David Whitley investigates Britain’s bizarre museums.
This week sees one of the UK’s oddest museums re-opening after a multi-million pound revamp, but the London Transport Museum is by no means the strangest in the country…
The London Transport Museum, Covent Garden
For those that just can’t get enough of the crammed commute into work, there is the opportunity to see even more Tube carriages at the newly revamped London Transport Museum (020 7565 7299). £21m has been spent on beefing the museum up, and now flashy interactive stuff sits alongside the ancient trains. Underground geeks will be delighted to hear that there’s the chance to see the original Tube map and have a go on a train driving simulator. The museum re-opens on November 19th.
The Dog Collar Museum, Leeds Castle, Kent
Within the walls of one of England’s most popular tourist attractions, this collection of canine neckwear is proudly billed as the only one of its kind in Great Britain. It’s difficult to imagine there being a frantic clamour to create some serious competition on this score, but it’s an undeniably impressive collection. If you’re into that sort of thing. There are over 100 intricately engraved and sculpted dog collars in the museum, be they for hunting hounds or domestic pooches. Entry is included in the entrance fee to Leeds Castle (+44 1622 765400).
The British Lawnmower Museum, Southport, Merseyside
Any decent human being should be prepared to argue to the death over their favourite model of antique lawnmower, and the best place to compare those Atco Standard 1921s against the Royal Enfields and Allen Scythes is Southport. The British Lawnmower Museum (01704 501336) proudly boasts 400 fabulous grass-cutting machines in its collection. Amongst the proud historical artefacts is a bit of celebrity glamour – the museum also hosts lawnmowers that once belonged to Prince Charles, lardbucket TV detritus Vanessa Feltz and big-haired Queen guitarist Brian May. Southport is a short journey north of Liverpool, and tours cost only £2.
The Teddy Bear Museum, Wimbledon, London
Quite why the bear has gained this soft image is inexplicable. Try cuddling up to one in the wild, and it’s one big clawfest. Still, the less damaging versions have been regarded as the perfect bedside companions for decades, and many have been saved from a lonely fate in adult attics by the Teddy Bear Museum. Originally in Stratford-upon-Avon, the museum moved its 700-strong collection to the Polka Theatre on Wimbledon Broadway last year. They missed a trick – they could have taken Paddington back to his rightful home.
The National Piping Centre, Glasgow
Celebrating possibly the world’s most melodic instrument, the National Piping Centre (0141 353 0220) contains a small museum devoted to bagpipes. And, boy does it go into detail about the Scottish aural torture weapon of choice. Whether it’s the origin of bagpipes, different playing styles or differences between Scottish and European pipes, the museum has all the information anyone could possibly wish for. Those wishing to get a bit more into the caterwauling can book themselves in for bagpiping lessons, as long as they call a week in advance.
The Pencil Museum, Keswick, Cumbria
The Lake District in Cumbria is one of the most beautiful places on earth, perfect for walking through marvellous scenery. But if it’s raining, indoor attractions are needed, and the Cumberland Pencil Museum (01768 773 626) in Keswick has cleverly exploited this gap in the market. Billing itself as the “Perfect All-Weather Attraction”, the museum celebrates 350 years of pencil-making in the area. It include a reconstruction of the mine where the graphite for the pencils is dug out, as well as packaging from yesteryear and the true highlight – the longest coloured pencil in the world.
This article was originally written for TNT.
Copyright David Whitley
