Kids in Museums, the charity that works with museums to make them more welcoming for children and young people, has revealed the 20 venues in the running to become the UK’s best family friendly museum this year.

The annual Family Friendly Museum Award celebrates museums, galleries, castles, historic homes and heritage sites that are most welcoming, fun and accessible to all ages.

Kids in Museums chair Paul Sapwell said: “It’s fantastic to see such a wide range of venues represented across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

“Whether you’re in a rural village or a large urban centre, this year's Family Friendly Museum Award shortlist shows that there are brilliant family days out to be found right across the UK.”

Over the summer, undercover family judges will visit the shortlisted museums and rate them on how well they meet the Kids in Museums Manifesto, a set of guidelines created by families on what makes a great museum visit. 

The winner will be revealed at an October award ceremony at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

Advertisement

This year’s special award category, Best Museum Careers Initiative, celebrates the museums, galleries and heritage sites who are working to support young people to engage with opportunities to develop skills for employment, gain professional experience in the heritage sector and build positive attitudes towards work.

This category will be judged by an expert panel, including young people.

Previous winners of the Family Friendly Museum Award include Experience Barnsley Museum and Discovery Centre (2025), Young V&A (2024), Craven Museum (2023), the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield (2022), Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery in Alnwick (2021) and Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum in Dunfermline (2019).

Kids in Museums began the Family Friendly Museum Award in 2004.

Family Friendly Museum Award 2026 shortlist

Best Accessible Museum

  • Brampton Museum, Staffordshire
  • Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology
  • The Postal Museum, London
  • Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland

Best Small Museum

  • Ballymoney Museum, County Antrim
  • Dales Countryside Museum, Yorkshire
  • Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea
  • Wolverhampton Art Gallery
  • York Army Museum

Best Medium Museum

  • Leeds City Museum
  • National Football Museum, Manchester
  • The Box Plymouth
  • Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Best Large Museum

  • Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
  • National Maritime Museum, London
  • Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, Oxford

Best Museum Careers Initiative

  • Charleston, East Sussex
  • London Transport Museum
  • Norfolk Museums Service
  • Ullapool Museum, Scottish Highlands