The British DX Club

Radio Museums & Vintage Radio in the UK & Ireland

This guide is updated regularly on the BDXC web site and also occasionally printed in "Communication". All times are UK local. We recommend you check opening times before travelling, especially out of season. Updates and additions are welcome - please e-mail bdxc[at]bdxc.org.uk ** with any changes to the details below:

** When sending an email [at] should be replaced with the @ symbol. Email addresses are shown this way on our web site to deter spam.

Radio Museums

Bedfordshire

Military Intelligence Museum DISC Chicksands, Shefford, Beds SG17 5PR. Includes the Intelligence Corps Museum which charts the development of British Military Intelligence along with the Medmenham Collection highlighting the important role of aerial imagery. Combined with this is the BRIXMIS Collection - telling the story of Intelligence gathering in East Germany at the height of the Cold War. Finally there is the story of Chicksands - including its use in the Second World War as a “Y” Service intercept station of Enigma Codes and its post-war USAF intelligence gathering activities up until the late 1990’s. Visitors welcome, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Free admission. Tel 01462 752896.Military Intelligence Museum.

Birmingham

National Vintage Communications Fair (NVCF) is now held once a year in May at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre near Leamington Spa. Not to be missed if you are at all interested in collecting vintage radios, TV, telephones, etc. - see the BDXC diary page for dates. NVCF web site

Buckinghamshire

Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley MK3 6EB - Britain's WWII codebreaking centre is well worth a visit. Includes cryptology museum and a rebuild of the giant valve "Colossus" computer. Open weekdays 0930-1700 (0930-1600 November to February). Tel: 01908 640404 or shop 01908 272684. Bletchley Park
National Radio Centre formerly known as the National Amateur Radio Museum is located at Bletchley Park , MK3 6EB. It showcases radiocommunication technology and amateur radio. Admission to the centre is free (there is an entrance fee to visit other parts of Bletchley Park). The centre is open from 1100-1630 on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Details National Radio Centre

Cheshire

On The Air vintage radio shop, The Highway, Hawarden, Chester CH5 3DN. Also publishes Airwaves vintage radio magazine. Tel 01244 530300. On The Air
The Vintage Wireless Company 174 Cross Street, Sale M33 7AQ. A shop that restores, repairs and sells radios from the period 1930-1975. Tel 0161 973 0438.
Jodrell Bank near Holmes Chapel, SK11 9DL (off the A535). Science centre, planetarium, arboretum. Famous for the output of its Lovell radio-telscope project set up in 1974 to scan space. The visitor centre was rebuilt in 2004. Tel 01477 571339. Jodrell Bank
Hack Green Nuclear Bunker near Nantwich, CW5 8AL (off A530 Whitchurch Rd). A complex communications infrastructure includes a BBC emergency radio studio, BT and military installations. WWII radar station. Open daily March-October 1030-1730, Sat.Sun 1100-1630 during winter. Closed December. Tel 01270 629219. Hack Green

Cornwall

The Lizard Wireless Station is located at Bass Point on The Lizard. This restored Marconi communications hut is only accessible by foot and is about half a mile from Lizard village. It is run by the National Trust. Phone for opening times Tel 01326 561407 or e-mail lizard[at]nationaltrust.org.uk.
The Marconi Centre at Poldhu Cove near Mullion, TR12 7JB and the monument to Marconi's trans-Atlantic wireless transmissions can be seen on the cliffs above Poldhu Bay. Some of the concrete mast supports are still visible in the nearby fields. The Marconi Centre is open at various times Oct-April (Sun 1330-1630, Tues/Fri 1900-2100); May/Jun/Sep (Weds/Sun 1330-1630, Tues/Fri 1900-2100); July & August (Weds/Thurs/Sun 1330-1630, Tues/Fri 1900-2100). Also open most bank holidays 1330-1630. Free admission. Tel 01326 241656. Marconi Centre Poldhu
Porthcurno Telegraph Museum, Porthcurno near Penzance TR19 6JX, houses historic telegraph equipment in former secret wartime underground tunnels. Open 1000-1700 as follows: November to March (Sun & Mon only); April to end of October (daily). Late opening Wednesdays until 1930 in summer. Last admission one hour before closing. Tel: 01736 810966. Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station near Helston TR12 6LQ. History of global communications from telegraph to broadband. See web site or phone for opening hours. Tel 0800 679593. Goonhilly
The Wireless Works at Bugle near St Austell has closed.

