Thank the stars for the world's eccentric collectors; hoarders of objects beautiful, strange or downright odd. It is these documentors of the great and trivial - who want to show us all something wonderful about their collections and share the insights into humankind each of them illuminates - who have created the most fascinating, wonderful and precious museums the planet has to offer.

Boggle at the enormity of space, get nostalgic at childhood memories or be dumbstruck by the International Museum of Toilets... Whether you're a history buff, tech-head or have an inexplicable fascination with clowns, you'll find world-class collections here to pique your interest.

Never drag your heels around a dull museum again!

Then & now // History museums



Acropolis Museum // Greece British Museum // UK Forbidden City // China Goethe House & Goethe Museum // Germany Imperial War Museum // UK Museum of Alchemists & Magicians of Old Prague // Czech Republic Museum of Mummies of Guanajuato // Mexico National Museum of Anthropology // Mexico Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret // UK Prison Gate Museum // The Netherlands Sir John Soane's Museum // UK Styrian Armoury // Austria Torture Museum // The Ne(more...)