What’s New at our Museums

Travelling along the Great West Way is an incredible experience with so much fascinating history and culture. Here’s a look at some of the many wonderful museums that can be found along the path – including the upcoming exhibitions and events you won't want to miss.

There are some really big, world-famous attractions along the Great West Way, as well as magnificent ancient abbeys and cathedrals, stately homes, arboretums and nature reserves, interactive art galleries and immersive museums. We take a look at what’s new and exciting for you to see and experiences this summer:

The British Museum was the first national public museum in the world, and today is home to eight million objects. Here you can discover the vast diversity of human cultures from the dawn of human history to the present. Located in London, at one end of the Great West Way route it is a great museum to begin or end your Great West Way journey. Visit between the 4 May -13 Aug 2023 to see Luxury and power Persia to Greece, an exhibition drawing on dazzling objects from Afghanistan to Greece, exploring the story of luxury as a political tool in the Middle East and southeast Europe from 550–30 BC.

Founded in 1824, the National Gallery tells the story of European art, masterpiece by masterpiece. From its home in London’s Trafalgar Square, the gallery collects and cares for more than 2,600 of the world’s greatest paintings, from Renaissance Italy and by the French Impressionists. The National Gallery welcomes groups to explore over 700 years of wall-to-wall masterpieces. Visit to discover the history and stories from their collection which is open all year round, or join them for a one-hour, intimate expert-led tour of their world-renowned collection.

Britain’s finest example of Georgian Gothic revival architecture, Strawberry Hill House and Garden was Horace Walpole’s 18th Century masterpiece. The property is breathtaking both inside and out. Be sure to explore its decorated corridors and furnished rooms before settling into the garden café for a light treat. There are often book clubs, heritage and twilight tours, quizes and more - plus you might even like to get involved, volunteering as a sewing bee, choir singer, community gardener or by becoming a member of the book club.

Before leaving behind the Thames-side delights of Henry VIII’s Hampton Court, historic Runnymeade, notorious Cliveden and Royal Windsor, seek out the Windsor & Royal Borough Museum, unassuming but full of interesting exhibits illustrating the thousands of years of the settlement’s existence and Royal patronage. Exhibitions include A Lost Generation from Eton Wick, documenting a whole generation who came of age in the early 20th century and had their lives entirely transformed by the First World War.

Sandycombe Lodge was where J.M.W. Turner went as his retreat away from the London art world. The architecture of this little building is quirky, reflecting Turner’s own designs but also the influence of his good friend, John Soane. Many rich stories have emerged during research into the years Turner spent at Sandycombe, such as those relating to the Napoleonic wars. Visit the museum to see the beautiful etchings from his Liber Studiorum on display, several of them of them responding to those troubled years when England was under threat of invasion, along with beautifully crafted models of ships, variations on those which Turner had here.

You will find an absorbing, privately-owned collection of civilian and military motor vehicles and militaria at The History on Wheels Museum. As a bonus, there’s also an all-encompassing exhibition of Princess Diana memorabilia, painstakingly assembled and, reputedly, second only to the Althorp collection. Plus don’t miss the Air Raid Shelter from 1943.

At the Maidenhead Heritage Centre you can both trace the two thousand years of the town’s history and, unforgettably for enthusiasts of all ages, ‘fly’ in a WWII Spitfire simulator. In its permanent and temporary exhibitions, Maidenhead Heritage Centre tells the story of the town and its relationships to older nearby villages and towns (there was a Roman villa at Cox Green and Cookham and Bray were recorded in the Domesday Book).

The Reading Museum is full of fascinating regional history and artefacts, a 70-metre long, woven replica of the famous Bayeux Tapestry and the Huntley & Palmer exhibition, reflecting on the 150 years of local biscuit manufacture. Highlight for 2023 is the Discovering Untold Histories exhibition showing until 10 June 2023. Created by communities participating in Reading's High Street Heritage Action Zone, this display showcases some of their creative collaborations, telling the story of how local people and artists are responding to the vibrant everyday life, rich cultural diversity and fascinating untold stories of our streets.

The Museum of English Rural Life is where agriculture, through the ages, is brilliantly brought to life with interactive exhibits as well as comprehensive displays of implements, machinery and vehicles, and the Abbey Galleries are a great introduction to exploring the ruins of Reading Abbey and finding out more about Henry I, England’s last ‘unfound’ king. Don’t miss the Country Crafts Weekend 3 June - 4 June 2023 where you can explore the museum and see demonstrations of rural, rare and disappearing crafts demonstrated by their volunteers.

