Bizarre But True!
Bizarre But True!
5
Speciality MuseumsAmusement & Theme ParksBars & ClubsWine BarsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A walk into the weird where FACT is stranger than FICTION... Brand New Oddies Museum, Bizarre Bar & Gourmet Donut Closet all now open!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Becky S4 contributionsAmazing!This place is so good, me and my partner took my 13 year old son here - was expecting the usual thing of him being I bothered and bored but was pleasantly surprised. He loved it, the audio guide definitely made it a more immersive experience. Liam was also lovely and brilliant to chat with before and after going through! Definitely worth a go and worth the entry price. Will be going again!Thank you so much for visiting and leaving us a great review - it’s lovely to hear that you all had fun! We’ll struggle to get Liam’s head through the door after that review! Hope to see you again soon! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 13 August 2024
- Nadia S1 contributionFascinating Fun!My grown up daughter and I absolutely LOVE this place! It's unlike any other museum I have been to and has clearly been very well thought through. The museum is insightful, interactive and very fun! The staff were super friendly and knowledgeable regarding their weird and wonderful, impressive collection of memorabilia. Can't rate this place enough and already looking forward to enjoying the whole experience again with my young nephew. He'll love it!Thank you so much for an amazing review! We’re a bit biased, but we do think that Bizarre But True is pretty unique and special! We can’t wait to see you again with your nephew soon! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 14 August 2024
- Chelsea L9 contributionsMust visit!Visited as a family with teens, twenty’s and fifties and all equally had an amazing time!! The staff made the experience even more exciting. The audio guide is a great USP. We really enjoyed that there was themed zones and particularly likes trying to make it through the lazor beams! If you’re in Hastings this is a must visit!Thank you so much for visiting and giving us a lovely review - we’ve tried really hard to make sure that everyone leaves the museum thinking there was something in there built with them in mind, so it’s lovely to hear we managed it for your family! Hopefully we’ll see you again soon! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 14 August 2024
- Rhibee2606Hastings, United Kingdom8 contributionsA Journey Through Time and SpaceWe recently ventured to the newly opened St Andrews Mews to grab a drink, some food and watch some live music, and were sitting in the new outside bar when Bizarre but True opened its doors for the first time. This is such a great addition to Hastings – there is nowhere like it in the town. The museum of curiosities is so well laid out and completely immersive, we forgot about the outside world for a time! Unlike many oddities museums, nothing in this collection is fanciful – everything is the real deal. Alex and Liam are great hosts, so lively and knowledgeable, they are clearly passionate about the exhibits and the whole team have done an outstanding job in creating a new and unique attraction. Our favourite exhibits were the interactive ones, especially the bank heist laser room! The handset provided speaks to you when you tap near the exhibits, the recordings are really creative, and we learnt a lot. There is a cocktail/interesting soft drink/donut bar downstairs, the walls adorned with more historical objects – and a dodgem you can sit in! Bizarre but True, and the Mews, is family friendly. There is indoor and outdoor seating in the Mews, places to get coffee/drinks/food and new independent shops, with more on the way. It is well worth a visit to an up and coming part of town.Thank you so much for a brilliant review! Everything in the museum is the real-deal, so it’s lovely to hear that it made such an impact! There’s so much more still to come at BBT and The Mews, so please do come and visit us again soon! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 14 August 2024
- tom p1 contributionFascinating experience. Learnt a lot of crazy and intriguing facts in a fun and immersive wayMy visit to Bizarre But True took me and my friends on a journey around the world, into outer space and to the depths of the ocean. Each artefact was presented in an immersive and performative way and accompanied by stories and facts. The hosts were extremely knowledgeable, friendly and very happy to answer questions and talk about the artefacts exhibited. An added bonus was the great bar to get a refreshment in after.Thank you so much for visiting and leaving us an amazing review! We’ve tried hard to create an hour or so of total escapism to other worlds and so it’s lovely to hear that you enjoyed it! There’s lots more still to come at BBT and the Mews, so hopefully we’ll see you again soon! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 15 August 2024
