If you are looking for places to go in Torquay or a wet day (or you want to avoid the sun) then Torquay Museum is a brilliant. Expand your children’s knowledge of natural history and excite the explorer in them with plenty of hands on exhibits and challenges at Devon’s oldest museum.
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About Torquay Museum
Torquay Museum was set up by the Torquay Natural History Society in 1844.
It really is a treasure trove with more than 300,000 specimens in its stores; one percent of which are on display. The 2021 temporary exhibition ‘Secret Museum’ is helping to share some of the lesser seen items in the collections.
Torquay Museum exhibits
There are eight exhibition areas including displays about:
- natural history and the environment
- the English Riviera’s unique geology
- local history including a recreated Devon farm house kitchen
- the finds of explorers like Torquay born Percy Fawcett who inspired the Indiana Jones
- and the best selling author of all time, Agatha Christie, another famous Devonian.
Find out more about Agatha Christie at her holiday home, Greenway, which is not far away in Churston.
Family-friendly things to do
When you arrive at the museum pick up activity sheets at reception. When we visited there were sheets about the permanent and temporary exhibitions.
You’ll find holes for children to peek through around the galleries, as well as codes for them to crack, buttons to be pressed and brass rubbings.
We spent lots of time in Time Ark natural history gallery and the Explorers Gallery where there are artefacts that have been collected from around the world.
My eldest daughter enjoyed finding out about the ‘Agents of Decay’ – things that threaten historic collections – in the the museum’s 175th anniversary exhibition ‘Secret Museum’ (on until 5 September 2021). This showcase items usually in storage.
During the school holidays there are lots of special events that you might not expect at a museum, like animal handling sessions. Find out what’s on now.
We spent a great 1.5 hours in the museum.
Facilities at the museum
- The museum has accessible toilets on the ground and first floor. Find out more about accessibility at the museum
- The cafe was closed when we visited in July 2021, but you’re a short walk from lots of places to eat around Torquay Harbour
- There’s stairs and a lift to all floors.
Torquay Museum opening times and prices
The Museum is open 10am until 4pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Please check the Museum’s website for updates.
You can book your admission tickets in advance online or turn up on the day (subject to availability).
When we visited a family ticket for two adults and two children cost £19.70. Your tickets are valid for a year and if you live in a TQ postcode you can get half price entry.
Find out more on the museum website.
Handy things to know
- There’s pay and display and on road parking is close by (download the Ringo parking app)
- Numbers are being limited during the pandemic You can book online in advance to secure your visit.
Where is it?
You’ll find Torquay Museum on Babbacombe Road, TQ1 1HG.
More things to do in Torbay
Read my guide to the things to do in Torquay and the neighbouring towns of Paignton and Brixham in Torbay.
You might also like:
- Bygones Museum
- Torquay Dinosaur World
- Babbacombe Model Village
- Kents Cavern
Get a while to stay? Check out my full guide to family holidays in Devon.
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