.

Exmouth Museum

Sheppards Row, Exeter Road
Exmouth EX8 1PW

devonmuseums.net

Exmouth Museum was first opened in 1985, and is housed in a 19th century building which was the Council Stables together with the adjoining foreman's cottage. It is now divided into three galleries, two on the ground floor and one on the first floor.

Fairlynch Museum & Arts Centre

27 Fore Street
Budleigh Salterton EX9 6NP

devonmuseums.net

The town of Budleigh Salterton possesses one of the important costume collections in the country. For this reason alone a call at the museum is a must for visitors to the town.

Holsworthy Museum

Manor Offices
Holsworthy EX22 6DJ

devonmuseums.net

The museum is housed in part of a building which is in itself a museum piece; a small manor house dating from the 17th century which was used as a parsonage in 1724. There are five separate rooms, individually themed, which cover the history of Holsworthy, local tradesmen's tools, medical and apothecary items, World War II and a kitchen with its original cobbled floor, copper and fireplace.

Ilfracombe Museum

Wilder Road
Ilfracombe EX34 8AF

ilfracombemuseum.co.uk

Delve into the treasure trove that is Ilfracombe Museum. Overflowing with curiosities and memorabilla, this historic building houses unimaginable finds from a shrunken head to pickled bats, and marvellous insect, spider and butterfly specimens to explore.

Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum

The Old Grammar School, 108 Fore Street
Kingsbridge TQ7 1AW

kingsbridgemuseum.org.uk

The Kingsbridge Cookworthy Museum is an independent museum, founded in 1971. It is housed in the Grade II listed 17th century former Grammar School, a well-known landmark in Kingsbridge.

Lyn & Exmoor Museum

St Vincent's Cottage, Market Street
Lynton EX35 6HJ

devonmuseums.net

A charming, rural museum with a collection of agricultural and domestic tools from Lynton and Exmoor. Housed in Lynton's oldest surviving domestic dwelling, it even includes its own ghost. Cottage kitchen with large stone fireplace, bread oven and pots and pans and domestic clutter.

Merchant's House

33 St Andrew Street
Plymouth PL1 2AX

plymouth.gov.uk

See four mini museums under one roof in this former home of famous Elizabethan privateer, William Parker. Old curiosities, a Victorian schoolroom, Blitz room and Edwardian pharmacy provide a fascinating snapshot of Plymouth's recent past.

Morwellham Quay Museum

Morwellham
Tavistock PL19 8JL

morwellham-quay.co.uk

An award-winning, evocative museum and visitor centre in the heart of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site and Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Just four miles west of Tavistock the historic port, mine workings and estate border the beautiful River Tamar.

Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon

The Square
Barnstaple EX32 8LN

goo.gl

A visit to the museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is the perfect way to get to know the area's landscape, wildlife, history and culture. In The Story of North Devon special effects and hands on activities help you find out about life from prehistoric to Victorian times.

Museum of British Surfing

Caen Street car park
Braunton EX33 1AA

museumofbritishsurfing.org.uk

Historic British surfboards and associated memorabilia dating back to the time when Captain James Cook and his crew first discovered surfing in 1769. We have a large range of surfing publications dating back 200 years, plus photographs, films and interviews with pioneer surfers.

Museum of Dartmoor Life

3 West Street
Okehampton EX20 1TG

eclipse.co.uk

Rural life on Dartmoor 100 years ago: Could you live without electricity? Could you cope without central heating? Where would you get food and clothes if there were no supermarkets or clothes shops? Find out how people survived at the museum of Dartmoor Life, Okehampton.

Newton Abbot Town & Great Western Railway Museum

2a St Pauls Road
Newton Abbot TQ12 2HP

museum-newtonabbot.org.uk

The museum collections are focused on the Great Western Railway and the social history of the town. The working signal box takes pride of place within the GWR Room, a hands-on connection with the great days of the Great Western Railway. An audio system enables you to hear ex-GWR men talking about their lives as railwaymen.

North Devon Maritime Museum

Odun House, Odun Road
Appledore EX39 1PT

devonmuseums.net

This Museum covers all aspects of North Devon's history from the invasion of the Danes in 878 to present day shipbuilding. Subjects include our seafaring past and present, with models and photographs of sail, steam and motor ships, the Tudor period of Grenville and the Armada, the Newfoundland fishing trade, emigration, smuggling, shipbuilding, rope making, coopering, wreck & rescue and World War II activities in North Devon. Large archive of reference books, copies of Custom House records for Bideford, Barnstaple and Ilfracombe from 1786 to 1900, Mariners Mirror and Sea Breezes, documents, several photographic collections - all available by appointment only.

Otterton Mill Centre & Working Museum

Nr Budleigh
Salterton EX9 7HG

ottertonmill.com

here has been a working mill at Otterton since at least Norman times, when King William the Conqueror granted all the local land hereabouts to the abbots of St Michel of Normandy. The earliest written record of the mill is in the Domesday survey in 1068, which confirmed its status as one of the largest and most productive of the seventy mills in Devon.

Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery

Drake Circus
Plymouth PL4 8AJ

plymouthmuseum.gov.uk

A visit to the City Museum and Art Gallery gives you a chance to see thousands of objects in our permanent galleries. Our ground floor displays include fascinating objects from Asia, Africa, Oceania and Europe. You can learn about life and death in Ancient Egypt, discover more about Plymouth's distant and more recent past and see a variety of natural specimens. On our first floor you can see highlights from our large decorative art collection and discover the story of porcelain. You can also see our Cottonian Collection, which offers a glimpse into the achievements of an 18th century gentleman.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery

Queen Street
Exeter EX4 3RX

rammuseum.org.uk

Fully refurbished after a multimillion pound redevelopment, the new displays showcase the collections and collectors that have helped RAMM to become one of Britain's finest regional museums. They tell the story of Exeter and Devon from the prehistoric to the present but, more than a local museum, its internationally important world cultures and natural history collections also tell a story of global exploration and collecting in the 18th and 19th centuries. Original architectural features have been revealed allowing visitors to experience the splendour of the original Victorian spaces.