- Gareth H1 contributionGreat museum of odditiesGreat museum! The audio devices given to us for the tour were a great way to absorb the information from the different exhibits - very dyslexia/autism friends for our family. The staff were a fountain of knowledge with quirky stories about the exhibits. Friendly and very open to questions. Interesting exhibits ranging across Space, the Egyptians, the Titanic and a whole load more. Great use of the space. Will definitely revisit again.Thank you so much for visiting and leaving us a great review! We’ve tried to build BBT so that there’s something for everyone and to make our stories really come to life with the guides, so it’s great to hear we managed it! Hope to see you soon! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 15 August 2024
- MillyMillyCa'n Picafort, Spain12 contributionsA wonderful quirky attraction in wonderful quirky St. Andrews' Mews!This is the perfect spot for the brilliantly curated Bizarre But True museum. We purely popped into the bar on this occasion (with craft beers and alcoholic sodas - I had a delicious candy floss and vodka), but even the bar is full of interesting artifacts. You can grab photos at various quirky exhibits, have a delicious doughnut out of the doughnut cabinet, or just enjoy the 'speakeasy' vibe. The owners are super interesting and knowledgeable and have great plans to develop the attraction even more. We'll be back to do the whole thing next time and definitely for more drinks!Thank you so much for a lovely review and stopping by our new bar! It’s great to hear you enjoyed it and want to come back - hopefully we’ll get to show you our Bizarrium Oddity museum next time! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 16 August 2024
- Toni D1 contributionYou’ve got to go!A truly fascinating, and original experience. The staff are attentive, welcoming and very clued up on their Bizzare but True facts. They have truly done an amazing job with the layout, design and upkeep of the museum. Highly recommend 😃Thank you so much for recommending us - it’s been a real labour of love putting the attraction together, so it’s amazing to hear that you enjoyed it! There’s lots more still to come so hopefully we’ll see you again soon! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 17 August 2024
- Emma H2 contributionsFantastic experience at Bizarre But True, HastingsWe really really enjoyed our visit to Bizarre but true in St Andrews mews Hastings, it was full of interesting fascinating items and facts with detailed information via an audio guide you carried around with you that was so easy to use, being able to experience how cold the water temperature was during the sinking of the titanic was quite shocking as well as the size of Robert Wadlows shoe! Also a massive big thank to Liam, Thank you your a star, everyone was so friendly and welcoming, Liams really knows his stuff his knowledge is untouchable, such a great guy! Definitely worth a visit if you are in Hastings. We'll definitely be visiting again. Our family who where down for the day loved it. Thamkyou for making our visit so special.Thank you for such an amazing review - we’ll struggle to get Liam’s head through the door again after that one! It’s super to hear that you had fun and want to visit us again - we’ll look forward to it! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 17 August 2024
- jackie w3 contributionsIncredible museum , not to be missed !We went today to celebrate my friend's birthday. Well what a great treat ! We had a fabulous time with a mixture of wonderment, fright, laughter and fun. We 100% recommend visiting this fantastic attraction.Thank you so much for coming to visit us as a Birthday treat, we hope that we were a great birthday prezzie! There’s lots more still to come at BBT and St Andrew’s Mews, so please don’t be strangers! Alex & LiamWritten 25 August 2024This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 17 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
165 reviews
Excellent
162
Very good
6
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Lily T
10 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
What a hidden gem in Hastings! We stumbled in on a quiet Friday morning last week and enjoyed a lovely hour with some very interesting exhibits ranging from all periods of history! The owner was also very friendly - clearly extremely passionate about what he has created with his family and team and was more than happy to share more information on the exhibits (which we indulged as a pair of history nerds). Without giving too much away, we particularly liked the dodo vertebrae, piece of the Berlin Wall and the mummified foot! The audio guides were a lovely touch - providing lots of information but with material that could be digested by all ages. It would be perfect for a family daytime visit or even an adults evening outing with a cocktail at the bar downstairs afterwards. Potentially a fold-up sign just outside the mews advertising this place may help it be more identifiable for passers by and help it receive the floods of attention it so clearly deserves? Will be looking forward to seeing how this place is developed in the future and would recommend to anyone visiting Hastings! Would return just for the friendly service we received!
