The Novium Museum
Chichester, Sussex · Museums & Culture
The bit you came for
Our verdict
Kids
7/10
Novelty 8 · Age Fit 7
Parents
9/10
Value 9 · Sanity Preservation 8
Free, genuinely interesting, and mercifully not the sort of museum that loses children after five minutes.
The long read worth saving for nap time
What’s it actually like?
The Novium Museum is a free local museum in the centre of Chichester, with Roman remains, local history displays and temporary exhibitions. Reviews mention interactive elements, videos, a library area, and exhibits on topics like Shippams and the Selsey tramlines. For families, the appeal is that it feels hands-on enough to keep children moving, but still educational without being dreary. The Roman excavations are the standout, and older children seem to get more out of the local-history stories and special exhibitions. It also sounds easy enough to do as a shorter visit rather than an all-day endurance test. The downsides are fairly typical museum ones: you may only need an hour, and some exhibitions cost extra, such as the £5 'I Grew Up in the 80s' display. Food is not mentioned in the reviews, so café quality is unknown, though there are gifts, postcards and maps on site. Parking is nearby, and large lifts suggest it should be pram-friendly.
Two-minute orientation
Quick read
Free local museum in central Chichester with Roman remains and local history. Good interactive bits, temporary exhibitions, and enough variety for school-age children. Best for 5-11s; some special exhibitions cost extra and café details are unknown.
Best for ages
Strong score for mixed-age siblings
The boring brilliant stuff
Need to know
Indoor vs outdoor split
Mostly indoor
Parking detail
Full parking wording is landing soon — meanwhile check Maps plus the venue’s own FAQs.
Dog-friendly?
Probably not
Most indoor venues don't allow dogs. Worth confirming if you'd need to bring one.
Pram-friendly?
Yes
Pram-friendly throughout — easy access on main paths.
Baby change?
Likely yes
Venues this size usually have baby change facilities.
Food on-site & BYO
Likely yes: Venues this size almost always have a cafe.
Locate it
Chichester, Sussex
THINGS PARENTS ASK
Common questions
Is The Novium Museum free?
Yes, the museum itself is free to enter, though some temporary exhibitions may have an extra charge.
Will children find it interesting?
Yes, especially school-age children. Reviews mention interactive features, Roman remains and changing exhibitions.
How long does a visit take?
One review says it is nice for about an hour, so it looks best as a short visit rather than a full day out.
Is it suitable for prams or buggies?
Probably yes. One review specifically mentions large lifts, which is a good sign for pushchair access.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Real review quotes
"Absolute gem of a museum"
"lots of interactive things to do"
"Nice museum to spend an hour"