Unexpectedly interesting tourist attractions

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

Just thinking about it because it came up in my ‘On This Day’ on Facebook… a few years ago, I went to Stockholm, and someone I’d met just before told me I absolutely had to see Vasa. (It’s a perfectly preserved 17th Century warship, for those of you who, like me then, haven’t heard of it!) He said it had been a recommendation from a friend and he would never have thought of going otherwise, but found it fascinating.

He was absolutely right. I’d never even heard of it, but was so glad I went. So now I’m wondering, what other ‘hidden’ or underrated gems should I see?

The pencil museum in Keswick is really interesting and the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh is much better than I expected.

I went to see the Vasa years ago. I agree it was great.

The Tank museum in Bovington was more interesting than I thought it would be.

Cider museum in dorset when on holiday!

The Falkirk Wheel.
I loved it!

In the town where I live there's a typewriter museum and I had to take a group of kids. It was fascinating. Had never dreamed it would be anything other than a chore.

Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley, Yorkshire. Such a tucked away museum and gardens but inside it is so beautiful, every display is placed really well, the building is gorgeous: stained glass windows, painted ceilings. It is atmospheric and full of interesting things, including an active bee hive!

Chatham docks. Wasn't expecting much tbh, but was really interesting.

@CaptainMyCaptain

The pencil museum in Keswick is really interesting and the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh is much better than I expected.

Yes to both of these!

@BingBongToTheMoon

The Falkirk Wheel. I loved it!

I was going to say that! We must have bed. 3 times, and did the canal trip once too. Then on to the Kelpies.

Yes......Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley, Yokshire

I was taken to see the Tollund Man by my parents whilst on holiday as a child in Denmark. I still think of him often.

Puzzlewood, absolutely loved it there. We regularly see it in movies we always point it out and remember the lovely day we had there.

NYC, the hard hat tour on Ellis Island. Its a tour round the 1920's hospital on the Island, it was the largest most advanced facility in the world at the time. Its also got some really stylish decor, its mostly in ruins, hence thd hard hat bit, after the big hurricane (Sandy?) But they are working at restoring it.

Stunning and unique views of the statue of liberty and the city too, it was one of the highlights of our holiday!

The museum of miniatures in Prague. Amazing and tiny

@CosyAcorn

Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley, Yorkshire. Such a tucked away museum and gardens but inside it is so beautiful, every display is placed really well, the building is gorgeous: stained glass windows, painted ceilings. It is atmospheric and full of interesting things, including an active bee hive!

Sounds just the thing for our upcoming school holidays at home, and my best friend doesn’t live far away from Keighley. DS is 12, we’ve done everything in our corner of Yorkshire!

I second the Tank Museum in Dorset. Never thought yanks would be so interesting!

@user1471519931

I was taken to see the Tollund Man by my parents whilst on holiday as a child in Denmark. I still think of him often.

I think Silkeborg (?) woman was in the same place. She had lots of tiny plaits and beautiful jewellery. I love it when you feel a bond with someone from so long ago.

Yes to the Vasa and the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Can I add The Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds, Weston Park Museum in Sheffield, Wentworth Castle Gardens in Barnsley and Wentworth Woodhouse in Wentworth near Rotherham. All hidden gems and well worth visiting.

The Waltzing Waters on the Isle of Wight.

I was devastated when it shut

I’m also a big fan of the pencil museum in Keswick, but I preferred it before it was flooded and had to move.

We spent an unexpectedly long time in the “Oban at War” museum.

The National Wool Museum in Drefach Felindre, Ceredigion is AMAZING. I could've spent three days there!!

Angus MacAskill museum on skye. 100% the most random place ever. Just in a shed. You ring the bell and Danny MacAskills dad comes along and tells the story.. lovely man and he fell asleep whilst we looked around. Such a knowledgeable man though, really lively guy. Just the most random place ever! Kids loved it.

Police museum in Manchester. Very charming, had an old court, dressing up and police officers showing you round their cars and dogs in the car park.

Friends of the Necropolis tour in Glasgow. Sounds grim but there are so many interesting stories about the lives of the people in the graves, loads of local history, it's technically free but they are a charity and use the funds to restore the graves.

The Museum of Miniatures at Houghton Hall Garden Centre near Carlisle. I was in awe at the skills needed to produce these tiny articles. The one I remember most was a Jacobean blue twisted stem goblet, it had me in tears it was so amazing. The rest of the garden centre is very nice, well worth a visit.
Jupiter Artland, near Edinburgh. I could go on for hours about it, best just to look it up yourselves.