Amberley Museum
Amberley Museum in West Sussex
Amberley Museum is a 36-acre site located in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Often referred to as multiple museums in one, the Museum has over 20 exhibition areas covering everything from vintage vehicles to communications to electrical goods to crafts and nature trails to rides on a narrow-gauge railway and historic buses. The Museum also hosts a year-round programme of regular events from Steam Punk to family picnics to James Bond themed weekends. A team of some 200 active volunteers, many of whom worked in the industries represented at the Museum, help to look after the exhibits and interact with visitors. Amberley Museum is a registered charity and an accredited independent museum that was founded in 1978. The Museum is located next to Amberley railway station near Arundel and is close to major access roads in West Sussex.
The Museum is usually open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 4:30pm all year round (please check our website first).
The Limeburner’s café on-site serves hot and cold food.
Dogs are welcome on a lead.
Arundel Museum
Arundel Museum
Discover historic Arundel…the town, the castle, the port, and more! Open to the public every day between 10 and 4.
Bignor Roman Villa
Roman Mosaics | Romanvilla | Bignor (bignorromanvilla.co.uk)
One of the largest villas open to the public in Great Britain, with some of the finest mosaics all in-situ and all undercover, including Medusa, Venus and Cupid Gladiators and Ganymede. Rediscovered in 1811, see one of the longest mosaics on display in Britain at 24 metres. Walk on original floors dating back to 350AD. Enjoy our museum tearoom and picnic area with exquisite views of the South Downs.
Tearoom open to non-visitors. Free parking for cars and coaches.
School and groups visits are welcome by prior arrangement. Outreach talks also available.
Bognor Regis Museum
Bognor Regis Museum
Home (bognormuseum.org)
Museum of local and social history
* Shop front displays inc. Toy Shop, Ironmongers & Pawn Brokers
* Local fossils (50 million years old) * Detailed models of buildings past and present
* Edwardian parlour display
* Wireless museum – try your hand at Morse Code!
* Gift shop
* FREE ADMISSION
Wheelchair friendly. Open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday (plus Bank Holidays) until further notice. 10:00 am till 4:00 pm
Brighton Toy and Model Museum
“Home to one of the most outstanding collections of toys and models in the UK. Situated under Brighton station, you will find a treasure trove of over 10,000 exhibits on display, including collections of toys from over the last 100 years, period antique toys, examples from the world’s top toy makers plus priceless model train collection. The museum is one of Brighton’s most fascinating attractions and an Aladdin’s cave for the whole family to enjoy!”
For more information, please go to: Brighton Museum
Cuckfield Museum
With an earliest record in a charter of 1091, Cuckfield has grown and developed from the site of an ancient market, through the building of the 13th Century church and 16th Century ironmasters mansions to becoming an important staging post on the 18th Century London to Brighton coaching route. Some of the world’s first dinosaur discoveries were made here in the 19th Century and after the two World Wars of the 20th Century, Cuckfield is becoming a 21st Century boutique village.
Find out about village life, the interesting people and places and fascinating events that have shaped Cuckfield or look into your family history in their research room.
For more information please go to: Cuckfield Museum
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
Tucked away in the little village of Ditchling is the wonderful little gem of Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft. The museum offers a unique selection of items from the artists and craftsmen who were drawn to the village from the early 20th century.”
For more information please go to: Ditchling Museum
East Grinstead Museum
Built with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and money raised by the local community, East Grinstead Museum invites you to discover the old market town and surrounding area, through exciting new displays, hands on experiences, inter-actives and audio/visual presentations. The Museum has both a permanent exhibition area as well as a regularly changing programme of temporary exhibitions. The interesting and varied permanent displays explore the history of East Grinstead and its surrounding villages. The collection forms a unique combination recording both the story of a town which formed an historic staging post between London and the coast together with the McIndoe Collection and story of the Guinea Pig Club which is of worldwide interest and importance. Artefacts, ephemera, memorabilia and images are interspersed with touch screen inter-actives and a film that brings the past alive. For younger visitors there are activity packs and a mini sand-pit. A Research Room, which holds books and records relating to East Grinstead and the immediate surrounding area is available for use by researchers who are interested in exploring local history in more depth. In here, also, the Museum’s entire collection can be searched – just ask the steward on duty. Appointments can be made with the Curator to look at objects, images or archives that are not on permanent display. The Museum also has a ‘handling collection’ of objects that can be borrowed by, for example, schools or reminiscent groups and a regular programme of holiday activities for children. Free Admission
For more information, please go to: East Grinstead Museum
Fishbourne Roman Palace and Gardens
Fishbourne Roman Palace is the largest Roman home in Britain. Stroll around the recreated Roman gardens – the earliest gardens found anywhere in the country – and enjoy the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the UK!
For more information, please go to: Fishbourne Roman Palace & Gardens – Sussex Past
Hammerwood Park
Hammerwood Park was built in 1792 by Benjamin Latrobe, later architect of the US Capitol Building and the White House. It represents the first example of Greek revival architecture in Britain. Once owned by Led Zeppelin, in 1982 it was rescued from dereliction in the most extensive private restoration in Europe. Now a private home once again, it is home to a musical instrument collection and is open for guided tours and concerts from June to September.
