Ilfracombe Museum

Ilfracombe Museum is one of Devon’s most delightfully eccentric museums, a place where Victorian curiosity meets seaside heritage. Founded in 1932 and housed in the old laundry of the Ilfracombe Hotel, it retains the charm of its original purpose: narrow rooms, creaking floors and cabinets packed with unexpected treasures. Its eclectic character is its greatest strength, offering a mix of natural history, world cultures and local stories that feels both nostalgic and surprising. Inside, visitors encounter an extraordinary collection of butterflies, insects and taxidermy, including rare specimens gathered during early 20th‑century expeditions. The museum’s world cultures section features artefacts from Japan, Africa and the Pacific Islands, reflecting the global interests of Ilfracombe’s Victorian residents. One of the most unusual displays is the collection of shrunken heads—an example of the era’s fascination with remote cultures. Local history is equally well represented. Photographs, costumes, maritime objects and domestic items trace Ilfracombe’s evolution from a fishing village to a fashionable resort. The museum also preserves memorabilia from the town’s famous bathing beaches and early tourism boom.