With half term upon us, many parents will be wanting to keep the kids busy, educated and entertained, all of which are covered by a good museum. We’ve got plenty of those all over Greater Manchester, from those focusing on natural and local history, to interactive displays and all areas of science, but one Greater Manchester museum has been named the best free option in the UK. Having been free for its entire existence, Bolton Museum has finally been recognised for its customer satisfaction, as the best free museum in the UK, making it perfect for a half term visit.
GoldCo has compiled a list of free museums and art galleries from Money Saving Expert and researched each place on Tripadvisor, pulling their star rating, total number of reviews and then the total number of five star reviews.
The results aren’t just free museums, they’re the UK’s best-kept secrets for unforgettable family adventures. This can be a lifesaver for parents during half term, offering immersive learning.
With positive reviews and no entry fees, these attractions are perfect for keeping kids entertained this half term, without breaking the bank. Whether you’re interested in history, science, or art, these top-rated venues promise an engaging experience for all ages.
Bolton Museum came top, with 93.69% 5 star reviews, making it a great free museum for all the family. Boasting an aquarium, alongside displays of art, Egyptology, archaeology, botany and zoology, Bolton Museum has something for everyone, and is easily accessible, being located on Le Mans Crescent just a 10 minute walk from Bolton Interchange. Plus, there are plenty of family friendly events and exhibitions available all year round, so you can enjoy the fascinating story of Bolton, its places and people.
The study found that Manchester has an impressive seven free museums and art galleries that rank in this list, including Greater Manchester Police Museum & Archives (13), People’s History Museum (78) and The Manchester Museum (89). Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leeds have the most free museums and art galleries, with each featuring eight places for families to visit.
Looking at the different regions of the UK, Scotland offers the most free places to visit, with 31 locations. This is followed by North West England with 28 free places and London with 26 places. Out of all 201 museums and art galleries, the average star rating is 4.5 and the combined number of 5 star ratings is 322,662 – that’s a lot of positive reviews from people visiting free places…
The best free museums and art galleries in the UK:
- Bolton Museum, Greater Manchester – 5 stars
- Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Torfaen – 5 stars
- National Coal Mining Museum, West Yorkshire – 5 stars
- Lancashire Infantry Museum, Lancashire – 5 stars
- Watergate Street Gallery, Cheshire – 4.5 stars
- RAF Museum Cosford, Shropshire – 5 stars
- Jet Age Museum, Gloucestershire – 5 stars
- Leather Museum, Staffordshire – 4.5 stars
- Lapworth Museum of Geology, West Midlands – 5 stars
- The Wallace Collection, Westminster – 4.5 stars
You can find more information about Bolton Museum, including events, exhibitions and activities, here.
📍 Bolton Museum is located at Le Mans Crescent, Bolton BL1 1SE.