Victorian Weekend

Enjoy an extravaganza of entertainment as Milton Keynes Museum celebrates the Victorian era

It was a time of innovation and discovery, and Milton Keynes Museum is inviting you to find out more with the return of its annual Victorian Weekend on June 22 & 23.

Visitors can enjoy music hall sounds with ‘Blast from the Past,‘ and will be able to explore all sorts of extraordinary items over in the fascinating Palace of Curiosities, which will be full of fun and fascination in equal measure.

Popular historian Neil Storey returns, and this time he’ll be talking about the most gruesome of murders that terrorised Victorian London, and continue to intrigue us today – those committed by the hand of Jack the Ripper…

The Die Hard soldiers will be roaming on site, and Kate Vigurs and Daxi will be recalling the start of the Crimean War, and the Charge of the Light Brigade.

HM Queen Victoria will be paying a visit to the museum too, so please remember those lessons in etiquette. It really won’t do to make a slip up her company!

If you want to spend more time with HM, the museum is once again offering visitors the chance to enjoy afternoon tea with Queen Victoria. How would you like to have a natter with her over the finest bone china? (Pre-bookings only, and numbers are limited. Call 01908 316222 weekdays between 9.30am-3.30pm to book).

Explore the fabulous fashions of the day with historical costumier Izabella Pitcher, and then enjoy demonstrations of Pole lathe wood turning and liquorice making.

Feeling peckish? The museum’s Granary Café will be open all day, serving affordable hot and cold, sweet and savoury snacks.

A word of warning; Beware the Ragged Victorians who come straight from the pages of Oliver Twist. They will be showing the other side of Victorian life on site all weekend.

Be careful though, or they might pick a pocket or two!

The event will be soundtracked by Wolverton Town Band, who will get toes-tapping, and away from the Victorian event, all the usual museum attractions will also be available.

The programme for each day is as follows:

11.15-12. Blast from the Past sing songs from the era (Marquee outside reception)

12-12-30. Neil Storey, Tales of Jack the Ripper (Ancient gallery)

12-12.45. Wolverton Town Band (Granary court yard)

12.30. The Queen arrives to inspect the troops

12.45-1.15. Kate and Daxi. The Crimea Warhorse, celebrating 165 years since the start of the Crimean, equipment, tack, soldiers uniform, stories of the Charge of the Light Brigade (grass arena)

1.15-2.00. Wolverton Town Band

2.15 -3.00. Blast from the Past plays Victorian music hall songs (Ancient gallery)

3.00-3.30. Kate and Daxi. (Grass arena)

3.30-4.00. Neil Storey. Last chance to hear tales of Jack the Ripper (Ancient gallery)

Palace of Curiosities will be in the Ancient gallery all day

Look out for the Ragged Victorians throughout the day, scum of the earth, the great unwashed, and watch they don’t pick the odd pocket.

The Diehards, the Queens soldiers will be performing drills throughout the day.
Afternoon tea with the Queen (pre booked only) will be in the Granary Marquee.
If the weather is inclement Wolverton Town Band will play in the ancient gallery.

Prior Attire in the farmhouse showing Victorian outdoor and sports wear.

The Palace of curiosities will be in the ancient gallery all day

This is subject to change.