Home to thousands of haunted artefacts and oddities, The Haunted Museum Nottingham (now known as The Museum Of Curiosities) is a paranormal paradise for anyone interested in the supernatural. Here’s why this small but mighty museum is worth a visit.
I was very surprised to learn that Nottingham is home to tons of cool and spooky stuff. Up until recently, I’d only been to the city once to visit Warhammer World with my boyfriend. So as soon as I discovered it was home to the famous Haunted Museum, I planned a trip there instantly.
Nottingham’s Haunted Museum was well worth the hour-and-a-half road trip alone, but we paired our visit with a two-day trip dedicated to discovering all the spooky things in the area.
That’s a blog post for another time though.
Read our review below and learn why this museum is a must-visit in Nottingham.
What Is the Museum of Curiosities in Nottingham?
Situated a short walk out of the town centre on Derby Rd, The Museum Of Curiosities Nottingham may not look like much when you first spot it. The reception and waiting area is filled with cool memorabilia – plus a cute gift shop – but it’s hard to imagine just how much is packed into this museum.
It’s definitely worth persevering though. Once you leave the entry area, you’ll find three floors to explore, each as fascinating as the last.
The museum is owned by Marie and Steve Wesson – aka Britain’s answer to Ed and Lorraine Warren. They’ve collected artefacts from their dark travels over the years and decided to make a museum out of them! Marie and Steve are also paranormal investigators and often host events at the museum.
In case you haven’t already realised, unsurprisingly, the museum is also haunted. In fact, Nottingham’s Haunted Museum is ranked the 29th haunted location in the UK!
Previously based at an old cinema Woodborough Road, the collection was recently moved to its current location, where plenty of spooky going-ons have been taking place.
When we visited, they were in the middle of uncovering an underground area that they’d only discovered once moving to the building. There’s also another small cave area within the museum that was uncovered once moving into the building, where they discovered a headstone and grave!
Their social media sometimes share videos of unexplained activity too…
Once inside the actual museum, you’re not allowed to take photos. Well, apart from the area where you get to hold an actual human skull.
Yes, you read that right: a human skull.
Holding a Human Skull
The ground floor is filled with artefacts such as skulls belonging to humans and animals, a dybbuk box and an original funeral hearse. Here, you can watch mysterious footage that shows the handle of the funeral hearse being lifted by an unseen force..
There’s also an area where you’re encouraged to wear hard hats and step into a cave-like section, which hosts animal burial areas and two human skulls which you can hold. In all honestly I wasn’t too sure whether I wanted to participate in holding the skulls – I wasn’t sure whether it felt disrespectful or not – but in the end I did choose to.
A lovely member of staff explained more about the history of the skulls and that many visitors had experienced weird sensations after holding them. Some had even had the names of the skulls come to them upon holding! Afterwards, my wrists did feel noticeably tingly – but this may have been because the lady told me some people did experience that particular sensation.
Inside the Museum of Curiosities
After getting the worst photo of me ever holding the skull (probably the spirit’s revenge for me not being respectful by holding the skull..!) we headed upstairs. I was delighted to find memorabilia from the famous Enfield haunting along the stairwell.
The Enfield haunting is one of the very first paranormal cases that I became interested in. I remember renting and reading the book over and over from my high school library and just being absolutely fascinated!
The first floor is more or less dedicated to dolls. It includes an amazing exhibition all about Mexico’s Island of Dolls. It’s a bucket list dream of mine to go here.
On this floor, there are tons of really fascinating objects that we spent so long reading about. There are even things directly from the famous Demon House that Zak Bagans’ did a documentary on.
On the final and third floor, there are movie props from The Exorcist and a smaller room with creepy clowns. I’m not going to list everything here, because a) it would take forever and b) it’s so much better to go and see yourself!
My Review of The Museum of Curiosities
Although the museum is small, we spent maybe two hours walking around and taking in all the information. I was so impressed with not only how much there was to see in there, but how much effort the museum owners had put into explaining what item was.
Every single part of the museum was truly fascinating. I already want to go back – particularly as the very day after we visited, The Lost Cave finally opened!
My only very slight qualms about the museum were that a lot of the exhibits displayed spelling mistakes and grammar errors – not that it affected my enjoyment of it all! I also read reviews of the museum’s previous location and it seems there was a lot more on display then, due to the size of the premises. Some items mentioned in these reviews did not seem to be on display when I visited. This is a shame as I’d have loved to see them.
