Accredited Museums

Accredited Museums

The National Museum Accreditation Scheme (run by the Arts Council) sets nationally agreed standards for museums in the UK. There are currently just under 1,800 museums participating in the scheme, demonstrating their commitment to managing collections effectively for the enjoyment and benefit of users. The scheme is designed to show how a Museum manages and develops its collection for the enjoyment and benefit of the community. The scheme, which is renewable on a three-year basis, was established in 1988 has supported museums across the UK to focus on standards and identify areas for development. The scheme is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective developments in the museum sector. It has led the way in raising museum standards in the UK, and has been used as a model and source of inspiration for similar schemes overseas.

The scheme is administered by Arts Council England in partnership with CyMAL: Museum, Archives, Libraries Wales; Museums Galleries Scotland and the Northern Ireland Museum Council.

Accredited museums have a responsibility to keep their assessing organisation informed of any changes likely to impact on the museum's Accreditation status.

Updated Accreditation standard

People's expectations of museums have increased. Museums' reliance on volunteer support has also increased. Environmental and operational challenges continue to grow.

Accreditation has recently been developed to keep pace with the times, to help museums develop their resilience through effective forward planning, to balance aspects of collection management and to encourage all museums to be responsive to user needs and expectations.

The benefits of taking part in the Accreditation Scheme

Accreditation enables museums and governing bodies to assess their current performance, and it supports them in planning and developing their services. It helps with:

Performance

It is quality standard that serves as an authoritative benchmark for assessing performance, rewarding achievement and driving improvement.

Profile

It raises awareness and understanding of museums, building confidence and credibility both within the governing body and among the public.

People

It helps museums to improve their focus on meeting users' needs and interests and developing their workforce.

Partnerships

It helps museums to examine their services and to encourage joint working within and between organisations.

Planning

It helps with forward planning by formalising procedures and policies.

Patronage

It demonstrates that a museum has met a national standard, which strengthens applications for public and private funding and gives investors confidence in the organisation.

To contact the Accreditation Service email accreditation@artscouncil.org.uk.

You can use the accreditation to filter a search by selecting it in the Accreditations section of the Search List Filters.

Venues with this Accreditation

Formerly the home of the Wright-Taylor family, Baysgarth House has been in public ownership since 1930. In 2004 Champ Ltd took over the management of the house including its buildings, museum, collections and archives. Baysgarth House Museum celebrates the lives of local people through permanent and temporary exhibitions and projects.

Set within the beautiful, originally Elizabethan, walled gardens of The Almonry, Battle Museum of Local History preserves and exhibits hundreds of fascinating artefacts from the town's past, including objects from prehistoric and Roman times to the world's oldest effigy of Guy Fawkes and  items from the two World Wars.  

Bath has played a vital role in the development of communications, and improving the British postal service. It can thus boast many "firsts" as you will discover when you visit this fascinating museum, which will illustrate how the postal service played a major part in linking areas of the world".

Schools

Jacobean house, home of Rudyard Kipling

'That's She! The Only She! Make an honest woman of her - quick!' was how Rudyard Kipling and his wife, Carrie, felt the first time they saw Bateman's.

Surrounded by the wooded landscape of the Sussex Weald, this 17th-century house, with its mullioned windows and oak beams, provided a much needed sanctuary to this world-famous writer.

One of the most magnificent collections of musical instruments in the world with over 2,000 instruments from the Western orchestral music traditions from the renaissance, through the baroque, classical, romantic and up to modern times.

More than a thousand instruments are on display, by all the most important makers and from pre-eminent collectors.

Basing House has a Museum with rooms dedicated to everyday life in the Tudor period and the Civil War as it happened here at the site.

School Visits

An 18th-century house, a 1950s home

Basildon Park, a Georgian mansion surrounded by parkland, was lovingly rescued by Lord and Lady Iliffe in the mid 1950s. The house you see today is a re-creation and restoration of the 18th-century mansion. They restored the elegant interior and scoured the country salvaging 18th-century architectural fixtures and fittings.

Britain's last surviving working Roundhouse

Whatever your memories of Britain’s railways you’ll be amazed at what you can see at Barrow Hill and its preserved Roundhouse.

