The Penny Farthing Seat

The Penny Farthing Seat is a quirky little gallery tucked away in Nottinghamshire that specialises in Victorian-era cycling memorabilia and art. It's the sort of place that makes you realise how obsessed the Victorians were with their bicycles - and fair play to them, those machines were genuinely brilliant engineering for the time.

Inside, you'll find a proper collection of penny farthings themselves (the massive-wheeled bikes that look utterly mad by modern standards), alongside period paintings, sculptures, and design work inspired by early cycling culture. The space itself feels intimate rather than grand, which suits the subject matter. You're not here for a three-hour trudge around endless galleries. Most people will get what they came for in 45 minutes to an hour, unless you're genuinely fascinated by Victorian mechanics and cycling history.

This works best for cycling enthusiasts, anyone with a weakness for niche museums, or families with older kids who might actually engage with the subject rather than treat it as a box to tick. It's worth the trip if you're already in Nottingham, but honestly, don't go out of your way unless Victorian transport genuinely excites you.

If you're basing yourself at Midshires Way Campsite and Alpaca Farm - a cracking spot about five miles south - you could pair this with wandering Nottingham's castle and city centre on the same day. Admission details aren't readily available online, so ring ahead before you go.