WE’VE all heard of the National History Museum and the Science Museum, but you might not have heard of The Coventry Music Museum.
Despite it falling under the radar, it is the highest-rated UK museum on TripAdvisor with 93 per cent of reviews at five stars.
The museum has a huge record display by 2 Tone Records – a Coventry based record label[/caption]
The tucked away museum is high-rated on TripAdvisor[/caption]
The museum currently has a 4.92-star rating and is currently the number one rated thing to do in Coventry on TripAdvisor.
In total, 1,461 reviews have been left on TripAdvisor, with 1,363 of these being five stars.
Found on Walsgrave Road in Coventry, the museum has an art gallery, music records archive and an interactive media studio telling the history of local music.
There are permanent exhibitions dedicated to local stars from comedian, T.E.Dunville, to the band Lieutenant Pigeon – of which there is a 1960s sound booth and piano they used.
There’s also a permanent display dedicated to electronic musician Delia Derbyshire.
The museum is also home to the entire output of 2 Tone Records – a record label that opened in Coventry in 1979.
They signed the likes of the Selector, Madness and The Beat.
Coventry Music Museum opened in 2013 and has been run by volunteers for the last decade.
It was founded by local historian and journalist, Pete Chambers, and his wife, Julie.
In 2024, Pete was named VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar for 2024 for his success in showcasing the musical heritage of the West Midlands.
They have the world’s largest collection of 2 Tone Records vinyl[/caption]
The museum is run entirely by dedicated volunteers[/caption]
The museum is a big hit with not only locals, but tourists too. One visitor on TripAdvisor said: “This museum is a must visit for any music fan. It is run by volunteers, who give you a warm welcome and are very knowledgeable and friendly.”
Another added: “A fascinating, wonderful memory blast of musicality and ephemera that lingers in the memory long after your visit.”
A third said: “This and the museum in Eel Pie island are the best music museums in the country.”
Admission into the museum for adults it’s £5 and concessions are £3 with anyone under 15 entering for free.
Crowned second highest-rated museum is the Davidstow Airfield & Cornwall at War Museum in Camelford, North Cornwall.
It has 91.7 per cent of the 1,378 reviews on TripAdvisor reaching five stars, and the museum has a 4.91 average star rating.
The museum is currently closed but will reopen on Monday 31 March, where visitors can explore World War Two history.
The Big Pit National Coal Museum came in third place[/caption]
Coming in at third place is the Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon, Wales.
The museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and out of 2,994 reviews, 89.9 per cent are five stars.
The museum, where visitors can learn about the history of Welsh coal mining, is the highest-rated thing to do in the town and currently has a stellar average star rating of 4.86.
Plus, the places we suggest you head to with the weather hitting all-time highs in March.
And the small Cotswolds market town that’s home to a princess.
The UK’s best indoor attractions
The UK’s unpredictable weather means finding indoor activities is essential for parents treating their kids to a day out.
Here’s a list of some of the best attractions found firmly underneath a roof in the country.
Empire of the Sea Dragon Indoor Zone
This play area claims to be the biggest indoor play park in the UK.
The entertainment hub is home to five floors, with slides, rope bridges, swings, net towers and rides.
There’s also the Trauma Tower, which Empire of the Sea claim is the “best indoor ride in Devon” because of its huge 50ft drop.
Other indoor rides at the Devonshire-based indoor play area include a Ferris Wheel and a Submarine Ride.
Play Factore
This indoor play zone claims to have been designed especially “to provide families with a state of the art active indoor play arena to play in together”.
Included in its attractions are the tallest standing indoor slide in the UK, as well as a full indoor laser tag arena, interactive trampolines and zip wires.
In addition to the UK’s tallest indoor slide, it also has the country’s largest indoor play frame, made up of a network of tunnels, slides and obstacles, including giant bubble balls, spider nets and rollers.
What’s more, for kids more into playing ball sports, it has a football pitch and a basketball court built into the play frame.
Gravity Max
Gravity Max has sites in both the north and south of the UK, including in Liverpool, Castleford and Wandsworth.
It also recently opened a brand new one in East London at the Westfield Shopping Centre.
The main draw of the site is its E-karting super track, which runs on two separate tracks across multiple levels, offering various different racing experiences.
It also has Tokyo-style arcades covering almost an entire floor of their own upstairs.
There’s also a nine-hole Coca-Cola minigolf course, which requires players to tap their club in before starting, so each shot can be counted digitally, meaning no cheating is able to take place.
Meanwhile, upstairs, the Heineken sports bar is found, which has private booths to allow those who have booked them to have their own choice of music, as well as their own TV screens to watch their choice of sport.
The Coventry Music Museum is very popular amongst locals[/caption]
