Museum shops
Trying to find something different and unusual for the loved ones in your life this Christmas?
With the festive season fast approaching, Tourism South East has a novel suggestion - museum shops! Across the region there are nearly 350 different museums, with many selling much more than just souvenirs.
Here’s a taste of what’s available for those who want to hit the shops and absorb some local culture at the same time:
Local crafts
At the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, West Sussex, you’ll find a range of gifts made locally by traditional craftsmen - blue pottery from nearby Amberley, beautiful wood-turned bowls and even handmade period furniture in oak or elm. The museum is dedicated to the preservation of traditional crafts and comprises nearly 50 historic buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries.
Traditional preserves
Gilbert White’s House & Garden and the Oates Collection, in Selborne, Hampshire, has a collection of Emma Bridgewater jams, honey and chutney, as well as crockery and an extensive range of cookery and natural history books. It’s free of charge to enter the gift shop, but you would be missing out if didn’t take the opportunity to explore the amazing property and learn more about Gilbert White - ‘the first ecologist’ - and explorer Captain Lawrence Oates, who famously died in Antarctica on Captain Scott’s doomed expedition.
Eco-friendly
For unusual and eco-friendly gifts, The Lightbox at Woking, Surrey, has all sorts of weird and wonderful ideas including glow-in-the-dark light boxes, recycled green bottle goblets and sunjars! The Lightbox is one of the South East’s most dynamic museum and gallery spaces, with exhibits devoted to contemporary art and science, as well as family-friendly interactive displays.
Military fashion!
For adventurous boys and history buffs a gift from the REME Museum of Technology, Arborfield, Berkshire, could work a treat. Maintained by the Corps of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, the museum is dedicated to showcasing the technology used in maintaining and developing army equipment. The shop reflects this by offering military and exercise clothing and equipment as well as books and DVDs on the subject.
Fantasy worlds
Pick up some whizzpopping items for the kids at the Roald Dahl Museum at Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire. From a build-your-own Chocolate Factory to Big Friendly Giant mugs, they’ll be immersed in one fantasy world after another. There are also many events and workshops taking place over the festive season, but please note - snozzcumbers are not included.
Dino delights
Get the ideal gift for the little terror in your life at the Isle of Wight’s answer to Jurassic Park - Dinosaur Isle.Hundreds of different dinosaur items are stocked, from gear-powered T-rexes to Dinopoly - a board game you can really get your teeth into! With geology sets, books and DVDs for older kids and adults, there’s something for every enthusiast. Dinosaur Isle traces the Isle of Wight’s geology and houses more than 1,000 of its best fossil exhibits.
Retro fun
Traditional board games and puzzles, model vehicles and even Victorian costumes for the kids are among the retro items available at the Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, Hampshire. This living history museum is a collection of Victorian and 1930s streets, with shops, a village green and even an Edwardian pub!
Classically-inspired jewellery
At Oxford’s world-famous Ashmolean Museum you’ll find bespoke jewellery inspired by individual collections. Its newest range is based on the works of the Pre-Raphaelites, with accessories and stationery on offer too. Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum was Britain’s first-ever public museum and today houses the University of Oxford’s world-class collections of art and archaeology.
Flipping marvellous!
Forget Xboxes and Playstations - if you really want to make a statement with your present, get the overgrown schoolboy in your life a classic pinball table! The Pinball Parlour in Ramsgate, Kent, is a collection of pinball machines from all over the world, with a number available to buy - or just visit for a flipping good time!
All revved up
For speed merchants what could be better than owning a piece of your own race track? That’s on offer at the Brooklands Museum, located at the world’s first purpose-built motor-racing circuit at Weybridge, Surrey. A square yard of the track starts at just £95, and the lucky recipient can choose their own dedication and image to go alongside it!
For arty types
The Pallant House Gallery Bookshop in Chichester, West Sussex, has a collection of rare and out-of-print books for anyone with a passion for modern British art. It’s also the perfect place to pick up a specially-commissioned print. With exciting temporary exhibitions and an important permanent collection, Pallant House Gallery is fast becoming the home of modern art in the South East.
For more information about museums in South East England, please see: www.culture24.org.uk/southeast
For more information on visiting South East England, including places to stay from B&Bs to luxury hotels, please see:www.visitsoutheastengland.com.