The West Berkshire Museum is a treasure trove of information and exhibits illustrating the origins of the county and its people. Housed in two of Newbury’s best loved historic buildings - the 17th century Cloth Hall and the old Granary/ Corn Stores in the Wharf. The permanent exhibition ‘Lives and Landscapes’ tells the story of West Berkshire. The second floor galleries host a series of special exhibitions so there is always something new to see along with a year round program of events and family activities.

Moving forward in time, the history of 19th and 20th-century steam railways is retold at STEAM, the Museum of the Great Western Railway. Be sure not to miss the Swindon Railway Festival returning to STEAM on the 9 and 10 September 2023. Here you can experience the amazing detail of over 20 of the UK’s finest model railway layouts that will be uniquely displayed alongside iconic Swindon-built locomotives. You’ll also see new special exhibitions, unique trade stands and modelling demos.

Shaw House was built by a Newbury clothier in 1581 and retains much of its original Tudor architecture - it is one of the best preserved Elizabethan mansions in England. Over the centuries Shaw House has welcomed royalty, seen action during the Civil War, housed soldiers during World War II and schooled generations of local children. The House offers a year round programme of events and family activities including the Spring Food and Craft Fair on the 2 April 2023. Visit on this day and you can explore the house and browse over 60 stalls offering artisan food, drink and locally produced crafts, giving you the perfect opportunity to shop for unique gifts and treats.

This stunning museum is situated in the picturesque town of Henley on Thames and housed in an award-winning building, designed by the acclaimed architect Sir David Chipperfield. Located on the banks of the river, the museum explores the River Thames, the international sport of rowing and the town of Henley. The Museum hosts a lively programme of temporary and visiting exhibitions, working with partners such as the National Portrait Gallery, the V&A and the Hayward Gallery in London. The constantly evolving calendar of temporary art and photography exhibitions and a year-round calendar of nature trails, craft workshops and family days, ensures there is always something new to see and do.

Starting with the world-famous, it could be argued that a trip along the Great West Way isn’t complete without visiting the world-famous Stonehenge. And, new for 2023 is the Circles of Stone: Stonehenge and Prehistoric Japan exhibition. Standing impressively amongst the Salisbury Plain, this prehistoric monument welcomes visitors from all around the globe and has done for centuries. For a more personal experience of the monstrous stones visit between the months of December and August to see them up close with a Stone Circle Experience. Available outside regular visiting hours, here you will get the unique opportunity to capture the fascinating statues within a much quieter setting. Plus, don’t miss the nearby secret stones of Avebury - 4,000 years of history you never knew existed.

Negotiating the pretty lanes of the Vale of Pewsey brings the happy traveller to Devizes, home of the Wiltshire Museum, telling the 500,000 years story of the county through its award-winning galleries, exhibits, high-quality graphics and striking reconstructions. Take part in a day course of Stone Carving with Andrew Ziminski on Saturday 27 May and 23 September 2023. This one-day workshop is perfect for beginners looking to pick up the basic skills required to carve stone. The Bath stone used is easy to carve, and you will be able to take it home with you. Take some time here to also stop in at the independent craft brewers, Wadworth Brewery.

If you have ever wanted to learn about crop circles or to meet crop circle enthusiasts to share thoughts with then The Crop Circle Exhibition & Information Centre based at the Honeystreet Mill Café in the Vale of Pewsey is the place to go. The multi-media exhibition, which was initially created for the Wiltshire Museum, features key facts about the crop circle phenomenon and mixes it with stunning photography. At the attached Crop Circle Information Centre, be sure to read the latest up-to-date crop circle reports and visit between 15 June - 15 August 2023 to enjoy a personal guided exhibition Tour & High Tea.

In Wiltshire’s county town, 1000 years of the town’s history comes to life at the Trowbridge Museum, which recently underwent a multi-million-pound expansion, which saw the museum double in size for its re-opening! The museum offers an insight into the rich textile-related heritage in the heart of the town including how Trowbridge was shaped by the scale of production and quality of its West of England woollen cloth and became the county town of Wiltshire. Visit before the 29 April 2023 to see the In Focus Photography Showcase of work by award winning photographers Sheri O’Reilly, Sue McDine and Roy McDine.

In the picture-perfect village of Lacock you will find National Trust’s Lacock Abbey and Fox Talbot Museum and Village. Here, in 1835, William Fox Talbot created the world’s first photographic negative, and so it is only proper that the Museum of Photography is established here. New for 2023 the Fox Talbot Museum is holding Mandy Barker's Plastic Soup: Photography Exhibition until 23 April 2023 where the work of award-winning photographer, Mandy Barker, created to raise awareness of marine plastic pollution will be on display. You might also enjoy combining your trip to the nearby market town of Corsham, home to two more museums, a moving historical experience in the original 17th century Corsham Schoolroom and Almshouse and The Pound Arts Centre, a North Wiltshire hub for the performing and visual arts.

