Rutland County Museum
Rutland County Museum
4.5
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Rutland County Museum & Visitor Centre is the perfect introduction to England’s smallest county. Admission is free! Our many displays & exhibits from our Collections include: Archaeology Rural trades and rural life including: Brewery, Wheelwrighting, Blacksmithing, and an impressive range of agricultural exhibits Crime and punishment, including the only surviving New Drop Gallows in England The Brooke Reliquary and more! We also have Visitor Information, a Gift Shop, Study Area and a Garden.
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4.5
89 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
22
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
ninettejohnson
Woodford, UK263 contributions
Feb 2023
The museum is bigger than it looks. We visited during half term and as result the place was well attended. They had organised activities for children with staff supervision.
The staff were welcoming & helpful. There are also exhibits outside the building.
I highly recommend the museum for the historical values as well as free entrance.
The staff were welcoming & helpful. There are also exhibits outside the building.
I highly recommend the museum for the historical values as well as free entrance.
Written 20 February 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.
Edwin A
17 contributions
Feb 2022
An extremely well laid out and informative museum. So many interesting agricultural and cultural artefacts and easy to read historical, geographical and geological information boards. My wife and I are both from agricultural backgrounds and could even remember some machinery in action.
Highly recommended together with the nearby Castle (with an excellent cafe) and they’re both FREE.
Highly recommended together with the nearby Castle (with an excellent cafe) and they’re both FREE.
Written 15 February 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.
Richard W
Suffolk249 contributions
Mar 2023
Very good displays showing the full history of the creation of Rutland Water. An outdoor section as well. Well worth visiting. It is relatively small, and doesn't have a cafe - as so many have these days.
There is no charge, but we always make a donation. The world is a better place for having places like this - often manned by volunteers.
There is no charge, but we always make a donation. The world is a better place for having places like this - often manned by volunteers.
Written 28 March 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.
pappaQ_Lds
Wakefield, UK448 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
What a great place!! Really good to understand more about the area you are visiting and it’s history. Just on the outskirts of the town but we’ll signposted.
Some fabulous examples of agricultural historic vehicles in fabulous condition. Friendly and helpful staff and it’s free!! Please leave a donation. They deserve it!!
Some fabulous examples of agricultural historic vehicles in fabulous condition. Friendly and helpful staff and it’s free!! Please leave a donation. They deserve it!!
Written 12 October 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.
CHILLOUT09
Chester, UK74 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
On our annual visit to Barnsdale, we came across the Museum, as it's not right on the High Street, it was quite difficult to find. Although it is only a short walk. We asked a few local retailers (butchers & bakery where us tourist love to visit) where the TIC /Library was as well and no one knew as it had moved. When we did find it we were in for a very pleasant surprise. Currently the Library is housed in there. We walked into the first room of the museum which was amazing and really took you back in time. We then went into a courtyard to see some very special farming machinery from years gone by, we then they walked to the back of the courtyard and found a door leading into another room, full of so much history and exhibitions of items, even a real set of gallows. It was a great visit and thoroughly enjoyable and knowledgeable. My only tip to the museum would be to have a large floor plan on show at the entrance, or better signing posting to the courtyard and back museum as we only found these by luck. Maybe even visit a few prominent businesses or email them of TIC, Library, Museum location. Already looking forward to our next visit.
Written 30 January 2017
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.
LoonyLoo
Saxmundham, UK253 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
The museum is housed in what was once the indoor riding school of the Rutland Fencibles, a volunteer cavalry regiment raised by the Noels of Oakham in 1794. The building itself is interesting - huge, the roof supported by enormous wooden beams. At the back of the main building is an outside area housing more exhibits, and from there another enclosed room contains more. The modern shop at the entrance is pleasant.
Exhibits centre on Rutland's history, principally of farming and rural life, but there's much more. The farming equipment is fascinating and includes information as to how it was used. Inside and out there are tractors, ploughs, wagons and carts of all shapes and sizes, an enormous threshing machine, used until combine harvesters were invented, and smaller machines with multiple functions. Domesticated animals are included - tack for horses, dairy equipment, explanations as to how pigs were slaughtered...... In a gallery around the main hall are exhibits from the ages, found in Rutland, wonderful Victorian inventions for home and for children, toys, police and army equipment. In the building at the back, there for the winter, is a 1899 Decauville car, a gallows used at Oakham gaol and other local ephemera.
If you're in the pretty town of Oakham you must go to the museum.
Exhibits centre on Rutland's history, principally of farming and rural life, but there's much more. The farming equipment is fascinating and includes information as to how it was used. Inside and out there are tractors, ploughs, wagons and carts of all shapes and sizes, an enormous threshing machine, used until combine harvesters were invented, and smaller machines with multiple functions. Domesticated animals are included - tack for horses, dairy equipment, explanations as to how pigs were slaughtered...... In a gallery around the main hall are exhibits from the ages, found in Rutland, wonderful Victorian inventions for home and for children, toys, police and army equipment. In the building at the back, there for the winter, is a 1899 Decauville car, a gallows used at Oakham gaol and other local ephemera.
If you're in the pretty town of Oakham you must go to the museum.
Written 12 December 2014
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.
Andy P
St. Neots, UK69 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
A wonderful find on a day out in Oakham, full of diversity that heralds Rutland's history, from the dinosaurs through agriculture through crime and punishment through education...all of it enthralling and fascinating.
It took us 1.5 ours to walk around but we read everything so if you're a skipper then give it an hour....
Many thanks to Joanne who greeted us with vigor, enthusiasm and also engaged with us on occasion as we walked around.
We really enjoyed it and suggest you give it a try if you're passing through Oakham....
It took us 1.5 ours to walk around but we read everything so if you're a skipper then give it an hour....
Many thanks to Joanne who greeted us with vigor, enthusiasm and also engaged with us on occasion as we walked around.
We really enjoyed it and suggest you give it a try if you're passing through Oakham....
Written 15 March 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.
Wendy H
Wokingham, UK1,705 contributions
Feb 2023
Highly recommended to visit for all ages. Friendly staff/volunteers. Learned a lot/ reminded of certain points in history. Real set of gallows with the factually correct but rather gruesome note that the drop was too low to be successful. Allow at least an hour.
Written 12 February 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.
KayStranger
Sutton, UK20 contributions
Feb 2023
Very interesting local museum lots of amazing farm equipment, child friendly. The lady who was on the reception was lovely, so friendly and very helpful.
Written 12 February 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.
jennyonholiday
Rutland, UK6 contributions
Nov 2022
I love that the museum also turns into a cinema and a library! we saw calendar girls here and it was fabulous! friendly and helpful staff and a lovely setting in town.
Written 6 December 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.
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