The UK is home to approximately 2,500 museums showcasing world-class art, artefacts, vehicles, and historically significant locations, making it a challenge to determine the absolute best. However, Time Out has now revealed its top 20 selections, and the winner is an unexpected choice: the Micro Museum in Ramsgate, Kent.
A Hidden Gem in a Seaside Town
Tucked away along a narrow backstreet in the town centre, the Micro Museum is a tribute to vintage computers and retro gaming. It claimed the top spot for 2026, surpassing iconic institutions such as the British Museum and the Natural History Museum. The museum is open only a few days a week, adding to its charm as a unique destination.
Founded by Passionate Collectors
Established in 2014 by Mike and Carol Deer, the museum began as an independent project. The couple had been collecting technology since the 1970s, when computers first entered public use. Their extensive collection spans devices from the 1940s to the 21st century, illustrating the dramatic evolution of technology.
Mike and Carol explained their mission on the museum's website: "We realised that as the older equipment was being replaced, the earlier devices were going to be lost, packed away and forgotten, or worse, scrapped. Our mission became one of saving as many devices as we could."
Why It Won
Time Out editor Joe Mackertich described the museum as a labour of love. He said: "The love that's gone into this place is palpable, and even if you're not remotely interested in ZX Spectrums or Video Genies you'll have a great time gawping at all the elegant and rare machines (many saved, by Mike and Carol, from the scrap heap)."
Visitors can interact with the technology through hands-on experiences, learning about devices that influenced culture. Classic games like Pac-Man, Guitar Hero, and Space Invaders are available to play.
Visitor Experience
A recent TripAdvisor reviewer wrote: "Charming little museum run by a lovely couple, whose enthusiasm is contagious. Inside is one of the most extensive collections of retro computers and consoles I've ever seen. Including some rarer items like an Amiga 3000, electromechanical calculators, a Sinclair C5, early consoles like Atari 2600. Best of all you can have a go on most of it."
Practical Information
The museum welcomes visitors exclusively at weekends and on bank holidays, making it ideal for a coastal day out. It is located on Church Hill, just off the High Street in Ramsgate, though street parking is unavailable. Admission is £7, with children under three entering free. The museum accepts cash only. Advance booking is not required, and the full summer opening schedule is available on the museum's website.