Salcombe Maritime & Local History Museum

Basement, The Old Council Hall, Market Street
Salcombe TQ8 8DE

goo.gl

When in Salcombe do find time to visit our museum. It is one of the town's few wet weather attractions and has, in recent years, been much upgraded.

Sidmouth Museum

Hope Cottage, Church Street
Sidmouth EX10 8LY

devonmuseums.net

Situated alongside the lych gate of the parish church, Sidmouth Museum celebrates 240 million years of history. It offers something for everyone with an interest in the World Heritage Jurassic Coast, local history and archaeology. There are permanent displays of fine prints, paintings and old photographs illustrating the history of Sidmouth from a fishing village, through its Regency period to the current time.

South Molton & District Museum

The Guildhall, The Square
South Molton EX36 3AB

southmoltonmuseum.org

The museum is located on the ground floor of the town's 18th century Guildhall, which was completed in 1743 and is situated on the town square. Discover the true spirit of the characters from South Molton's past, through the exhibits and interactive displays.

Tavistock Museum

Court Gate, Guildhall Square
Tavistock PL19 0AE

tavistockmuseum.co.uk

Tavistock Museum is a town museum located in the historic Court Gate. The entrance is in Guildhall Square.

Teignmouth & Shaldon Museum

29 French Street
Teignmouth TQ14 8ST

teignmuseum.org.uk

Two wonderful permanent galleries which have been carefully designed to appeal to both adults and children. The centre also houses a roof terrace, a large meeting and events space, the Teign Room, a small shop, dedicated research area and archive room.

Tiverton Museum of Mid Devon Life

Beck's Square
Tiverton EX16 6PJ

tivertonmuseum.org.uk

Tiverton Museum is a vibrant, award-winning and much loved museum that provides extensive displays on local history. It runs a lively events programme, including temporary exhibitions (on anything from the history of underwear to local farming memories), guided walks, talks, holiday craft activities, themed days and lots more.

Topsham Museum

25 The Strand
Topsham, Exeter EX3 0AX

goo.gl

Topsham Museum is housed in one of a group of late 17th century buildings overlooking the Exe Estuary. Part of the museum's focus is on Topsham's maritime history - one particular showpiece is the River Gallery, featuring unique historic river craft. Visitors can also enjoy the furnished period rooms of the original house and the Sail Loft with its historical timeline of the town's general history. Other interesting exhibits include wildlife of the Exe Estuary, local trades and organisations and memorabilia of the film star Vivien Leigh.

Torquay Museum

529 Babbacombe Rd
Torquay TQ1 1HG

torquaymuseum.org

Torquay Museum is Devon's oldest established Museum still operating, founded in 1845 and still owned and run by Torquay Museum Society. The museum holds collections that are exceptional for a Museum of this size, with over 300,000 objects, some of which are of international importance. The museum is home to the second oldest anatomically modern human fossil in Europe, along with a large collection of stone tools and animal remains from the nearby Kents Cavern - one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe.

Torre Abbey Historic House & Gallery

The King's Drive
Torquay TQ2 5JE

torre-abbey.org.uk

Torre Abbey was founded in 1196 as a monastery for the Premonstratensian order of Canons. By the 15th century it was the richest monastery of the order in the whole of the UK. Collections: Torre Abbey contains a regionally important collection of oil paintings and watercolours. It is particularly strong in 19th century portraits and landscapes, especially the work of the Pre-Raphaelites.

Torrington Museum

14 South Street
Great Torrington EX38 8AA

torringtonmuseum.org.uk

Torrington Museum is a small, friendly and free museum, which possesses or holds on loan many fascinating exhibits and reflects the diverse history of this ancient market town.

Totnes Elizabethan House Museum

70 Fore Street
Totnes TQ9 5RU

devonmuseums.net

The Totnes Elizabethan House Museum collection is contained in a magnificent Tudor house, built in 1575. There are 13 rooms on three floors covering over 5000 years of history from Totnes and District. Collections: In Saxon times Totnes was a minting Burgh, a fortified town which produced its own coinage. The museum houses a collection of coins minted in Totnes during the Saxon period, which are currently on display in the Archaeology Gallery.

Totnes Fashion & Textiles Museum

Bogan House, 43 High Street
Totnes TQ9 5NP

devonmuseums.net

The Devon Collection of Period Costume contains clothing for men, women and children from the 18th century to the end of the 20th century. A themed exhibition, which is changed annually, is displayed in the most intact Tudor Merchant's House in Totnes.

Valiant Soldier, The

79/80 Fore Street
Buckfastleigh TQ11 0BS

valiantsoldier.org.uk

The Valiant Soldier was an active pub in Buckfastleigh which closed in the late 1960s and never re-opened. Everything was literally left as it was and today, it's open as a museum, giving visitors a glimpse of the past.

Whimple Heritage Centre

Lockyers Linhay, Church Road
Exeter EX5 2SQ

whimple.org

Whimple Heritage Centre is concerned with the history and heritage of Whimple and the surrounding area. Our Centre has numerous artefacts on display and many records and photographs of life in the village including much to do with the Whiteways Cyder Factory which was based in the village.