Museum of Curiosities: Inside the creepy Nottingham museum where you can hold a real human skull

No matter how well you think you know somewhere, there are always new places to discover and experience. 

As such a historic city, it’s unsurprising that Nottingham has so many fascinating hidden gems. 

From the huge metal dragon sculpture beside a busy Sneinton road to the eerie catacombs beneath Rock Cemetery, there’s no denying that Nottingham has quite a few intriguing quirks. 

But it’s fair to say that few of these places allow visitors to hold a real human skull. 

If that sounds like your kind of thing, then you should probably consider visiting The Museum of Curiosities. 

From the outside the museum, located on Derby Road, gives little indication of the horrors found within. 

The museum is home to thousands of haunted items from around the world, from creepy dolls to mummified animals. 

Having stumbled across the museum’s Facebook page and given a sneak preview of the kind of exhibits on display, I decided to head down for a visit. 

I entered the main reception area, bought my ticket, and proceeded to enter the museum itself, which is guarded by a large cemetery-style gate. 

I didn’t really know what to expect despite having seen a few photos online, but the first room I entered threw me in at the deep end. 

Besides several animal skulls was a selection of human skulls, kept within glass cabinets. 

Most exhibits are accompanied by information sheets, which is where I learned that some of the skulls on display had links to the Asmat tribe of New Guinea, who were known to engage in cannibalism. 

Don’t miss the news that matters to you - get the Nottingham World newsletter I then moved through the next room, situated in a cave-like part of the museum. 

This room, known as the catacombs, features a wall where several human skulls are kept. 

I was then taken by surprise after noticing a human skeleton resting against the wall. 

A few moments later I was approached by a friendly staff member, who explained the history of the skulls and also informed me that the room we were standing in was known for being ‘active’ with paranormal activity. 

It was at this point the member of staff made me an offer I politely declined - whether I would like to hold a human skull. 

I felt uneasy about holding another person’s skull in my very own hands, so decided against taking the offer up. 

My visit then took me to the first floor, which contains exhibits from the infamous Island of Skulls in Mexico. 

I’m not sure why, but I was particularly keen to move through this room quickly and away from the creepy dolls. 

The adjoining room showcases more dolls, alongside some other intriguing exhibits such as a satanic ritual skull and mummified human hand. 

I headed back downstairs and made my way down some steep steps into a cave area beneath the ground floor. 

There I found several more chilling exhibits, including a sealed box which is said to contain a satanic curse. 

After spending an hour looking around, I decided to call time on my visit to The Museum of Curiosities, having seen enough haunted items to last a lifetime. 

Although I’m by no means a paranormal enthusiast, I found some of the exhibits fascinating and could’ve easily spent more time wandering around if I had more time. 

The staff inside were always on hand to answer any questions about the exhibits and were understanding when I politely declined to hold the human skull. 

Overall, I’d highly recommend popping in for a visit if you’re in the area and have an hour to kill. 

Admission costs just £8 and you can find out more information here.