Throughout each year the galas feature working steam and diesel locomotives, which are often joined by a variety of visiting steam and modern diesel locomotives off the main line.

This museum houses the agricultural and social history collections of Craigavon Museum. There are displays on domestic life in rural areas, blacksmithing, haymaking and local industries. The collections on display include the tools of a local blacksmith as well as items illustrating the area's links with the linen industry, apple growing and rose growing.

Barmouth Sailors' Institute is a unique building and is an important part of Barmouth's Maritime history. 

Climb to the top of this 1000 year old Norman Castle for stunning panoramic views across Sussex.

The adjoining Barbican House is home to the Museum of Sussex Archaeology and houses local collections from the Stone Age to medieval times. A mini-cinema tells the story of Lewes from prehistoric to Victorian times.

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is housed in one of Birmingham’s finest Art Deco buildings, purpose built and opened by Queen Mary in 1939.

Restored to its Edwardian glory, Bantock House is a hidden treasure set within 43 acres of parkland and surrounded by delightful formal gardens.

Bankfield Museum is housed in an imposing Victorian Mansion, set within an attractive park, less than a mile from the centre of Halifax.

Banbury Museum is a great museum full of local interest with a range of activities for kids of all ages.

There are prize trails for all ages, plus Drawing for All, activity backpacks for 3 to 5 year olds and Craft Activities through the ArtCart.

This popular museum attracts thousands of visitors each year from across the world. The permanent exhibition contains remarkable and unique artefacts associated with the colourful history of this region.

The Ballycastle museum is housed in the 18th century courthouse and market building. The Collection includes the very important and fine Irish Homes Industries Workshop which was part on the Arts and Crafts Revival in Ireland. Much of this material was displayed in the Irish Pavilion at the St Louis World Fair in 1904 through F.J. Bigger and R.J. Welch.

Derbyshire Museum of the Year

Step back into Bakewells long and rich history. A 1 hr walk from the river Wye to the Old House led by knowledgable and enthusiastic guides. Discover hidden facts, myths and legends on this enlightening and entertaining tour.  

Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery is a people’s Museum, where fascinating stories of the past are told about the town and district of Alnwick. A historic building in the town’s Castle Quarter, which was previously a church, provides a calm and beautiful setting in which to celebrate our distinctive heritage, hold exhibitions and host events.

Schools

Explore the World at Bagshaw Museum. A Victorian former mill owner's house set in 36 aces of parkland and ancient woodland, the museum is host to a wide range of unusual and exciting collections of collections from around the globe.

For curious children, a medieval moated century manor house with a 19th century Catholic chapel, gardens, lakeside walk and nature trail. Tire them out first and there's enough for a couple of hours.

This atmospheric house dates from the 15th century and was the home of the Ferrers family for 500 years.

Ayscoughfee Hall Museum is set in a Medieval Hall dating back to around 1451. This fascinating grade I listed building includes exhibitions, displays and educational opportunities for all to enjoy.

There's always something going on at Ayscoughfee, whether it's concerts, theatrical performances, craft sessions or art exhibitions.

The North East of England has a rich and varied industrial heritage. Public transport is part of that heritage and has affected everyday life in this northern region.

Home of the national historic buildings collection

Avoncroft Museum is home to over 30 different buildings and structures which have been rescued and re-built in rural Worcestershire. The Museum is spread over 19 acres and includes a wildflower meadow, period gardens, a traditional cider and perry orchard as well as the collection of historic buildings.

The Museum holds other historic collections which include:

The Auld Post Office Turriff is now a museum. The museum houses Town Council memorabilia, artefacts relating to the famous Turra Coo (Turriff cow), old Turriff photographs and temporary exhibitions. The robes and regalia of Turriff Town Council, which was disbanded in 1975, are also on display.

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British schoolgirl assaulted on school trip to Iceland

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A viral video shows a black girl being assaulted by a white woman in a corridor.

Police in Iceland are investigating after a British schoolgirl was slapped and chased by a tour guide in a hotel corridor.

The schoolgirl, 13, who attended Harris Girls’ Academy, was assaulted whilst on a school trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The incident occurred at Hotel Örk, Hveragerdi on 13th October.