Cockermouth

The museum exhibits a wide selection of mainly British toys from 1900 to the present in adjoining carefully restored late 18th Century buildings, one a former hat factory and the other a joiner's workshop.

There are many visitor operated displays and buttons to press, including 0 and 00 gauge tinplate trains, Scalextric cars, Meccano, Lego models and even a helicopter to fly. Among the displays are prams, dolls' houses and railways in both a 'loft' and garden shed.

On entering the museum you see a large central display of two train layouts, one a Hornby Dublo, the other of earlier tinplate material. Generally the displays are set out chronologically. The displays of toys from more recent years reflect the introduction of plastic, and electric motors. Meccano is well represented, showing some of its infinite construction possibilities.

Upstairs there is a large Scalextric race track which you can have a go with. There are cars, trams, a lifeboat, a small dinosaur, a display of clockwork boats and a model of the 'Duchess of Fife' a paddle steamer from the Clyde.

There is a display of Lego from the early days to the new sophisticated kits. The museum was winner of the 1995 National Heritage Shoestring Award for achieving the best results with limited resources.

Whatever your age there should be something to remind you of your childhood. Taking the grandparents is a must so they can explain some of the earlier exhibits!

The creator and curator of the museum - Rod Moore - was awarded the MBE in the 1999/2000 New Year Honours List.