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.Millitary Intelligence Museum.

Birmingham

• National Vintage Collectors Fair 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, 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, weekends and Bank Holidays 1030-1700. In winter phone or check website for opening times. Cheaper tickets online. Tel: 01908 640404 on 274381. Bletchley Park

Cheshire

• On The Air vintage radio shop, The Highway, Hawarden, Chester CH5 3DN. Also publishes On the Air 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 (off the A538). 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. 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 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. Tel the Trevithick Trust for opening times 01326 290384 or 561407. Lizard Wireless Station
• A new Marconi Centre is now open at Poldhu Cove 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. Tel 01326 241656. Poldhu Amateur Radio Club
• 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). Last admission at 4pm. Late opening Wednesdays until 7.30pm in summer. Tel/fax: 01736 810966. Porthcurno Telegraph Museum
• Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station near Helston. History of global communications from telgraph to broadband. Open most days except closed January and most Mondays in winter. Tel 0800 679593. Goonhilly
• The Wireless Works at Bugle near St Austell has closed.

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.

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 October. Tel 01202 480467. Museum of Electricity
• Modern radios are on sale at the nearby Shortwave Shop at 18 Fairmile Road, Christchurch BH23 2LJ. 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, 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. Temporarily closed in Spring 2008. 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. Tel: 01206 322606. Vintage Wireless & TV Musesum
• 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. Open Tue-Sat 1000-1300, 1400-1700, free admission. 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 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

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 items spanning the communication technologies of telegraphy, telephony, radio, radar and television, and miltary electronic; including the extensive collection of the late Harry Matthews. Chips With Everything - a new Summer 2008 exhibition celebrating 50 years of the silicon chip. Open June-September on Wednesdays and Saturdays 1100-1700. Tel for other times. Tel 01506 823424. Museum of Communications

Hertfordshire

• National Amateur Radio Museum at Radio Society of Great Britain HQ, Lambda House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar EN6 3JE. The museum houses displays of receivers, transmitters and other amateur radio equipment from the early days up to the 1980s. The museum is currently closed for relocation. Tel 0870 904 7373. National Amateur Radio Museum

Ireland

• Cork City Gaol Radio Museum Convent Avenue, Sunday's Well, Cork City. Location of the 6CK radio station opened in 1927. Open Mar-Oct 0930-1800, Nov-Feb 1000-1700. 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 Man

• Pirates of the Irish Sea exhibition: Radio Caroline North - Peel Town Display, House of Manannan, Peel Quayside, Peel, IM5 1TA. In the midst of the swinging sixties the MV Caroline anchored off Ramsey Bay with a host of colourful DJs and the latest tunes from the hit parade. This exhibition will celebrate the phenomenon of Radio Caroline North. Open 10am to 5pm, Daily. Free admission to display. Tel: 01624 648000

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 Museum at Whitstable closed in April 2004.

Lancashire

• Chevet Supplies, a vintage wireless shop, also sells government surplus and valve communications receivers at 157 Dickson Road, Blackpool, FY1 2EU. Open Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 1000-1800, other times by appointment. Tel: 01253 751858. Chevet Supplies

London

• The Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 has a broadcast communications gallery with many 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.
• The BBC Experience at Broadcasting House and the BBC World Service shop have closed.

Norfolk

• 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 are restricted to certain days (Tues, Thurs, occasional 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 (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 31 October 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

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 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.

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 March to end October Wednesday-Sunday 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 1000-1700. Tel 01424 775378 Yesterday's World.
• Bognor Regis Wireless Museum is at 69 High Street, Bognor Regis, PO21 1RY. Contains many old radios and unusual radio accessories. Usually open Tuesday-Sunday 1000-1600 from May-October. Contact: Mr Ron Iden. Tel: 01243 865636.
• 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. 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 also in summer on Saturdays and Wednesdays 1430-1630. . Tel 01323 898222.Seaford Museum
• Hastings Museum and Art Gallery , Johns Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings TN34 1ET The museum now has a room entirely devoted to John Logie Baird, who worked on early television development in Hastings in 1923-24. Open year round Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Saturdays & Sundays 1100-1600, longer hours in summer. Admission free. Tel 0845 274 1052. Hastings 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 774315 Droitwich Spa Heritage Centre
• Bromsgrove Museum has a small radio display in a recreation of an old radio shop - a good exhibit worth visiting if in the area. Museum is temporarily closed.

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. Internet: BVWS.
• Radio Bygones published by Wimborne Publishing Ltd, 408 Wimborne Road East, Ferndown, Dorset BH22 9ND. Tel: 01202 873872 Fax: 01202 874562.
Internet: Radio Bygones.
• The Radiophile, edited by Chas Miller; four issues £20 (sample copy £3) from Admin Office, "Larkhill", Newport Road, Woodseaves, Stafford, ST20 ONP.
• Airwaves, published by On The Air, The Highway, Hawarden, Chester, CH5 3DN (sae for sample). Tel/fax 01244 530300. Internet: Airwaves.

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Updated: 13 Apr 2008