Rayleigh Town Museum
Rayleigh Town Museum
4.6
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
Closed
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.6
41 reviews
Excellent
28
Very good
11
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Susan C
London, UK331 contributions
Apr 2022
Enthusiastic volunteers. Quirky exhibits from late 19th century to Railway paraphernalia, Faberge style eggs, WW2 reminders to a 1970’s table where a young visitor was fascinated to try to use a circular dial, landline telephone. Look out for the Blue Plaques dotted along the High Street as the Museum contains many references.
Written April 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.
cubmar
Melbourne, Australia40 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
This is a somewhat small space of a museum but once you visit, you realise it is perfectly adequate and meets your needs. There are a wealth of historic relics and artefacts which soon leave you in awe of the historic significance of Rayleigh.
The volunteers are keen enthusiasts who are on hand to answer your queries or share a chit chat if that's your fancy.
It's a fantastic effort and definitely worthy of a visit if you're a local or passing by.
The volunteers are keen enthusiasts who are on hand to answer your queries or share a chit chat if that's your fancy.
It's a fantastic effort and definitely worthy of a visit if you're a local or passing by.
Written August 2, 2019
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.
Lorraine S
8 contributions
Jul 2019
Absolutely packed full of interesting artefacts showing the history of this lovely town. They occasionally have special events too. The staff are friendly and informative. A fascinating place to spend a couple of hours!
Written September 30, 2019
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.
Clive O
Rayleigh, UK10 contributions
Nov 2018 • Solo
Excellent museum with a wealth of history to explore.
Coupled with significant contribution from the Local History Group, through whose efforts a permanent site is now established for their artefacts.
Personnel are in attendance to assist with investigations and queries.
Items on display include maps, photographs, books, postcards and ephemera.
Additionally, the museum is a Tourist Information Point, with local walk leaflets available.
The location has a close proximity to bus services; railway station is approximately 10 minutes away via Crown Hill; car parking is also available nearby.
Entry is free.
Coupled with significant contribution from the Local History Group, through whose efforts a permanent site is now established for their artefacts.
Personnel are in attendance to assist with investigations and queries.
Items on display include maps, photographs, books, postcards and ephemera.
Additionally, the museum is a Tourist Information Point, with local walk leaflets available.
The location has a close proximity to bus services; railway station is approximately 10 minutes away via Crown Hill; car parking is also available nearby.
Entry is free.
Written December 18, 2018
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.
Richard L
Rayleigh, UK64 contributions
May 2017 • Family
Whether you're local to the area or not Rayleigh Town Museum is a must see if you have a keen interest in local history. It's centrally located in Rayleigh High Street on the first floor over Pizza Express (entry is to the left of the restaurant), however there are no stairs! Access is via a small modern box lift. This building boasts quite a history - it's worth reading the green plaque mounted on the exterior of Pizza Express.
Upon entry you'll be warmly greeted by one or two of the volunteers (apparently the museum has a small army of such people freely giving up their spare time). Entry to the museum is free to all although donations are welcome. They even have free WiFi.
The magnificent building is choc-o-block with artefacts, photographs and displays (including audio visual) charting the history of Rayleigh through the ages. According to the volunteers they have more stuff to display than room so it's worth popping back regularly as displays will change. The museum also has specials during school holidays etc. The museum really couldn't have found a better home more suited to their efforts if they tried.
I can't say enough how much we enjoyed the museum and we are now members so we plan to go back as often as possible. And as the museum is free it doesn't matter with you pop in for a few minutes or a few hours.
We've now visited all there Rayleigh museums made up of The Dutch Cottage, Rayleigh Windmill and Rayleigh Town Museum and this is by far and away the most accessible. Just go take a look for yourself.
Upon entry you'll be warmly greeted by one or two of the volunteers (apparently the museum has a small army of such people freely giving up their spare time). Entry to the museum is free to all although donations are welcome. They even have free WiFi.
The magnificent building is choc-o-block with artefacts, photographs and displays (including audio visual) charting the history of Rayleigh through the ages. According to the volunteers they have more stuff to display than room so it's worth popping back regularly as displays will change. The museum also has specials during school holidays etc. The museum really couldn't have found a better home more suited to their efforts if they tried.
I can't say enough how much we enjoyed the museum and we are now members so we plan to go back as often as possible. And as the museum is free it doesn't matter with you pop in for a few minutes or a few hours.
We've now visited all there Rayleigh museums made up of The Dutch Cottage, Rayleigh Windmill and Rayleigh Town Museum and this is by far and away the most accessible. Just go take a look for yourself.
Written August 30, 2017
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.
chris.taylorfaci@gmail.com
Greater London, UK12 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
Great displays, friendly and informative staff. It was very clean and tidy, with the history of the town well presented in photographic displays and artifacts in display cabinets.
Written March 30, 2024
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.
christobel62
2 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We often attend the evening talks which are very interesting. The museum regularly changes exhibitions which are relative to anniversaries and topical
Written July 2, 2019
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.
S2701RVdiana
Chelmsford, UK111 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
We have visited the lovely Rayleigh Museum before as we have a special interest in their Rayleigh Speedway display and information. However we visited this morning as part of the Essex day out scheme Heritage walk of Rayleigh. Our tour leader was Mike DAvies. It was a very pleasant and interesting hour. Mike was full of information and enthusiasm and an amusing guide. Would definitely recommend both Museum and guided walk.
Written April 7, 2019
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.
Jimpendrigh
Southend-on-Sea, UK1,497 contributions
Nov 2017 • Couples
Rayleigh museum is tucked away with the entrance up an alley way . The lift quickly takes you to the first floor with an array of local artefacts and information of the LaCie area which is very interesting we didn’t even no the museum exited . There are lots of exhibits and plenty of staff on hand to answer all your questions. All in all a very interesting place for an hour or so
Written August 27, 2018
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.
Rachel C
Hockley, UK32 contributions
Apr 2018 • Friends
Visited the museum in the evening for a very good talk on the titanic. Very interesting and thought provoking. Looked around the museum in the break, don’t know if it would be worth visiting just because
Written April 15, 2018
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.
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