The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
4.5
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
About
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is the perfect way to find out more about North Devon. Our collections and displays explore the people and landscapes of this beautiful part of the country.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
186 reviews
Excellent
89
Very good
78
Average
15
Poor
2
Terrible
2
TORBAY FEE
English Riviera, UK73 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
This lovely little museum is definitely worth a visit, it's one of the nicest museums that I've visited in a long time, I didn't know that Barnstaple had such interesting and varied history.
The staff were very friendly and extremely helpful, one young gentleman offered to open up one of the exhibits for us to look at.
Please visit this museum if you're in Barnstaple it's free to enter with just a donation requested.
The staff were very friendly and extremely helpful, one young gentleman offered to open up one of the exhibits for us to look at.
Please visit this museum if you're in Barnstaple it's free to enter with just a donation requested.
Written April 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew B
Reigate, UK23 contributions
Oct 2020
What a great find! We only popped in to buy a card from the gift shop and ended up spending over an hour in the museum. This is a great collection of artefacts, photographs and stories that bring the history, people and industry in the area to life. The volunteers were charming and welcoming and Covid secure measures were taken seriously. The museum is free to visit, although donations are welcome (obviously)
The cafe is a must with a great selection of home baked cakes and scones.
The cafe is a must with a great selection of home baked cakes and scones.
Written October 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carolyn L
12 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
I picked up a leaflet about Barnstaple museum when we visited one at Tiverton recently.
We saved our visit for Easter Monday, and it was well worth the hour's trip from home. The building is huge, and we were really impressed with the variety of areas available to browse. The focus is on local and north Devon as a whole, and some of the exhibits include Victorian era, Merchants and makers, military rooms, pottery and Shapland and Petter furniture. It was so extensive that near the end I decided that we needed another visit to see the rest, so we will be returning at some point. Really interesting, with lots of amusing little signs around, but I'll leave you to find out what they are. Do give Barnstape museum a visit, whether you are young, middle aged, or senior, it's fascinating. There is a shop and tea room too, and parking just a short distance away.
We saved our visit for Easter Monday, and it was well worth the hour's trip from home. The building is huge, and we were really impressed with the variety of areas available to browse. The focus is on local and north Devon as a whole, and some of the exhibits include Victorian era, Merchants and makers, military rooms, pottery and Shapland and Petter furniture. It was so extensive that near the end I decided that we needed another visit to see the rest, so we will be returning at some point. Really interesting, with lots of amusing little signs around, but I'll leave you to find out what they are. Do give Barnstape museum a visit, whether you are young, middle aged, or senior, it's fascinating. There is a shop and tea room too, and parking just a short distance away.
Written April 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Solihulllady77
Solihull, UK16 contributions
Sep 2022
A fantastic gem! We were very pleased to spend a few hours touring this museum. They have some incredible exhibits. The staff were more than helpful and very knowledgeable. We were luck enough to go when there was a exhibition of The Partridge family of Barnstable, this was super but what made it exceptional was a demonstration from local weaver Jenny Wilkinson. A totally unexpected pleasure!
Entry is free, so I am sure like us, nobody minds putting in a donation as they leave!
Entry is free, so I am sure like us, nobody minds putting in a donation as they leave!
Written September 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela
Wolverhampton, UK160 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
Staff friendly and welcoming. Displays well thought out and informative. Each room as a subject covering transport wildlife costume pottery trains war and wool dying. Old portraits line the great staircase as you come in.
Fully accessible as they have a lift to the first floor.
Toilet facilities on both levels.
Tea room is a must their Victoria sponge is delicious.
Fully stocked gift shop.
Fully accessible as they have a lift to the first floor.
Toilet facilities on both levels.
Tea room is a must their Victoria sponge is delicious.
Fully stocked gift shop.
Written June 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It's me, again.
Ilfracombe, UK48 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
Although I live in North Devon, this is the first time I've been since it reopened. I have to say that the presentation of the artefacts is excellent, with interesting descriptions of the items. North Devon, even today, is often looked upon as being in the back of beyond, but, what the museum shows is a rich and diverse culture of skills, design, innovation and philanthropy that past generations displayed.
Written July 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah B
Hertfordshire, UK20 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
A range of exhibitions makes this a place to keep in mind when you are in the area.
For a former local, seeing the history and hearing the stories was very moving. It is interesting to note that they are still active in collecting social history.
Wonderful model railway.
Good cafe and shop too. Well worth a few hours.
For a former local, seeing the history and hearing the stories was very moving. It is interesting to note that they are still active in collecting social history.
Wonderful model railway.
Good cafe and shop too. Well worth a few hours.
Written August 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alseward53
Axminster, UK380 contributions
Feb 2020
Originally built as a private residence this museum although under renovation work is worth a visit. Not a big display but full of local interest and history. Lovely staff who are full of enthusiasm. Liked the little car.
Written February 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryan M-G
Oldbury, UK843 contributions
Jun 2022
This is a nice free museum showing the history of the local area. We were made most welcome by one of the staff (or perhaps a volunteer) who was most informative. There's also a nice looking tea room in the museum, but we'd already had our obligatory scone!
Written July 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul C
6 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
Really delightful museum with friendly welcoming staff. And free! Lots of interesting exhibits and to top it off a very pleasant cafe serving scones and nice ground coffee. Really enjoyed it.
Written September 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christine B
Tamworth, UK34 contributions
Please could you advise if you allow dogs?
blueberrybelle
United Kingdom150 contributions
I did not see any dogs in there. I can't imagine that they generally would, unless they are hearing dogs or seeing dogs (I'm sorry there is a phrase for those types of dogs but I can't recall it )
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
- The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is open:
- Tue - Sat 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM
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The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon Information
Excellent Reviews | 89 |
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Very Good Reviews | 78 |
The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon Photos | 26 |