Free things to see and do South West England

Museums

City Museum and Art Gallery (www.bristol-city.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Museums-Galleries/an-overview-of-bristols-museums-galleries-archives.en;jsessionid=AF5297C976E6A74F83580D01714849C8) – Bristol
The museum has various exhibits on archaeology, geology and natural history. Including a large collection of eastern art and Egyptology.

Industrial Museum (www.bristol-city.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Museums-Galleries/bristols-industrial-museum.en) – Bristol
A collection of vehicles and maritime models with over 400 exhibits.

Royal Albert Memorial Museum (www.exeter.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2650) - Exeter
A wide range of curious exhibits, from stuffed animals to different building styles throughout the different cities.

Historic buildings & sites

Kirkham House  - Paignton
Permanent collection of furniture ,  fabrics and pottery designed to imitate the interior of a 14C house.

Meare Fish House – Glastonbury
A 14C Hill house with fish ponds that would have been built for the Abbey, who were at the time in charge of fisheries. The fish ponds have since dried up.

Christchurch Castle & the Norman House (www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.246) – Dorset
Built in the late 11th century, this castle was used in the anarchy of about 1147 and in the 1645 civil war. The Norman Constables House was built in 1160 to house the town’s bailiff and has the oldest Norman chimney in Britain.

Pewsey Horse (wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/pewseynew.html) – Wiltshire
Pewsey Horse is 20 meters long and 14 meters high and is best seen between Marlborough and Salisbury. Designed by George Maples to commemorate the coronation of King George VI.

Woodhenge (www.wiltshire.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/countryside-information/countryside-general-information/countryside-access-to-the-countryside/countryside-service/countryside-woodhenge-picnic-site.htm) - Wiltshire
Consists of 6 concentric rings of timber posts, this Neolithic ceremonial monument of around 2300 BC points to the rising sun on Midsummer's Day. Discovered in 1925.

Saint Catherine's Castle (www.cornwall-online.co.uk/attractions/stcatherinescastle/Welcome.html) - Cornwall
This ruined castle was built by Thomas Teffry on the orders of Henry VIII. The ruins give fantastic views across the estuary.

Churches & cathedrals

Oare Church – Somerset
Features of this church include a 19C tower, 15th- century chancel and a 12th-century font. This church was also the scene of Lorna Doone's wedding in the novel written by R.D. Blackmore.

St Beuno's Church (www.somerset.gov.uk/celebratingsomerset/visitors/pages/subs/attractions_detail.asp?EstabID=189) – Somerset
Known as the smallest complete Parish Church in England, Culbone Church is only 35 foot in length (the chancel is 10 foot wide, and the nave is 12 foot 3 inches wide, and there are only 30 seats). Features include: the 15th-century pews, Norman font and Saxon windows.

Prinknash Abbey (www.davidsemporium.co.uk/Prinknash/) – Gloucestershire
Set in 250 acres this world famous Benedictine monastery is home to the world reputed pottery.

Gardens, parks & walks

Sydney Gardens (www.cityofbath.co.uk/Parks_rec/sydneygardens.html) – Bath
This was formerly a venue for concerts and firework displays as witnessed and written about by Jane Austen in her novels.

The Donkey Sanctuary (www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/site/1/home.html) – Sidmouth
Founded in 1969 on a farm near Sidmouth, over 9,000 donkeys have been rescued by this sanctuary.

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