Written 18 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, your review has floored us, thank you - and we remember the conversation about the Dodo bone! There’s lots coming to the Mews over the next few months, including some massive signage at the front once the scaffolding is down, so we’ll be really visible soon! We’ve got a lot more planned for BBT too, so please do pop back and see us soon! Alex & Liam
Written 19 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lucy S
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Family
We visited Bizarre But True at their previous location, loved it then, and love it even more now! There is nothing else like it in Hastings. So unique, charming, tons of personality, and you can feel the love that's gone into it - such a wholesome family-run vibe. So much to discover, and it doesn't stop at the exhibits. The host, Liam, has some fascinating stories about the items and how they came to be in the collection. We particularly loved the ones that had a local collection - veeery peculiar coincidences (strongly recommend that if you go, ask about the lease of The Crown pub). My 7yo son has not stopped talking about it and telling everyone about the things he saw, touched, and learned. Really a hidden gem which we will surely be visiting again!
Written 13 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, what an amazing review Lucy! Thank you so much for visiting us in our new home - it definitely has been a labour of love building it! We’ve got so much more planned for BBT and also new attractions in St Andrews Mews, so please do keep a close eye on us and pop back soon! Alex & Liam
Written 13 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Steph W
5 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
Absolutely AMAZING!
We visited today and just WOW! From Robert Wadlows shoe, to water the titanic sunk in, a real mummies foot and even a fragment of moon rock so you can "walk on the moon"- Everything is absolutely fascinating.
You get an audio guide so you can listen to all 40 facts and bizarre information.
We will 100% be back, it is truly amazing.
We visited today and just WOW! From Robert Wadlows shoe, to water the titanic sunk in, a real mummies foot and even a fragment of moon rock so you can "walk on the moon"- Everything is absolutely fascinating.
You get an audio guide so you can listen to all 40 facts and bizarre information.
We will 100% be back, it is truly amazing.
Written 19 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Steph,
Thank you for your review and recommendation of Bizarre BUT True. We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed our collection of curios!
You've listed some of our favourites exhibits through the Museum, we're happy you found something for everyone.
Thank you again for your kind words and for choosing to visit us.
We hope to see you again soon!
The Bizarre BUT True Team
Written 16 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
nicola k
London, UK5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
We really enjoyed our visit to Bizarre but true, it was full of interesting items and facts and information via an audio guide, being able to experience how cold the water was during the sinking of the titanic was quite shocking as well as the size of Robert Wadlows shoe! Also a big thank you to Liam, this was the second time we had met him having visited Soar Tour the previous day and once again he was really friendly and welcoming and really knowledgeable, such a great guy! Definitely worth a visit if you are in Hastings.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What an amazing review, thank you so much nicolak750! We're really pleased that you had fun at our Bizarrium museum. The Titanic water bath is a particular favourite for lots of our visitors as it really brings the story to life. Liam is glowing from your namecheck too! Thanks again, Alex
Written 25 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Olivers
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
My husband and I visited this attraction today (12th Jul '23) We were greeted by Liam who was very welcoming and a great character. The water representing how cold it was when Titanic sank and the hand carved walnut shell were our personal favourite exhibits. The audio guides that were provided made the experience very interesting and didn't overload you with boring information like so many audio guides do. After the tour was over, we met the owner of the exhibits & had time to chat with him & Liam. Well worth a visit
Written 12 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tiana Y
Basingstoke, UK13 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
My husband and I came to visit today and really enjoyed ourselves. Well worth the drive from Basingstoke! The staff were so friendly and informative. Liam(I think that was his name) was wonderful and super funny, we didn’t catch his name but the man who is also from Basingstoke was fabulous too, super chatty and warm. The actual experience was brilliant, so well thought out and the audio guide is flawless. We had a great time looking around and would really recommend it to anyone visiting the area.