However, I found the haunted museum Nottingham absolutely amazing. I can’t believe how much they managed to pack across three floors, despite its size. I also thought the staff were so great. There was a lovely lady who walked around the museum (and assisted us when we were holding the skulls) and she had a lot of stories to share. The lady in reception was also totally knowledgeable when I asked her about some of the things we’d seen.
Read more: The Best Spooky Things to Do in Nottingham
What’s New for 2024
In 2024, the museum expanded to include a small on-site drinks lounge. The lounge serves hot and cold drinks in a relaxing area with horror props for photo opportunities. Whilst enjoying a drink, you can watch live streams from cameras dotted around the museum. You can also purchase unlimited drinks for just an extra £1.
Spooky Tips for Visiting
If you’re planning a trip to the Museum of Curiosities, these tips might help.
Location: Nottingham’s Haunted Museum is located in the city centre on Derby Road, just a short walk from Market Square and Nottingham Castle.
Getting There: The museum is easy to reach on foot from most central Nottingham attractions. Nottingham Station is around a 15–20 minute walk away, with regular train services connecting the city to London, Birmingham and other major UK destinations. Several bus routes also run along Derby Road, stopping close to the museum.
Ticket Price: At around £8 per person, the museum is excellent value – especially considering you’ll likely spend 1-2 hours exploring the exhibits.
Special Events: The museum regularly hosts special events throughout the year, including paranormal investigation nights, as well as mediumship and tarot sessions during the day. With new items constantly being added to the collection, there’s always a reason to return.
Children & Age Restrictions: The museum isn’t necessarily designed for young children. While nothing jumps out as particularly frightening, some exhibits – especially the dolls – can be a little unsettling. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Things to Do Nearby: If you’re planning a spooky day out in Nottingham, there are plenty of other eerie attractions nearby. I’d recommend visiting the National Justice Museum, stopping for a drink at the haunted Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, or exploring Nottingham Castle.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Museum of Curiosities
Before you go, here are a few frequently asked questions to help you plan your visit to Nottingham’s most haunted museum.
Is the Museum of Curiosities worth visiting?
Absolutely! If you’re into paranormal artefacts or spooky, quirky museums, it’s a must-visit. Even if you’re not, you’ll likely still find this unusual museum fascinating.
How long does it take to go through the Museum of Curiosities?
Absolutely! If you’re into paranormal artefacts or spooky, quirky museums, it’s a must-visit. Even if you’re not, you’ll likely still find this unusual museum fascinating.
Where Is the Museum of Curiosities in Nottingham?
The museum is located at 75–77 Derby Road in Nottingham. It was originally based in an old cinema on Woodborough Road when it first opened as The Haunted Museum.
Final Thoughts From a Morbid Tourist
Whether you’re a fan of the paranormal or not, Nottingham’s Haunted Museum is a must-visit when you’re in the area. If you believe in ghosts, you’ll love learning about the haunted objects on display. If you don’t, it’s still a fascinating collection of strange and unusual artefacts.
Discover More Spooky Attractions in the UK
Looking for more dark and unusual places to visit in the UK? Explore these eerie destinations next:
Bodmin Jail | Hellfire Caves | Jamaica Inn | Last Tuesday Society | Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein | Museum Of Curiosities | York Ghost Merchants
The Museum Of Curiosities
www.themuseumofcuriosities.co.uk
75 – 77 Derby Rd, Nottingham NG1 5BA
£8.00 per adult
There are toilets on-site plus a gift shop and a small cafe area. There’s limited parking out front and public car parks nearby. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Hi, the skulls and pet items were not actually found in there they have been put in there by us. But the head stone and grave was found. Regards Mary.HM
Hi Mary! Thank you SO much for checking out the post 🙂 I was unsure of that – I remember being told some things were found but I couldn’t remember exactly which. I’ll update that now.
Thank you! x
Hi, I’ve just read the reviews on here about this place, I myself am fascinated in the paranormal, since a child really and seeing spirits, I’m now very intrigued by this place, so will definitely be checking this out.
Thanks for the reviews guys, always helps.
I am always looking for places to visit and seek out spirits.
Hi Gail,
Thanks for reading! Do come back and let us know what you think after you’ve visited. Be sure to check out my other post, Spooky Things to do in Nottingham for more spooky stuff to do in the area!