Museums have come a long way since the days of glass cases, ‘do not touch’ signs and an atmosphere that makes your nan’s book club look like the Hacienda.
In fact, there are even some museums that are (whisper it) cool. Yeah, that’s right – cool! So, if you want to get your little (and big) ‘uns into a place of learning that won’t bore them to tears, why not try one of these three? We promise you’ll walk away thrilled.
1. Manchester Museum, Oxford Street, Manchester
Who could argue with a mixture of dinosaurs (cool), mummies (dead cool) and live, yes, live animals (say what?) Well that’s what the Manchester Museum has in store for intrepid history explorers.
Home to one of the most impressive collections of Egyptian artefacts in the UK and boasting a vivarium where live frogs and reptiles run amok, this place makes you feel more like Indiana Jones than a museum-goer.
Why not enjoy this house of learning’s unusual approach on your free ‘n’ easy weekend away? Go ahead and book yourself a room at the nearby Travelodge Manchester Upper Brook Street. You’ll be smartly located for the Whitworth Gallery and the Manchester Academy, and just 1 mile from the city centre.
2. Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, Wales
From a cool museum to a coal museum now, in the guise of a Big Pit in Wales. Not only is the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenafon an actual, real working coal mine, it also shows you what doing one of the hardest jobs known to man is like.
Don’t leave Wales without going on their museum tour with a difference. Plunge 300 feet underground as you see what life’s like working at the coal face. Worm your way through the tunnels and wonder at the buildings that once held a thriving mining community. This museum will entirely change the way your kids think about British history.
Our Merthyr Tydfil Travelodge is the perfect place to lay down your hard hat and boots after a hard day, so get booking now to avoid disappointment!
3. The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London
No list of cool museums would be complete without the Daddy Cool of the lot: London’s British Museum.
Not only does it boast historical pieces from every country and culture from around the world, but many sections have been revamped with a heavy emphasis on interactivity. So there’ll be no sighs of boredom as you learn about the greats of African sculptures or out-of-this-world Aztec jewellery.
There’s also an ever-changing programme of events and exhibitions so you’ll want to come back again and again.
If you want to make a weekend of it, a London Travelodge is the perfect place to base yourself while you get a handle on the bustle and buzz of the capital.
