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?

@CaptainMyCaptain

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

Is the Royal Yatch absolutely worth it? Will be in Edinburgh in 2 weeks time (family thing). Photos make it look small and I don't know anything about it other than people go there... but then I have been to plenty of other places people go and they have been shite!!

Maybe we need a "shite tourist attractions" thread too so we can get a decent sample group

El Djem in Tunisia beats the Colosseum hands down. Only 50 people there when we went and were allowed to climb all over (and under) it.

[quote Soontobe60]@BikeRunSki
Have you done Wakefield Mining Museum? You go down into the actual mines... its excellent.[/quote]
It's fascinating. We went down the pit during our visit in the 1990s. The tour was led by an ex miner. I haven't been for years, but I must go again.

Can I also recommend Shibden Hall in Halifax and Oakhill Hall in Birstall.

Similar thing, a recommendation to see the Panorama Mesdag in the Hague. I didn't even really know what it was - it is hard to describe and even descriptions don't really prepare you. It's something that makes you feel as if you are in the most realistic painting ever made - I would say like a photo but it's more historic than that.

Sharmanka in Glasgow was one of my UK favourites - if they tour 'Gothic Kinetik' again, it's perhaps the best bits.

[quote Soontobe60]@BikeRunSki
Have you done Wakefield Mining Museum? You go down into the actual mines... its excellent.[/quote]
Many times!! DD was almost born there!
Not only is it local and free, but I am a geologist, so I also use the archives for professional purposes.

When I was on mat leave, or the years of paying 2 sets of nursery fees, if I was skint, but had fuel in the car, we could kill a while day there easily.

Carrying on the tank theme, the ‘Musee des Blindes’ in Saumur, France was a fascinating museum.

The Natural History Museum at Tring is also worth a visit. It’s small, and contains lots of stuffed animals. You can get get really close to them which is fascinating, plus I like the building it’s housed in.

Music Museum in Coventry. It is mainly about ska music. It has a room full of instruments you can play such as guitars and a theramin. And the car that was featured in the song Ghost Train. Great fun and a lovely cafe attached.

@user1471519931 have you read the book “meet me at the museum” it’s a really nice read and at the centre of the story is the same museum and the tollund man.

Macduff Marine Aquarium.

Milton Keynes Museum. It's so different from what you would expect.
Includes working telephone operating desks and all sorts.

Jerash in Jordan. It isn't obscure or anything, just not as well known as Petra. When we went there were about 10 other people in the whole site. It's amazing, whole streets of Roman and Byzantine ruins - you can wander into the foundations of shops and there's a church which is about 3 churches each built on top of the earlier one.

I got married in one of the places mentioned by a PP, always love it when someone likes it as much as I do.

I'm looking forward to visiting the infirmary on Ellis Island once it's been sorted out, I remember doing an "unofficial hard hat tour" of it in the 80s, pre health and safety where they just let visitors do what they liked.

There are loads of random places I've ended up visiting in America, usually when I'm driving somewhere else and need a loo break. The Petrified Forest in Mississippi is brilliant. I also enjoyed the Columbia River Museum in Oregon much more than I thought I would.

I love the National Mining Museum, The Yorkshire Sculpture Park , Port Sunlight on Merseyside and The Anderton Boat Lift was interesting .

Tenby Lifeboat station. Surprisingly excellent. And free.

Probably already mentioned and assuming you mean UK (and in no particular order):
Chiltern Open Air Museum - dog friendly
Brooklands Motor Museum (with free Mercedes Benz World next door)
St Fagans (Wales)
Bekonscot Model Village
and one that reopened today (haven't been for 20 plus years!www.museumofthehome.org.uk)

Museum on the mound in Edinburgh. The dc still talk about it years later.
Lots of excellent free museums in Hull and not free I don't think but excellent value was the opportunity to go look round a fishing trawler. Dh who is obsessed with deadliest catch was enthralled!

Lea Gardens in Matlock. Massive collection of azaleas and rhododendrons. Wonderful display around this time of year and smells amazing.

Britannia is great. Unusually all 4 members of the family thought so too. Didn't expect to access it through a shopping centre but once you are on there it doesn't matter. I would highly recommend it.

There's a museum in Valletta, Malta, focusing mainly on WW2 and Malta's role in it. Absolutely fascinating and taught me a lot, very understated

Also Memento Park in Budapest, where they collected a load of old Soviet-era statues and display them for interest in a park designed not to give them too much dignity.

@CyberGhost yes Royal Yacht Britannia is definitely worth a visit.

@CyberGhost - and stop for afternoon tea (in their own cafe) on the way round .

Petroleum museum in stavanger in Norway, much more than I expected and great for kids too

Many years ago I went to The Tomato Museum on Guernsey. I loved it, it was fascinating. My family think it’s hilarious and that I’m a total loser for enjoying it . Still rib me about it. But honestly, it was great !

@FricasseeTurnips

The Waltzing Waters on the Isle of Wight.

I was devastated when it shut

omg.., that place was amazing...I loved it!