Discover a pair of remarkable survivors from the early days of the Industrial Revolution. The Crofton Beam Engines were built over 200 years ago to maintain water levels in the nearby Kennet & Avon Canal and, amazingly, those great steam engines are still in working order, doing the job for which they were designed!

If historic aeroplanes are a ‘must-see’ for you or your children, you need look no further than the Boscombe Down Aviation Collection, where cockpits are mostly open, and you can sit in and use the controls. Exhibits of national importance including the unique Sea Harrier XZ 457 and the rare Comit C Mk 2 Sagittarius, and the museum is proud to have the most fast jet cockpits available to sit in than anywhere else in the UK.

Since its formation in 1942, the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers has been the driving force of the British Army and the inspiring story of the unit is told at the REME Museum through its collections of armoured vehicles and weaponry and child-friendly interactive displays. Don’t miss Wartime Britain between the 13-14 May 2023 - an amazing weekend exploring the vehicles, weapons and military life experienced by many during World War II.

Set in an immaculate 18th-century townhouse and relating the story of the town’s development since the prehistoric era Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre is well worth a visit when exploring the charming Georgian town of Chippenham.

From unique classic cars and motorcycles to the rarer gems of vintage racecars, visitors can expect an assortment of remarkable vehicles that are simply oozing with nostalgia. It'll be a chance to marvel at some truly remarkable relics from motoring's illustrious past. Plus, don’t miss their annual Classic Vehicle Show on the 9 July 2023.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s great ocean liner – the SS Great Britain – takes centre stage with visitors experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of a voyage onboard. There’s even the chance to climb the rigging with the Go Aloft! experience. Beside the ship, two museums bring Brunel’s Victorian innovation and the ship’s pioneering stories to life. And a new viewing platform gives visitors the opportunity to see behindthe-scenes in a working shipyard, set beside Bristol’s stunning Floating Harbour. New for 2023, visitors will sample Victorian desserts during the Easter and May school holidays, and follow a new ship’s chefs trail during the summer. With the Ashes taking place in England this year, the visitor attraction looks back at the birth of international cricket, telling the story of the All England XI cricket teams that travelled to Australia for the first time ever in 1861 and 1862, aboard the SS Great Britain. Also new for 2023, visitors to Bristol and Bath can book unique afternoon tea experiences onboard the SS Great Britain in the First Class Dining Saloon.

Housed in a fine Georgian manor house with outstanding views over the Limpley Stoke Valley on the edge of Bath next to the University, the American Museum takes you on a journey through American history, with its remarkable collection of folk, decorative arts and cultural objects. The only museum of Americana outside of the United States, it was founded to bring American history and cultures to the people of Britain and Europe. Each year, special temporary exhibitions are on display in their Exhibition Gallery. Don’t miss America In Crisis showing from 11 March – 4 July 2023, a major American photography exhibition exploring social change in the US through the lens of a diverse group of artists. This captivating exhibition features over 80 photographs by 39 top American artists, from the 1960s till today.

There’s a superb collection of fine and decorative arts to be viewed at the Grade 1-listed The Holburne Museum, who describe themselves as 'Changing Lives through Art', by bringing the enjoyment of art to people of all ages and from every walk of life. The Holburne was founded in 1882 with the gift of Sir William Holburne’s collection of 16th and 17th century Italian and Dutch paintings, silver, sculpture, furniture, porcelain and diverse objets d’art of national and international significance. That founding gift has been augmented with a collection of 18th century paintings by such artists as Gainsborough, Lawrence, Ramsay, Stubbs and Zoffany. Set within the historic Sydney Pleasure Gardens, The Holburne has secured a national reputation as an outstanding museum which holds critically acclaimed exhibitions. Don’t miss exhibitions for 2023 include a new major exhibition looking at the role of portraiture in the process of marriage in the Renaissance of Northern and Southern Europe, Painted Love: Renaissance Marriage

Portraits at The Holburne, from 26 May – 1 October 2023

Celebrating Bath’s most famous resident, The Jane Austen Centre offers a snapshot of life during Regency times and explores how living in this magnificent city affected Jane Austen’s life and writing. ‘Live’ Guides, costume, film, superb giftshop and an authentic period atmosphere await you, and don't forget to visit the Regency themed Tea Rooms on the 2nd floor for a pot of real leaf tea and a slice of home made cake with splendid rooftop views over the city. Plus don't miss the Jane Austen Festival taking place from the 8-17 September 2023 - Ten wonderful days of celebrating all things Austen in the beautiful city of Bath.

