Learning about how we lived in the Middle Ages is made more interesting by looking around the various museum exhibitions available in 2015 in the UK. Many exhibitions display artefacts from the past that transport us back in time in a tangible way, while all visitors’ young and old will enjoy a great day out along the way!
Museum of London
The Museum of London is open every day, while it is free to visit the museum too! This award winning museum houses a fabulous exhibition that tells the story of London from when it was a Roman city in the early 400’s through to the reign of Elizabeth I the great Tudor Queen. There are over thirteen hundred artefacts to view from toys and leatherwork through to jewellery and clothing. All the major events of the Middle Ages are showcased here by and make very interesting viewing.
Medieval Artefacts at the Museum of London
Location
The museum is located on London Wall at the junction with Aldersgate Street. Bus numbers 4, 8, 25, 56, 100, 172, 242 and 521 pass the museum, while Barbican and St Pauls are the closest tube stations. Underground car parking is also available. Visit the Museum Website.
- Museum of London
- 150 London Wall
- London
- EC2Y 5HN
- Tele 020 7001 9844
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum in London opens daily from 10am to 5.45pm. Admission is free, while the museum specialises in art and design through the ages. Their Medieval exhibition and gallery features such treasures as Gothic tapestries, while there is even a listening room where music from medieval times have a connection with the artefacts on display. Art and design in Medieval Europe features heavily with medieval jewellery also on display.
Location
The Victoria and Albert Museum is located in SW7 not far from Hyde Park. The Victoria and Albert Museum website offers a superb journey planner where you can work out which type of transport is best for your purposes.
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Cromwell Road
- London
- SW7 2 RL
- Tele 020 7942 2000
The Yorkshire Museum
A superb exhibition regarding Medieval York is a highlight at the museum with medieval artefacts displayed amongst the backdrop of a medieval abbey. Many of the articles featured are from the time of King Henry VIII including objects that pilgrims would have brought to York Minster at the time. York is an amazing place that is steeped in Roman and Medieval history, while this exhibition shows us how people lived, worked and worshipped during the middle ages. The Museum also features a stained glass exhibition with displays dating from the 12th to the 20th centuries. Further exhibitions related to the Middle ages include Richard III Man and Myth.
13th Century Stained Glass Window
Location
The Yorkshire Museum is located in central York in Museum Gardens. It is only a short walk from York Train Station, while there is plenty of pay and display parking throughout the city too.
- The Yorkshire Museum
- Museum Gardens
- York
- YO1 7FR
- Tele 01904 687 687
The Swansea Museum
The Swansea Museum, the oldest museum in Wales, is located in the Maritime Quarter in Swansea and opens every day of the week except Mondays. Those who are interested in the Middle Ages can join a tour where they will walk the streets as medieval characters learning about how life was lived back then. Medieval witnesses will relate to visitors what they saw and did in the middle ages, while visitors will see just what Swansea was like in medieval times. Swansea Museum also displays many artefacts and caters for school groups, while the museum shop has many articles suitable to buy as a souvenir of your visit.
Location
The Maritime Quarter is around one mile from Swansea centre therefore has good transport links. For buses servicing the area please visit the First Bus website. The postcode for sat-nav purposes is SA1 1SN.
- The Swansea Museum
- Victoria Road
- The Maritime Quarter
- Swansea
- SA1 1SN
- Tele 01792 653763
National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland has a huge gallery that deals with Scottish history including that of the Middle Ages. Located on Chambers Street in Edinburgh visitors can see how life has changed over the centuries, while viewing amazing artefacts displayed at The Museum. The Kingdom of The Scots level features displays dealing with the years 1100 through to 1700 when Scotland and England were finally joined to become the United Kingdom. Learn about William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots, while a replica of the tomb of Mary Queen of Scots can also be viewed.
Replica Tomb of Mary Queen of Scots
Location
- National Museum of Scotland
- Chambers Street
- Edinburgh
- EH1 1JF
- Tele 0300 123 6789
Bede’s World
The World According to Bede is located in Jarrow Tyne and Wear. The museum tells us of Bede himself relating his life and times in the 7th century in detail. Bede was an English monk who was a historian and scientist in the Middle ages. The skull of Bede is one of the permanent exhibits at the museum featuring a cast of the actual skull of the venerable man himself. The story of how the cast was made from the skull is presented along with early medieval details about the cult surrounding the man. Further exhibitions and events here include
- Prints from Indigenous Australia
- Handwritten, a collection of calligraphy by Northumbrian scribes
- Three lectures, the Saturday lecture, the Jarrow lecture and the Wearmouth lecture
Educational visits are welcome as are groups and individuals.
Location
Jarrow is located in the Tyne and Wear district with Bede’s World sited 2 minutes from the A19 Tyne Tunnel. Both Bede and Jarrow metro stations are a twenty minute walk from The Museum, while the number 27 bus stops close by.
- Bede’s World
- Church Bank
- Jarrow
- Tyne and Wear
- NE32 3DY
- Tele 0191 489 2106