Top 10 Dark Academia Museums In The UK
A visit to a museum must feauture on almost every list of Dark Academia activities ever written. However which ones are the best ones to go to? Don’t worry, I’m here to help with the ultimately list of the Top 10 Dark Academia Museums In The UK.
On the list, I have included a range of museums. From art galleries, to history museums, to places to importance. pepurposed into educational fascilities, there are a wide range of places to choose from.
Ultimately, all of the museums on this list link to the Dark Academia aesthetic in some way. Whether that’s the theme of their collections, the prestige of the institution, or simply the granduer of the building. They are also great places to get inspiration for your own Dark Academia fashion.
So, here are my top recommendations for Dark Academia museums in the UK.
1. Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Located in London, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A museum) is an art and desgin museum. It hosts a collection of objects from all over the world.
With collections in sculpture, fashion, theatre, photography, ceramics, jewellery, and furniture, there is a wide range of unique objects to explore here that showcase artistic expression and creative power. The V&A exhibitions and V&A events are always worth checking out for those interested in art and design.
The sculpture and cast section of the museum is the most Dark Academia of all, taking you back to a time of classical beauty.
The museum itself is also very Dark Academia, with grand arches and staircases. The painted ceilings in the cafe are a particularly surprising highlight.
2. Tower Of London, London
The Tower of London is a museum housed in an old royal prison. As such, it’s status as one of the great historical museums means it holds a lot of Tower of London history when it comes to the royal family.
However, it also has a very dark, murky, and mysterious past – perfect for a Dark Academia museum.
Here, you can learn about the sticky ends of figures such as Anne Boleyn and the Princes in the Tower. The Tower of London tours are a great way to immerse yourself in this history.
You can also view the Crown Jewels and discover the myths surrounding the Tower’s resident ravens. For royal history and dark mystery, this is the best place to head to.
3. Chatsworth House, Bakewell
Chatsworth House in Derbyshire is one of the most impressive and regal country houses in the UK. It now also functions as a museum.
Many may recognise it from being featured in three different adaptations as Mr Darcy’s Pemberley. It is certainly impressive enough to suit the Regency aristocrat.
With a number of sprawling estates and large gardens, there is much to explore here.
With rooms featuring impressive antique furniture, Neoclassical scultpures in the grounds and art on the walls by the likes of Gainsborough and Rembrandt, this is a real treasure trove for any Dark Academia enjoyer. The costume design on display in the house is also very impressive.
4. Natural History Museum, London
If you’re a fan of natural history, then the Natural History Museum in London should be your number one spot.
This is one of the best London museums you can possibly visit. Full to the brim with information on the natural world and many impressive Natural History Museum exhibits, this is a great centre for learning. The Natural History Museum events are also worth checking out.
While topics like art, design, literature and social history are more likely to be associated with Dark Academia, there is certainly a space for natural history within the aesthetic too.
Not to mention, the collection of educational skeletons and taxidermies definitely gives off a creepy vibe that’s in line with the aesthetic!
5. Shakesespeare’s Birthplace, Stratford-Upon-Avon
A beloved figure of many a Dark Academia fan, Shakespeare’s Birthplace is a fantastic place to visit for anyone interested in the playwright.
In Stratford-Upon-Avon, you can walk around the Tudor house that Shakespeare grew up in as a young boy and feel like you’ve travelled back in time.
The Shakespeare Center, an educational facility designed to help people learn about the author and his life, is attached. Here, you can learn about Shakespeare’s influence on film, opera, stage, and popular music.
Combine a trip to Shakespeare’s Birthplace with a viewing of a play such as Hamlet or Macbeth at the Royal Shakespeare Company just up the road, and you’ve got a pretty perfect Dark Academia themed day.
6. The Writer’s Museum, Edinburgh
Dark Academia is not only a visual aesthetic, but is considered to be a literary subgenre by many too. Dark Academia is heavily associated with litature and literary history, and it’s not surprise many fans of the aesthetic are writers themselves.
Not only is The Writer’s Museum located in Edinburgh, a classic Dark Academia city, but it also gives visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of three iconic Scottish writers – Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Here, you can see artefacts and works related to the writers and, hopefully, be inspired by their works in your own Dark Academia-style creations. The museum is a great place to learn about Scotland’s cultural heritage.
7. The Roman Baths, Bath
The namesake of the city of Bath are it’s Roman baths, as Roman settlers turned this area of Britain into a spa town.
Amazingly, these baths are amazigly preserved today, and have been turned into an educational fascility to explore Roman life of the period. The museum exhibits many impressive historical artefacts from the Roman era.
Here you can tour the baths, viewing structures that have survived thousands of years, as well as seeing impressive Roman artifacts in the museum.
As many Dark Academia fans have an interest in classics, this makes for a great spot on the list of Dark Academia museums.
8. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Located in the academic university town of Oxford, the Ashmolean Museum was the first public museum in Britain. As such, it has an extremely impressive collection of items.
The Ashmoleon has artifacts spanning a wide range of collections. Some of it’s most stunning museum exhibits include drawings by Michelangelo and da Vinci; paintings by Picasso, Rubens, Constable, and Turner; a dress owned by Lawrence of Arabia; the death mask of Oliver Cromwell; and Roman statues of figures such as Cissaro and Sappho.
This may be the ultimate Dark Academia museum experience, with fans of the aesthetic bound to have a wonderful time at this stunning centre for learning, education and preservation.
9. The Courtauld Gallery, London
Located in Somerset House in London, the Courtauld Gallery was started in the 1930s to collect art and record art history.
This is a wonderful option for as a Dark Academia museum for art scholars. Most impressive is the museum’s collection of French Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings.
The museum also has collections ranging all the way back to the Medieval age, making it a real champion of art history. The exhibitions showcase works by many iconic performers and divas of the art world.
With it’s links to the Royal Academy and the Courtauld Institute, this is a real champion of artistic expression and refinement.
10. Tate Britain, London
The Tate Britain is another wonderful option for art lovers. This museum is one of the largest in the country and showcases both historical and contemporary British art.
It opened in 1897, houses in a grand old building that suits the grand artworks that live inside it. Here you can see work by artists such as Millais, Turner, and Waterhouse as well as pioneering contemporary artists.
This is one museum that is sure to take your breath away, and give you a route into the inspiring history of Britain’s art – something that has been a huge influence on Dark Academia aesthetics. The museum events and exhibitions are always worth checking out.
Take A Virtual Trip Around The V&A
If you’re not able to visit any of these museums in person, why not take a virtual trip?
Tours By Foot has made this great tour of the Victoria & Albert Museum, so you can enjoy this museum no matter where you are.
Take A Trip Back In Time With These Dark Academia Museums
That concludes my list of the top Dark Academia museums in the UK.
As you can see, there are a number of ways to immerse yourself in the Dark Academia aesthetic through a museum. But how do you decide which to go to?
Think about your own interests first. What do you enjoy most? Do you enjoy looking at paintings? Learning about history? Exploring beautiful buildings? Think about what inspires you and start from there.
Some of these museums are based in towns which suit the Dark Academia aesthetic as a whole. Check out my post on Dark Academia Places To Visit in the UK to find out which of these you may want to visit.
Thank you so much for reading, and happy learning.
Ta-ta for now! x