Take a look beyond the Crescent's famous Palladian facade and see what life was like for the wealthy and their servants in eighteenth-century Bath with a wander inside No. 1 Royal Crescent. Built between 1767 and 1774 to the designs of the architect John Wood the Younger, the Royal Crescent is justly considered one of the finest achievements of eighteenthcentury urban architecture, and represents the highest point of Palladian architecture in Bath. No. 1 was the first house to be built in the Crescent, and originally provided luxury accommodation for the aristocratic visitors who came to take the waters and enjoy the social season. Each room is an exquisite example of Georgian interior design with authentic furniture, paintings, textiles and carpets.

Incongruously placed just a stone’s throw from two of Bath’s iconic attractions, The Circus and The Royal Crescent, the Museum of East Asian Art is a hidden gem of a museum, and the only museum in the UK solely dedicate to arts and culture from East and South East Asia, with a collection of over 2,000 objects. Spread over three floors of a converted Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, the Museum is a sanctuary of tranquillity in a busting World Heritage city: ceremonial jade objects as luminous today as they were over thousands of years ago sit alongside imperial household items, Ming vases, bronze Buddhas, Chinese Blue and White porcelain and other artefacts representing over 7,000 years of artistry and craftsmanship. Don’t miss Artists’ Reinventions: War, Revolution and the Art of New China on the 4 May 2023. This illustrated talk highlights the career transformations of some great wartime printmakers, from the late 1930s, into the 1990s.

In 1816, Mary Shelley wrote the world’s first science fiction novel, Frankenstein, whilst resident in Bath. This new museum is a world-first visitor attraction to explore the dark world of Mary Shelley, bluring the lines between museum and immersive visitor experience. The attraction is set in a Grade II listed property, extending over four atmospheric floors including a dank foreboding basement. One of the floors is dedicated to uncovering her history and tragic life events and, confront the formidable 8ft monster recreated exactly as Mary imagined. Plus, don’t miss attempting to flee to your safety with a nail-biting Victor’s Lair Escape Room experience.

Aesthete’s will ove popping their head into the Victoria Art Gallery in the centre of Bath. Don’t miss exhibitions for 2023 include Capturing Life: A Century of the New English Art Club at Victoria Art Gallery from 21 January – 11 April 2023. The exhibition showcases work by past and present members of the New English Art Club, an elected society of contemporary painters inspired by the visual world.

Bath was founded upon natural hot springs with the steaming water playing a key role throughout its history. Lying in the heart of the city the Roman Baths were constructed around 70 AD as a grand bathing and socialising complex. It is now one of the best preserved Roman remains in the world. 1,170,000 litres of steaming spring water reaching 46 °C still fill the bathing site every single day. The Romans believed that this was the mystical work of the Gods but we now know that the water source, which comes from the King’s Spring, fell as rain water around 10,000 BC. Visit The Great Bath, the magnificent epicentre to the complex and walk on the ancient pavements as the Romans did 2,000 years ago. The Great Bath that lies below street level can also be viewed from the Terrace, which is adorned with statues and shadowed by the great Abbey. Other chambers to explore include the remains of the ancient heated rooms and changing rooms as well as tepid and plunge pools.

2023 marks the 200th year of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and the bi-centenary of their forerunner, The Bristol Institution for the Advancement of Science, Literature and the Arts. 200 years of Bristol Museum & Art Gallery will be celebrated by bringing together amazing objects and stories from their collections through a series of themed seasons throughout the year. As well as displays and interventions, the programme will feature a number of high-profile events highlighting significant objects and milestones in the museum’s history.

Aerospace Bristol tells the incredible story of Bristol’s amazing aviation achievements and offers the chance to step aboard Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last of the supersonic jets ever to fly. Learn about the earliest days of powered flight, through to today’s cutting-edge aerospace technology. There's aeroplanes, helicopters, missiles, satellites, engines and interactive exhibits for all ages. The highlight of your day will surely be the iconic Concorde, the world's fastest passenger jet, where you can the step aboard inside, glimpse into the cockpit, and walk through the passenger cabin.

Due to a fire in April 2022 We the Curious has been closed, however, the museum is hoping to re-open in 2023/2024. Once it does there will be all sorts of different experiences and exhibits for you to interact with, and experiments you can take part in – a science centre and interactive space where everyone can ask questions, play and test ideas out together. You will lose yourself in over 200 hands-on exhibits, science shows and activities and don’t miss contributing to scientific research and journey to the stars in the UK’s first 3D Planetarium.

Housed in the old Llanthony Warehouse in the heart of what once was the bustling Gloucester Docks, the museum charts the 200-year history of the docks and the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. The Grade II listed grain warehouse has been renovated with fun, interactive exhibits, café and a lovely tea room with a fantastic selection of picnic benches, funded by the Friends of the National Waterways Museum. Plus, during the spring and summer season, 45-minute boat trips are available along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal on Queen Boadicea II, a Dunkirk Little Ship.