Yup - Virtual Museum Tours Are a Thing

What do you think of when someone says Virtual Museum?

Odds are that your mind went to one of two places: either a virtual reality experience where you can explore the human body, or an online museum where visitors can take a tour without ever having to leave their homes.

Virtual museums have been around for years, but they've never quite caught on in mainstream culture.

However, due to recent advances in technology and the rise of VR headsets like Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, Virtual Museums are starting to gain traction as a viable option for both families and educational institutions alike.

We may have been stuck at home for the better part of a year, however, Virtual Museum Tours have really come into their own after the multiple lockdowns.

Virtual museums offer a new experience for those who cannot get to their favourite museum in person, but the increased interest has created challenges within these virtual worlds. Some of these resources include online content, webcams, virtual tours, and more.

Virtual Museums offer an easy way for families to learn about history without having to leave their home.

Here are our A-Z favourites:

Barnsley Museums has launched Virtual Jigsaw Puzzles - Assemble glamorous art, history, landscapes all related to the brilliant borough. There are also simple puzzles for the Littletons covering owls, cartoons, animals, and more!

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery provides a virtual tour of the building's interior. It features exhibits from various time periods.

The British Motor Museum has developed a range of virtual activities for families to complete at home.

Families can take part in Virtual Scavenger Hunts, Virtual Treasure Hunts, and Virtual Quest Adventures.

The British Museum has something for everyone with online content, virtual tours, and the ‘collection’ section of their website where you can explore 2 million years of history.! You can explore their galleries using Google Street View too.

These virtual museums offer a great range of downloadable resources for all ages and levels. This virtual museum offers a platform for cultural learning covering various topics, including Ancient Britain and Ancient Greece.

London Transport Museum has many fun exhibits for those interested in STEM education.

You can try to solve transport conundrums faced by modern-day engineers with your kids. Families can also enjoy a series of fun interactive exhibits.

The National Gallery has now released all of their collection which can be viewed online. You can step inside their gallery and go on a virtual tour. 

National museums, like Liverpool’s famous tourist attractions, are often busy. However, there’s a solution: explore the museum on a virtual tour or immerse yourself in an interactive story from the comfort of your own home.

The program is geared towards children between the ages of four and eleven years. It also provides a chance for kids to get creative and share their stories.

The Portsmouth Historic Dockyard now features a new HD webcam. If you want to take a virtual tour of the Royal Navy ships or spy on Portsmouth from above with 360-degree interactive geographic features, then you'll absolutely, love this.

Royal Air Force Museum, London invites you to imagine what life is like as a pilot and get closer than ever with the original machinery of war.

You might not be able to visit in person, but you can explore the virtual museum collections and exhibitions.

Roman Baths Virtual Museum is a fantastic resource with plenty of interactive features that are perfect for kids.     

Ever wondered what life is like as an astronaut?

What about exploring the world through a 360-degree interactive map or seeing how Roman Baths looked back in 20AD?

Virtual museums are great for those of us who can't make it to places. And with so many options, there really is something for everyone.

The Royal Museum Greenwich has plenty to discover for the whole family; stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and fun quizzes. There are several astronomy talks that are available, as well as Virtual Reality tours of the museum.

Check out the Science Museum Virtual Reality tours of the museum. There are also plenty of learning resources for all ages, from toddlers up to adults.

The Virtual Reality Tour of the Science Museum is really immersive and great for those with a fear of heights or who may not be able to visit in person due to health reasons.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon has put up a video tour of the five houses belonging to William Shakespeare's family.

Get a full overview of the man from his humble beginnings to his death in 1945. Plus, learn about how life was like back then and access other educational resources too.

Read, create, watch - there really is something for everyone in our virtual museums. Kids have a designated area and home educators are also catered for with another section of the museum just for them.

South Bank Centre, a cultural arts centre in London's Bankside area, has long been the home of many different theatre and cinema productions.

This past March it unveiled a new weekly Culture Fix: an opportunity for families to experience art exhibitions together from every angle.

Their podcasts, listicles, videos, and blogs will inspire young minds on a daily basis. Watch Laura Dockrill read Roald Dahl's The Pig here - her favourite childhood poem from the Imagine Children's Festival.

One of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, Stonehenge, has opened its doors to online visitors with a Virtual Tour. Virtual Reality has successfully been used to provide a more immersive experience than ever before.

Select the hotspots you and the family want to learn about and have an unforgettable afternoon without traveling.

At the Tate Britain Virtual Gallery, you can explore a range of galleries through interactive exhibits and videos. Their Virtual Galleries are currently being constructed, so make sure to keep checking back for new updates.

Wrapping Up

So there you have it. If you're looking for Virtual Museums to share with your family, or Virtual Tours of some of the world's most famous landmarks, then this list should keep you busy enough.

For more information about Virtual museums across the globe, visit: - Natural History Museum.

Also, if you liked this feature, feel free to drop us a line and let us know what you would like to see next.