Denbighshire

Wireless in Wales museum celebrates the contribution of Wales to the evolution of radio technology and broadcasting. The musum houses a fascinating collection of radios and ephemera from the 1920s to the 1960s collected by the late David E Jones. Located at Canolfan Iaith Clwuy (Welsh Language Centre), Lenton Pool, Denbigh LL16 3LG. Open by appointement only. Tel 01745 831402 or 813743. Wireless in Wales

Devon

L V Kelly Books, at 6 Redlands, Tiverton EX16 4DH, specialises in Radio Times, books, magazines, pamphlets and broadcasting ephemera. Visitors by appointment only. Tel: 01884 256170. Kelly Books

Dorset

The Museum Of Electricity in the Old Power Station, Bargates, Christchurch BH23 1QE, has a well-laid out collection of domestic vintage radios and other electrical equipment. Open Monday-Thursday 1200-1600 from Easter to end of September (& Friday during school holidays). Tel 01202 480467. Museum of Electricity
Modern radios are on sale at the nearby Shortwave Shop at 18 Fairmile Road, Christchurch BH23 2LJ. Tel 01202 490099. Shortwave Shop
Military radio gear is on display at Bovington Tank Museum, near Wareham and the Royal Signals Museum, Blandford. Tank Museum
Radar photos may be seen at Worth Matravers Tea Rooms near Swanage.
The Haven Hotel at 161 Banks Road, Poole BH13 7QL, site of Marconi wireless tests, has photos of the event in its public bar.

Edinburgh

Royal Museum Chambers Street, EH1 1JF. Telecommunications gallery including Alexander Graham Bell exhibition. Open daily 1000-1700. Tel 0300 1236789. Royal Museum

Essex

The Vintage Wireless & Television Museum can be found in the High Lighthouse, Old Harwich. Each floor of the lighthouse houses displays from a different decade. Admission is still only £1 and opening hours approx 1230-1630 during summer. Curator Tony O'Neil, Tel: 07971 766808. Vintage Wireless & TV Museum
Prittlewell Priory Museum, Priory Park, Victoria Avenue, Southend on Sea, has a very good radio/TV collection including items from E K Cole (Ekco) which had its wireless factory nearby. Museum closed in 2009/2010 for renovation. Tel: 01702 342878. Prittlewell Priory
The Marconi Hut is an ex-army hut from the First World War, which was used as a laboratory by the Marconi Company from 1919 to 1960 at their site in Lawford Lane, Writtle. The hut, which is open only on special occasions, is now at Chelmsford Science & Industry Museum, Sandford Mill, Chelmer Village, Chelmsford CM2 6NY Tel 01245 475498 or email sandfordmill[at]chelmsford.gov.uk
Chelmsford Museum at Oaklands Park, Moulsham Street, CM2 9AQ opened a new "Bright Sparks" exhibition in 2010 which includes some Marconi equipment. Open Mon-Sat 1000-1700. Sun 1400-1700 in summer. Admission Free. Tel 01245 605700 Chelmsford Museums Service

Fife

Museum of Communications 131 High Street, Burntisland KY3 9AA. The museum, formerly located at Bo'ness, is now installed at a new permanent location in Burntisland. The museum contains many items spanning telegraphy, telephony, radio, radar, television, audio technology, miltary and domestic electronics; including the extensive collection of the late Harry Matthews. Open late May to mid September on Wednesdays and Saturdays 1100-1700. Tel for other times. Tel 01506 823424. Museum of Communications

Hampshire

Museum of Radar and Communications HMS Collingwood, Newgate Lane, Fareham PO14 1AS. The museum is located at the Royal Navy's training establishment HMS Collingwood. It contains displays on radar, communications, navigation equipment, thermionic valves, commercial radios and gramophones, transmitters, captured enemy equipment and more. Visits are by appointment only. To make an appointment phone the curator Lt Cdr W.E. Legg R.N. [Rtd] on 01329 286262 or at the museum on 01329 332535. NB the museum phone number is only open on Mondays from 1000-1500. No charge but donations appreciated. Museum of Radar and Communications

Ireland

Ye Olde Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio Howth, Co Dublin. Located in Martello Tower overlooking harbour. Collection of old radios, music boxes, gramophones and related items. Entrance up steep pathway opposite Abbey Tavern, Abbey Street. Open 1100-1600 daily from April to October (Weekends only November to March). Tel +353 (0)86 815 4189 Hurdy Gurdy Museum
Cork City Gaol Radio Museum Convent Avenue, Sunday's Well, Cork City. Location of the 6CK radio station opened in 1927. Open Mar-Oct 0930-1700, Nov-Feb 1000-1600. Tel +353 (0)23 4305022 Cork Radio Museum
Vintage Wireless Museum Listowel, Co Kerry. The museum was opened in 1986 to mark 50 years of Irish broadcasting. 1200 items are on display, there is an extensive collection of receivers, many of which are extremely rare. There is also an accompanying display of wireless paraphernalia: miniature crystal boxes, wireless trade signs, wet and dry batteries, and vintage wireless literature. There are impressive broadcasting valves from Radio and the BBC, and studio microphones from the 1930s and 1940s. 2 Cherry Tree Drive, Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland. Privately owned. Phone Eddie Moylan for opening hours: +353 (0)68 21652. Email emoylan[al]eircom.net

Isle of Wight

Two rooms of vintage radios are on display at the Brickfields Shire Horse Centre.
There is a small Marconi memorial at The Needles.
The Wireless Museum at Puckpool Park has now closed.