Written 1 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Tiana,
Thank you and your husband for visiting us and for taking the time to write your review. We're delighted to hear that you had a brilliant time and want to thank you for your kind words about our staff, we really appreciate it.
It makes our job easy with such lovely customers!
Thank you again, we hope to welcome you back soon!
The Bizarre But True Team :)
Written 13 May 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
laura d
Hastings1 contribution
Dec 2022
After hearing from a friends experience that was a real human brain to be seen in town, my girls were very excited to go and check it out. ( my oldest daughter is fascinated by the human anatomy)
The hosts were brilliant from start to finish, they set us up with audio phones, great may I add and if there were any questions, they were very knowledgeable and nothing was to much to ask.
This was such a fun and educational experience for all of us, my daughters are aged 6&8, I didn't think my youngest would get into it, however we had to wait until she finished listening to her audio before moving forward to the next section.
A few highlights for us was of course the human brain, mummified foot and walking on the moon. It took us around 50 minutes to go around the museum, I think that was just the right time for the children.
We will definitely be returning.
The hosts were brilliant from start to finish, they set us up with audio phones, great may I add and if there were any questions, they were very knowledgeable and nothing was to much to ask.
This was such a fun and educational experience for all of us, my daughters are aged 6&8, I didn't think my youngest would get into it, however we had to wait until she finished listening to her audio before moving forward to the next section.
A few highlights for us was of course the human brain, mummified foot and walking on the moon. It took us around 50 minutes to go around the museum, I think that was just the right time for the children.
We will definitely be returning.
Written 21 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Laura,
Thank you for taking the time to leave a five star review!
We're delighted that you and your daughters enjoyed your visit, it seems you have budding experts in the weird and wonderful!
We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Thanks again,
The Bizarre BUT True Team!
Written 22 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lainie T
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Couples
Me and my partner visited ans weren't sure what to expect at first. The guy who crested and runs the place explained everything and is very passionate and genuinely cares about you enjoying it.
Honestly it is amazing and very interactive , the audio device used at touch points around is great as we often don't read everything throughout a museum nore was it a monotone device and actually added to the atmosphere of each area.
I would recommend this for anyone , families , couples , singles , elderly . It is different and has other parts you can interact with such as touch and smell , I won't give too much away as it is better to experience it for yourself without completely knowing what everything will be . Definitely go and visit , the effort put in shows !!!
Honestly it is amazing and very interactive , the audio device used at touch points around is great as we often don't read everything throughout a museum nore was it a monotone device and actually added to the atmosphere of each area.
I would recommend this for anyone , families , couples , singles , elderly . It is different and has other parts you can interact with such as touch and smell , I won't give too much away as it is better to experience it for yourself without completely knowing what everything will be . Definitely go and visit , the effort put in shows !!!
Written 27 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Micky V
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Family
I know the muse/walkthrough where this is located, and had no idea it had relocated here! A very happy surprise when looking for a family venture on a Saturday being so close to a friend's house.
This is a very clever, well thought out and super interesting exhibit - a huge variety of pieces that were genuinely fascinating.
I won't include any specific spoilers, as I hope whomever is reading this will go along and discover the pieces for themselves.
But you're going to happen upon some very cool facts and physical and sensory artefacts from ancient Egypt, extinct nature, movie sets, a local link to HMS Titanic and even space!
Our boys (aged 7 and 9) enjoyed one section in particular - if you go with kids (or even big kids), you'll get this immediately.
The audio tap 'n' tour was so intuitive and made it that we were all listening in at the same time - but also gives the opportunity for perhaps bigger groups to work one or two numbers ahead. Very neat.
