A tiny seaside museum dedicated to retro technology has beaten London’s most famous institutions as it’s crowned the UK’s best
Tucked away in a ‘dingy’ backstreet in a town centre, unbeknownst to most passers-by, sits a building that has been crowned the UK’s finest museum.
With an estimated 2,500 museums spread across the UK, showcasing world-renowned art, artefacts, vehicles and historically significant sites, narrowing down the very best is no easy feat. Nevertheless, Time Out has revealed its top 20 selections, and the surprise winner is quite the unexpected contender.
Claiming the top spot for 2026 is the Micro Museum in Ramsgate, Kent – a remarkable shrine dedicated to vintage computers and retro gaming.
Just over a decade old, the venue was originally established as an independent project in 2014 by Mike and Carol Deer, who had been amassing technology since the 1970s when computers first became available to the public.
Since then, they have gathered an impressive collection of devices spanning from the 1940s through to the 21st century, illustrating just how dramatically technology has evolved over the years.
Offering visitors a nostalgic trip down memory lane with fond recollections of gadgets they may have once owned or used, the museum stands out for its distinctive appeal – particularly given its location in a charming seaside town rather than a major city.
It was personally selected as the best museum by Time Out editor Joe Mackertich, who described the museum as a labour of love. He said: “The love that’s gone into this place is palpable, and even if you’re not remotely interested in ZX Spectrums or Video Genies you’ll have a great time gawping at all the elegant and rare machines (many saved, by Mike and Carol, from the scrap heap).”
Visitors can interact with the technology through various hands-on experiences while learning about the machines that influenced our culture. They’re able to enjoy classic titles including Pac-Man and other vintage video games, alongside Guitar Hero and Space Invaders.
Describing the vision behind the Micro museum, Mike and Carol explained on their website: “We realised that as the older equipment was being replaced, the earlier devices were going to be lost, packed away and forgotten, or worse, scrapped. Our mission became one of saving as many devices as we could.”
The museum currently welcomes the public exclusively on weekends and bank holidays, making it an ideal day out during coastal breaks. For the complete schedule of opening dates this summer, visit their website – advance booking isn’t required.
The museum is located on Church Hill, just off the High Street in Ramsgate, though street parking isn’t available. Admission is £7, with free entry for under-threes, and according to the museum’s website, only cash payments are accepted.
A recent visitor took to TripAdvisor to share their thoughts on the tiny museum, writing: “Charming little museum run by a lovely couple, whose enthusiasm is contagious. Inside is one of the most extensive collections of retro computers and consoles I’ve ever seen.
“Including some rarer items like an Amiga 3000, electromechanical calculators, a Sinclair C5, early consoles like Atari 2600. Best of all you can have a go on most of it.”