For more information, please go to: Hammerwood Park
Henfield Museum
Henfield museum is home to a large collection of items from prehistoric flint artefacts telling of the earliest human activity in the area to objects from the 20th century.
For more information, please go to: Henfield Museum – Home
Horsham Museum
Horsham Museum was founded in 1893 by the Free Christian (now Unitarian) Church and became part of Horsham District Council in 1974. It is supported by The Friends of Horsham Museum.
Horsham Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm and on Bank Holiday weekends.
For more information, please go to: Horsham Museum
Marlipins Museum
Explore the oldest secular building in Britain and discover more about the maritime history of Sussex!
The Grade II listed Norman building in the high street of the coastal town of Shoreham-by-Sea is famous for its striking flint and limestone chequerboard façade.
The building, which dates back to the 12th century, is understood to have been used as a toll or custom house for the port and markets, providing secure storage for high-end goods such as wines, spices and fabrics.
Now it is home to a unique collection which sheds light on the area’s rich maritime history, with objects collected from shipwrecks off the coast of Sussex and further afield.
For more information, please go to: Marlipins Museum – Sussex Past
National Trust – Petworth House and Gardens
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of their show rooms containing a world-famous collection of paintings, with many works by JMW Turner, Van Dyck, Reynolds and Blake, together with ancient and Neo-classical sculpture and intricate carvings by Grinling Gibbons. In contrast to the opulence of the House, follow in the footsteps of Petworth servants and see what life was like ‘below stairs’ in the fascinating Servants’ Quarters. Petworth House remains a living family home to this day and on weekdays Lord and Lady Egremont kindly open some of their private rooms for visitors to enjoy.
For more information, please go to: Petworth House and Park | West Sussex | National Trust
National Trust Uppark House and Gardens
Uniquely placed in a stunning hilltop location on the South Downs, Uppark was built in the 17th century and restored to its former glory after a fire in 1989. The elegant Georgian interior houses a famous Grand Tour collection. Discover the world of Sir Harry Fetherstonhaugh, Lady Emma Hamilton and the dairymaid who married her master. The complete servants’ quarters in the basement are shown as they were in Victorian days, when H. G. Wells’ mother was housekeeper. The garden is adorned with wonderfully scented shrubs and fine specimen trees, all planted within a naturalistic framework with breathtaking sea views.
For more information, please go to: Uppark House and Garden | Sussex | National Trust
Pallant House
A Modern British and international art gallery set in a Queen Anne townhouse and modern extension.
For more information, please go to: Pallant House Gallery | Home
Tangmere Military Aviation Museum
Military Aviation Museum covering from the First World War to the Jet age with a selection of unique aircraft and mementos associated with this historic site.
For more information, please go to: Tangmere Museum – Tangmere Military Aviation Museum (tangmere-museum.org.uk)
The Midhurst Museum
Based in Midhurst, West Sussex – in the heart of the South Downs National Park, the Midhurst Museum comprises two rooms – one contains theme-displays that change every month and reflect aspects of local heritage or wider historical interests.
For more information, please go to: Midhurst museum | Midhurst Museum and Tea Rooms | Midhurst
The Novium Museum
Extraordinary artefacts, a Roman bath house, telling the intriguing stories of Chichester District.
For more information, please go to:The Novium Home Page – The Novium Museum
The Priest House West Hoathly
A beautiful 15th century museum in a cottage garden. Proud home to the Suffragettes’ Handkerchief.
For more information, please go to: The Priest House & Gardens – Sussex Past
Wings Aviation Museum
The Wings Aviation Museum is a totally voluntary organisation run by friendly dedicated volunteers and as such is a registered charity. The Museum is housed in a large “hangar” style building between Balcombe & Handcross in West Sussex. Get up close and personal to real history, read about the 1000’s of personal stories of bravery and sacrifice from all nations and theatres of war. Often described as a “Hidden Gem” our museum is available for School visits and group bookings (evenings available) we are open 6 days a week from Tuesday to Sunday – beginning of March right up to Remembrance Sunday.
For more information, please go to: Wings Aviation Museum – The Wings Aviation Museum, Balcombe, East Sussex (wingsmuseum.co.uk)
Weald & Downland Living Museum
Be part of something historic and discover Sussex rural history through the seasons, in the heart of the picturesque South Downs. See what rural living was like with over 1,000 years of history to explore, and over 50 relocated historic houses covering the 40-acre site.
For more information, please go to: Explore The Weald & Downland Living Museum in Chichester (wealddown.co.uk)
Worthing Museum and Gallery
A world of art and heritage in the heart of the Worthing. Explore our permanent collections and temporary exhibitions set amongst the Edwardian architecture of our unique gallery spaces. Uncover buried archaeological treasures and discover the story of Worthing. Explore the museum’s incredible costume collection with garments dating back to the early 17th century. Immerse yourself in the collection of art which includes fine examples of Pre-Raphaelite Modern British and contemporary painting.
For more information, please go to: Worthing Theatres and Museum (wtm.uk)