Charity Kids in Museums has run a prestigious annual award since 2004, recognising the most family friendly heritage sites in the UK. It is the only museum award to be judged by families.
From February to late April, families across the UK voted for their favourite attraction on the Kids in Museums website. A panel of museum experts, children and young people then whittled down hundreds of nominations to a shortlist of 18 attractions.
Family favourite Eureka! is vying against two other museums in the Best Accessible Museum category.
Celebrating the announcement Jenny Goodall, Eureka! Early Learning & Access Officer said “Being recognised in the Best Accessible Museum category is a fantastic achievement for our team. At Eureka!, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to explore, play, and learn without barriers. This nomination highlights our ongoing dedication to making our museum a welcoming space for all families, regardless of their needs.”
Eureka! has long been committed to providing an inclusive and engaging environment where all families feel welcome. As part of its dedication to accessibility, the museum offers a range of resources and support, including sensory guides and bags, Changing Places Facility, quiet spaces, plus of course the museum itself has been designed with accessibility at its core. Eureka! also hosts dedicated SEN (Special Educational Needs) days to create a comfortable and enriching experience for families who need extra support.
Over the summer holidays, the museum will be visited by undercover family judges who will assess the shortlisted museums against the Kids in Museums Manifesto, a set of guidelines on what makes a great museum visit for all ages. Their experiences will decide a winner for each award category and an overall winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2025. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October. Fingers crossed!
Follow the Family Friendly Museum Award on social media by following @kidsinmuseums and #FamilyFriendlyMuseum.
The Family Friendly Museum Award has been made possible by funding from Arts Council England.
