Topsham Museum
Topsham Museum
4.5
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
The Museum is housed in one of a group of late 17th century buildings overlooking the beautiful Exe Estuary. Visitors can enjoy the furnished period rooms of the original Merchant’s House and the Sail Loft with displays giving a timeline of the town’s general history. Much of the Museum’s focus is on Topsham’s maritime history, with its role as a trade port and ship building centre. Exhibits also include unique historic river craft, local trades and organisations, wildlife of the Exe Estuary and memorabilia of the film star Vivien Leigh. There is a superb Tea Room and lovely Tea Garden for cream teas, coffee and cakes, and ice cream. And a fabulous gift shop with a variety of items including Topsham related gifts. Our 2023 exhibition features Dick 'Pincher' Pym, a fisherman who kept goal in the first Wembley Cup Final and was capped for England.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
177 reviews
Excellent
121
Very good
47
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
0
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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Sightseer727690
3 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
This museum is well worth a visit when in loverly Topsham, a nice cafe and garden and there is also historical tours of the town.We took the guided tour with Ian who was very nice and was obviously passionate about his home town and its history pointing out things that we would have missed with out his knowledge . Would visit again.
Walking tours of Exeter also worthwhile.
Thank you to all the people who give up there time and knowledge guiding visiters.
Walking tours of Exeter also worthwhile.
Thank you to all the people who give up there time and knowledge guiding visiters.
Written 2 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Burgi L
Nijmegen, The Netherlands254 contributions
Aug 2024 • Couples
What a nice museum! There is a lot to see, art, shipping, I found it very nice. we came here for a tour, which also gets an A just like the museum and the museum cafe. Everything is taken care of by skilled and nice volunteers. The tea is also provided by the volunteers and the cakes baked by the volunteers. You can eat and drink it in the beautiful garden
After this goat walk (see video in the museum about the background / history of this path along the sea) and it is perfect
After this goat walk (see video in the museum about the background / history of this path along the sea) and it is perfect
Automatically translated
Written 30 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ysa1772
London, UK568 contributions
Aug 2021
A really interesting museum, covering the local industry and the story of the former residents of the museum building. Good selection of models and detailed explanations. The museum includes a small cafe and a pleasant seating area.
Written 27 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We are so pleased you enjoyed your visit and hope you return to enjoy our new exhibition on Exeter Canal next year and perhaps a cream tea in our beautiful garden.
Written 20 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carolyn L
15 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
There is a wealth of interesting exhibits in this lovely museum, well displayed with lots to read. The main area is the sail loft, where sails were actually made years ago, and all the interesting history of the Topsham heydays is really interesting. Attached to this is Merchants house, with rooms to explore, with history dating back 300 years. We are in our 70's, and thoroughly enjoyed it, but lots there for mums, dads and children too. All the volunteer staff were very friendly and helpful. We spent an hour there, but could have stayed longer. There is a tea room, and outside is a lovely garden with seating for refreshments when weather permits. A great afternoon! Thank you.
Written 9 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Apologies for the delay in responding to your review. So pleased you enjoyed your visit and I will pass on your comments to our volunteers.
Julie
Written 1 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nikki S
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Couples
Joined one of the Topsham Guided Tours run by Topsham Museum. Excellent tour guide, so knowledgeable and humorous. I’ve lived in Topsham for many years and still learnt a lot. Thank you, 90 minutes well spent.
Written 4 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcia
Seaton, UK82 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
Another annual visit to this lovely museum. After a wander around and a browse in the gift shop, we had tea in the beautiful garden (under the Apple tree). A slice of carrot and a slice of fruit cake, with a lovely hot tea rounded off our visit.
Written 10 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheila457
Exeter, UK18 contributions
Oct 2019
Over the years I have been to Topsham Museum many times and taken a wide variety of friends. Some have known Topsham well, others never been here before.
The Museum, which is entirely run by volunteers and free to visit, is a treasure trove of artifacts and has items of interest for everyone. It is quite small and well laid out so is easy to get around - and, after your visit don’t forget to sample a cream tea or a piece of cake (all home made) and look at the shop which has some lovely gifts
The Museum, which is entirely run by volunteers and free to visit, is a treasure trove of artifacts and has items of interest for everyone. It is quite small and well laid out so is easy to get around - and, after your visit don’t forget to sample a cream tea or a piece of cake (all home made) and look at the shop which has some lovely gifts
Written 1 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelbug549
Exeter, UK9 contributions
Oct 2019
I was surprised at the size of the museum, from the outside it looks quite small. I enjoyed the local information and the layout of the old building. If only there were more volunteers it would be open more often.
Written 14 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to review the Museum, the size of our collection often surprises visitors. We are very lucky to have our very hard working volunteers, although always welcome more to join us, as it takes a large number to keep the Museum running. Next year we will be open an extra afternoon, so we will be open every day 2-5 pm except Tuesdays from 28 March 2020.
Written 15 November 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Derbyshireflyboy
Needham Market, UK598 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Nice museum well kept and interesting. We were there at the end of the day so need to go back to explore more. With regard to the café, I do think that in this day and age there should be more than just a couple of biscuits wrapped in plastic for people like my partner, who have a gluten intolerance, and a lot of people who have gluten intolerance are also allergic to oats, (even gluten free oats) contained in all the biscuits on offer. A decent baker could make gluten free cakes that can be enjoyed by everyone, so no need to stock anything else and gluten free products would always be available. Every time we go out, the offering is either a biscuit or a dry chocolate brownie. This is 2019. everyone needs to be catered for. The ice cream fridge says that the ice cream is gluten free.. well..... shock horror.. 99.9% of ice cream is. !!
Written 8 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your comments about gluten-free catering. Our food is prepared by volunteers in home kitchens. They have been concerned over the risk of cross-contamination of gluten-free products by other grain ingredients. We do have gluten-free scones available and will ensure that notice of their availability is made clearer. We will be looking into increasing the availability of gluten-free cakes.
Written 25 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrea H
Bristol, UK60 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
I adore this little museum. Full of interesting exhibits. Delightful ladies that run it. The garden is wonderful, a peaceful retreat to enjoy a coffee or one of their Real homemade english cream teas. English eccentricity at its best. Topsham has a great antiques market housed in a boat shed in the quay and a sweet high st. One of my grown up places to visit when I want some R & R.
Written 2 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much is as admission? Is it correct it opens at 2pm on saturday september 15?
Written 14 September 2018
Admission is FREE but of course, you can make a donation! weekday opening is 2 pm to 5 pm not sure about Saturday or weekends? Well worth a visit!
Written 15 September 2018
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