Kent

The Bygone Radio Shop 296 Cheriton Road, Folkestone CT19 4DP. Tel 01303 277716. Open Mon/Tue/Thurs/Fri/Sat 0900-1230. (Closed Wednesdays and Sundays).
Radio Memories at Tankerton, Whitstable closed in 2004.

London

The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD has a Tecommunications gallery (1st Floor) with several interesting exhibits. Tel: 0870 870 4868. Science Museum
British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum, 23 Rosendale Road, Dulwich SE21 8DS. Probably the biggest and best collection of vintage domestic radios and TVs in the UK. Well worth a visit, but please ring Gerry Wells for an appointment first on 020 8670 3667. BVWM
Radio Days Shop, 87 Lower Marsh, Waterloo SE1 7AB sells vintage clothing and collectables, including vintage radios. Tel 020 7928 0800. Radio Days
Radio Jackie Museum, at Radio Jackie's studios, 110 Tolworth Broadway, Surbiton KT6 7JD. Has a small display of press cuttings, photos, and original equipment from the station's pirate era. For opening times phone 020 8288 1300. See also the History pages on the Radio Jackie web site
Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, at 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill, London W11 2AR includes a number of radios and TVs through the ages in its display cases, along with nostalgic packaging and other ephemera from the Robertt Opie collection. Open Tues-Sat 1000-1800, Sun 1100-1700 (closed Mondays). Museum of Brands web site
The BBC Experience at Broadcasting House and the BBC World Service shop have closed.

Norfolk

Snellings of Blofield , Laundry Lane, Blofield Heath, Norwich NR13 4SQ. Displaying over 100 radio & TV products down the decades collected and lovingly restored by retired Snelling TV engineers. Includes working crystal set, first Ekco portable TV and some advertising signs. Admission - free of charge. Not permanaently staffed so 'phone Roy Snelling 01603 711704 or email museum@snellings.co.uk to arrange visit. On same site as Snellings TV showroom (0830 to 1730 Mon-Sat), 7 miles from Norwich. Snellings Museum
RAF Air Defence Radar Museum, RAF Neatishead, near Horning, NR12 8YB (near the Broads). The museum has displays covering radar and military aircraft communication/monitoring. Opening hours restricted to certain days (Tues, Thurs, 2nd Saturdays and Bank Holidays) 1000-1700 Tel: 01692-631485.RAF Air Defence Radar Museum
The Muckleburgh Collection a privately-owned military museum at Weybourne, near Holt NR25 7EH (north Norfolk) - houses a collection of vintage radio and other communication equipment. Apart from transmitters and receivers used by all three armed services, the collection includes radios used for intelligence gathering, surveillance, espionage and counter-espionage during WW2 and later. Open April until November daily at 1000-1700. During this period the Radio Hut is open to museum visitors Wednesdays and Thursdays 1030-1500 and most Sundays 1300-1600. Museum Tel 01263 588210. Muckleburgh Collection

Orkney

Orkney Wireless Museum, Kiln Corner, Junction Road, Kirkwall KW15 1LB, houses a fascinating local collection of vintage domestic and amateur radio equipment, well worth visiting. Open daily April to end of September. Tel: 01856 871400. Orkney Wireless Museum NB an STV report in Feb 2009 said the museum is threatened with closure.

Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire Motor Musum Keeston Hill, Haverfordwest, SA62 6EJ (on A487), has a new vintage wireless collection which includs a display of sets from the 40s through to transistorised sets. Also some test gear, gramophones, an old bakelite TV and valves in their boxes. Open Sunday to Friday 1000-1700 (Closed Saturdays) from Easter to the end of September. Tel 01437 710950. Pembrokeshire Motor Museum

Shetland

Hoswick Visitor Centre Sandwick, ZE2 9HL features an impressive communications museum including broadcast receivers, amateur radio and military equipment. Open May to September: Monday to Saturday 1000-1700, Sunday 1100-1700. Tel 01950 431406. Hoswick Visitor Centre

Somerset

The Bakelite Museum at Orchard Mill, Williton TA4 4NS houses a small bakelite collection, including radios, in a 17th century water mill/tea room. Open 1030-1800 Wed-Sat. Tel: 01984 632133. Bakelite Museum
Montacute TV & Radio Memorabilia Museum, at the Tea Rooms, 1 South Street, Montacute TA15 6XD. A collection of memorabilia from radio and TV programmes as well as old radio and TV sets. Open Weds-Sat (& Bank Holiday Mondays) 1230-1700, Sundays 1400-1700 from Easter to October (phone for winter opening times). Tel: 01935 823024. Montacute Museum
Washford Radio Museum, an exhibition of vintage radios at Tropiquaria zoo, in the old transmitter hall of the BBC's Washford transmitting station, Watchet Cross TA23 0QB. Open daily 1000-1700 in summer (phone for winter opening times). Tel: 01984 640688. Ask for reduced admission price if you are only visiting the radio museum. Washford Radio Museum
Philip Knighton's Vintage Wireless and Gramophone Shop has now closed.

