Hotels near the Royal Albert Memorial Museum

Exeter's time-honoured Royal Albert Memorial Museum boasts 16 galleries of local and international history.

Initially proposed by Sir Stafford Northcote as a practical memorial to Prince Albert, an appeal fund was launched in 1861 and the first phases of the museum were completed by 1868. The Devon and Exeter Albert Memorial, as it was originally known, provided an integrated museum, art gallery, library, reading room, school of art and school of science in the manner long advocated by Prince Albert.

In 1899, York Wing was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York, (later King George V and Queen Mary), and at the same time the title of Royal Albert Memorial was granted. The building has changed little since then, although the city library moved out in 1930. The school of science ultimately developed into Exeter University and the school of art is now Plymouth University's Faculty of Art & Education.

Nowadays, the museum's 16 galleries of displays take visitors from pre-history to the present day and from Exeter all around the world. The changing programme includes national touring shows and community displays as well as fine art from the city's collection and work by local artists and makers.