Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon

The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon sits in a Victorian building at the end of the Long Bridge and tells the stories of the people and landscapes of the area. Its twelve permanent galleries run from ancient rocks and minerals through prehistoric finds and local archaeology to twentieth-century life, with a gallery on the North Devon Biosphere and a well-known collection of North Devon Art Pottery. Families can pick up a free trail and quiz aimed at younger visitors from the welcome desk, and the museum runs family workshops through the year. The visit suits a rainy afternoon or a short stop in town, and most families find a couple of hours enough to see the main displays. There is a tearoom and a museum shop on the premises.