Suffolk

Ickworth House, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds IP29 5QE has a display on Wartime Wireless. Open 1 March to 31 October on Fr.Sa.Su.Mo.Tu from 1000-1730. Tel 01284 735270. National Trust. Entry is expensive. Ickworth

Sussex

Amberley Museum, near Arundel, BN18 9LT an open air working museum, includes displays of vintage domestic and amateur radio equipment, as well as other electrical and telephone equipment. Separate BT Connected Earth exhibition. Open mid February to end October Tuesday-Sunday (& Bank Holiday Mondays) from 1000-1730. Tel 01798 831370. Entry is expensive. Amberley Museum
Buckleys Yesterday's World 89-90 High Street, Battle TN33 0AQ. Includes displays of a 1930s wireless shop and a 1950s radio/TV shop. Open daily 0930-1600. Tel 01424 775378 Yesterday's World.
Bognor Regis Museum is at 25-27 West Street, Bognor Regis, PO21 1XA. Contains many old radios and unusual radio accessories. Open Tuesday-Sunday (& Bank Holidays) 1000-1600 from late March to October. Tel: 01243 865636.
Hastings Museum Johns Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, TN34 1ET has a room entirely devoted to John Logie Baird, who worked on early television development in Hastings in 1923-24. The room includes a replica of the 1926 Baird apparatus, on loan from the National Media Museum in Bradford. Open Mon-Fri 1000-1600(1000-1700 in Summer), Sat-Sun 1100-1600(1100-1700 in summer). Tel 01424 451052 Hastings Museum & Art Gallery.
International Vintage Electronics Museum 54 Easthill Drive, Brighton BN41 2FD. Radio, computers, calculators, Marconi, Sony, Sinclair and general electronics collection open to visitors and researchers. Phone curator Enrico Tedeschi for appointment 01273 701650. Enrico Tedeschi
Newhaven Fort Museum houses a collection of vintage amateur radio equipment from the late Cyril Fairchild G3YY. The museum is open daily from March to October 1030-1800 (1030-1700 in October). Tel 01273 517622. Newhaven Fort
Seaford Museum is located in the martello tower on Seaford beach. A large hall beneath the martello tower contains over a thousand radios, TVs, tape recorders and items of test equipment, a lot of it 1950s. Open year round Sundays & bank holidays 1100-1300, 1430-1630 (1400-1600 in winter) and also in summer on Saturdays and Wednesdays 1430-1630. . Tel 01323 898222.Seaford Museum

West Midlands

Black Country Living Museum in Dudley has a 1930s wireless shop called Gripton's. Originally located in Oldbury, it was moved brick by brick to the museum along with a display of appropriate period radios. Tipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ. Tel 0121 557 9643. Open daily 1000-1600. Black Country Living Museum

Worcestershire

Droitwich Spa Heritage Centre hosts Droitwich Calling, a hands-on exhibition devoted to the UK's high-power longwave transmitting station at Droitwich, including a typical 1960s BBC studio. St Richard's House, Victoria Square, Droitwich. Open Mon-Sat 0930-1600 (closed Sundays). Tel 01905 774312 Droitwich Spa Heritage Centre

Yorkshire

National Media Museum (formerly Museum of Photography, Film & Television), Prince's View, Bradford BD5 0TR covers film, television, radio, the web and photograpy. Has good displays of old TV cameras and receivers. Open Tuesday to Sunday 1000-1800. Tel: 0870 7010200. National Media Museum

Vintage Radio Publications

The British Vintage Wireless Society publishes an excellent quarterly Bulletin for members. Membership secretary Graham Terry, 26 Castleton Road, Swindon SN5 5GD. BVWS.
Radio Bygones is published by Wimborne Publishing Ltd, 398a Ringwood Road, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9AU. Tel: 01202 873872 Fax: 01202 874562. Radio Bygones.
The Radiophile, edited by Chas Miller; four issues £20 (sample copy £3) from Admin Office, "Larkhill", Newport Road, Woodseaves, Stafford, ST20 ONP. Radiophile.
Airwaves, published by On The Air, The Highway, Hawarden, Chester, CH5 3DN (sae for sample). Tel/fax 01244 530300. Airwaves.