Britain is famous for its world-class museums, but some of its most unique exhibits remain little-known.
From taxidermy to teapots to items once owned by royalty, their lesser-known archives are truly fascinating.
MailOnline Travel reveals six of the country’s most unique museums where these weird and wonderful objects are housed – and much more.
Read on to find out what’s on display and how to visit…
Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Natural History – Hackney, London
The Viktor Wynd Museum houses an eccentric collection of objects obtained by Viktor Wynd. In the photo, “the devil’s table” cluttered with unusual objects. In the window behind, a lamb with two heads is represented
This obscure museum is nestled beneath The Last Tuesday Society absinthe cocktail bar. Guests descend a spiral staircase to a basement filled with horrors and wonders of the natural world.
A two-headed stuffed lamb, “mummified fairies,” an eight-legged lamb and a gold-plated hippopotamus skull that belonged to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar are just a few downright bizarre items on display.
Each unusual object was contributed by Viktor Wynd, an artist and curator arguably as eccentric as his collection. Tickets for “the country’s only museum of curiosities” cost £6.72. Walk-ins are normally accepted, but customers are advised to online booking.
Address: East London (Hackney) – 11 Mare Street, E8 4RP
The Old Theater of Operations and Herb Garret Museum – Southwark, London
Visitors can take a 52-step spiral staircase to admire this semi-circular operating room located in the attic of St. Thomas Church.
The Old Operating Theater Museum is a museum of surgical history and claims to be Europe’s oldest operating theater for female patients.
The museum is in the attic of St Thomas’ Church, Southwark, on the original site of St Thomas’ Hospital. It was built in 1822 and predates anesthetics and antiseptics.
The site has been restored with original furniture and equipment, including an operating table and surgical instruments from the 19th century. Visitors enter via a 52-step spiral staircase to view a semi-circular theater with tiered seating, built for medical students.
Tickets can be purchased on arrival or online. Entry costs £9 for adults and £5.50 for children aged six and over.
Address: 9a St Thomas St, London SE1 9RY
British Lawnmower Museum – Southport, Merseyside
The British Lawnmower Museum in Southport is home to hundreds of lawn mowers, including one owned by King Charles and Princess Diana.
The museum claims to preserve “a character that we don’t often see in our modern times.”
It features antique machines from the 1800s
This small museum in sunny Southport is home to hundreds of lawn mowers and machines.
According to its website, the museum “retains a character not often seen in our modern times.”
It’s the brainchild of former lawn mower racing champion Brian Radam, who considers the lawn mower a piece of history worth celebrating.
It features both vintage machinery from the 1800s and today’s cutting-edge technology.
Inside, visitors can see the “lawn mowers of the rich and famous”, including those owned by King Charles, then Prince of Wales, as well as Princess Diana, Brian May, Alan Titchmarsh and many more. still others.
Entry costs £3 for adults and £1 for children. For more information, visit lawnmowermonde.co.uk/.
Address: 106-114 Shakespeare St, Southport PR8 5AJ
The Bubblecar Museum – Boston, Lincolnshire
These original vehicles are on display in Lincolnshire. Visitors can view the extensive collection and can even book to drive one.
This unusual museum presents more than 50 microcars. It is the only public museum in Britain dedicated to cars with an engine capacity of less than 700 cc.
These shiny, sparkling, fuel-efficient vehicles were born in post-World War II austerity Britain and became a symbol of the 1950s and early 1960s. Although they lost their popularity, the cars became famous in BBC comedies such as Only Fools and Horses and Lucky Feller.
The museum also has scooters on display, as well as a row of vintage shops where visitors can browse memorabilia from the 1950s. It also offers “ride weekends”, giving customers the chance to book a ride 15 minutes in a small vehicle.
Tickets cost £5 for adults and £1 for children. Visitors can turn up on the day or book by calling 07989 433 101. For more information visit bubblecarmuseum.co.uk.
Address: Clover Farm, Main Rd, Langrick, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE22 7AW
Teapot Island – Maidstone, Kent
The image above shows a glimpse of Teapot Island’s extensive collection of teapots.
Teapot Island in Kent is home to England’s largest collection of teapots, with over 8,400 pieces on display.
The family business grew out of the personal collection of Sue Blazye, who received her first teapot from her grandmother in 1983. She now runs the museum with her husband Keith and son Luke.
The museum, a two-time Guinness World Record winner, was visited in 2014 by King Charles and Queen Camilla, then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. The couple even left with a souvenir from the gift shop: a “Cam-ella” camel teapot.
Sue and Keith put the property up for sale last year as they look to live a quieter life. But the museum continues to operate in the meantime.
Entry costs £3.00 for adults and £2 for children. For more information, visit teapotisland.co.uk.
Address: Hampstead Ln, Maidstone ME18 6HG
The Fan Museum – Greenwich, London
The Fan Museum is located in a Grade II* listed building in Greenwich and houses over 7,000 objects.
You will surely be a fan of this museum. Situated in a Grade II listed Georgian town house in Greenwich, it has an extraordinary fan collection.
Opened in 1991, the Fan Museum is the only organization dedicated to the history, culture and craftsmanship of fans. It houses over 7,000 objects, including a rare fan from the Elizabethan period, Japanese court fans and a Fabergé fan incorporating gold and enamelling work.
In addition to its extensive fan collection, there are examples of period costumes, tools and materials for making fans, catalogs and rare books. You can even try your hand at the intricate art of fan making in one of the workshops.
Tickets cost £5 for adults and £3 for children, and can be booked online.
Address: 12 Crooms Hill, London SE10 8ER