The kids also loved being able to control their own 'tech'.
We had a local show to go to so couldn't stick around for much longer than we did and explore the bar area after (which has more pieces to investigate), otherwise we could have stayed and mused and chatted for ages.
Liam was simply fantastic, energetic, characterful and knowledgeable - and I think that's what makes this place so special. The chaps that have collated these pieces know their stuff, have a clear passion for the unique and intriguing, and makes this an exceptional visit and so far removed from perhaps larger, and arguably faceless exhibitions.
We chatted about the Berlin wall and my childhood there when the wall was up, got onto book recommendations, even board gaming (as my partner particularly enjoyed one exhibit's contents close to this - and learning more about his business partner's (Andy?) acquiring of those items) felt wholly unique and personable.
What's Bizzare but True is that this is a hidden gem of Hastings.
Run, don't walk. Go!
This is a very clever, well thought out and super interesting exhibit - a huge variety of pieces that were genuinely fascinating.
I won't include any specific spoilers, as I hope whomever is reading this will go along and discover the pieces for themselves.
But you're going to happen upon some very cool facts and physical and sensory artefacts from ancient Egypt, extinct nature, movie sets, a local link to HMS Titanic and even space!
Our boys (aged 7 and 9) enjoyed one section in particular - if you go with kids (or even big kids), you'll get this immediately.
The audio tap 'n' tour was so intuitive and made it that we were all listening in at the same time - but also gives the opportunity for perhaps bigger groups to work one or two numbers ahead. Very neat.
The kids also loved being able to control their own 'tech'.
We had a local show to go to so couldn't stick around for much longer than we did and explore the bar area after (which has more pieces to investigate), otherwise we could have stayed and mused and chatted for ages.
Liam was simply fantastic, energetic, characterful and knowledgeable - and I think that's what makes this place so special. The chaps that have collated these pieces know their stuff, have a clear passion for the unique and intriguing, and makes this an exceptional visit and so far removed from perhaps larger, and arguably faceless exhibitions.
We chatted about the Berlin wall and my childhood there when the wall was up, got onto book recommendations, even board gaming (as my partner particularly enjoyed one exhibit's contents close to this - and learning more about his business partner's (Andy?) acquiring of those items) felt wholly unique and personable.
What's Bizzare but True is that this is a hidden gem of Hastings.
Run, don't walk. Go!
Written 21 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow, your review has honestly floored us! It’s amazing to hear that you enjoyed our attraction and some banter with us too! Thank you so much for visiting and sharing your experience - we hope to see you again soon! Alex & Liam
Written 29 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Wre2nxt
Manchester, UK933 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
A great day out for friends, families, or just to pop in for a look.
Located just inside St Andrew's market, the shop is two floors of strange collectables, and each piece has its own story, which you can play through a personal speaker audio guide, which the museum provides.
The man on the front desk, Liam, is really enthusiastic regarding his profession!
He was welcoming, helpful, and gave us little scientific stories/explanations even after the museum experience had ended.
They also have small selections of beer, wine, drinks, and food for afterwards.
In summary, what a great museum and an awesome way to spend an hour, or so!
MORE than worth a visit, well done, guys!!!
Located just inside St Andrew's market, the shop is two floors of strange collectables, and each piece has its own story, which you can play through a personal speaker audio guide, which the museum provides.
The man on the front desk, Liam, is really enthusiastic regarding his profession!
He was welcoming, helpful, and gave us little scientific stories/explanations even after the museum experience had ended.
They also have small selections of beer, wine, drinks, and food for afterwards.
In summary, what a great museum and an awesome way to spend an hour, or so!
MORE than worth a visit, well done, guys!!!
Written 20 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We’re loving that you loved our stories! Thank you so much for visiting - Liam is buzzing from the compliment! Hope to see you again soon! Alex & Liam
Written 21 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
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