A private view just for you

What do Charles Darwin's specimen collection, a Shakespearean fencing manual and Neville Chamberlain's notes of his 1938 meeting with Hitler have in common? They are just some of the unique artefacts waiting to be discovered as part of The Independent's new Hidden Treasures campaign.

In partnership with the museum charity the Collections Trust, Hidden Treasures offers Independent readers exclusive, free, behind-the-scenes tours of 50 leading heritage attractions across the UK between the 4 and 11 June.

Whether it is exploring the secret passages under Temple Newsam House near Leeds, discovering the Asian and ceramics collections of the V&A, or uncovering the secrets of the National Archives, Hidden Treasures is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the collections that are not usually on public display, and to find out how our nation's heritage is cared for.

Hidden Treasures tours are guided by the leading experts in their field, who will be happy to answer your questions and share their knowledge of these tremendously diverse collections. Whether you are interested in natural history or fighter planes, the story of the post box or the gruesome early days of medicine, Hidden Treasures is your chance to discover their hidden stories.

How to book

Hidden Treasures tours are provided exclusively, free-of-charge for Independent readers. To reserve your place on one of these tours, please call freephone number 0800 8815408. Places on Hidden Treasures tours are strictly limited, and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that your booking is not confirmed until you have received a confirmation email from us.

Terms & Conditions

Some tours are taking places in venues for which an admission charge is normally applicable. The tour is free, but you may be asked to pay for admission if you subsequently decide to visit another part of the attraction not included in the tour. Bookings are being coordinated by the Collections Trust. To reserve your place, call 0800 8815408. This is a freephone number and calls will be answered from 8.30am-7pm. Please note that specific access conditions may apply. Please refer to the access conditions on the participating museum's website before booking.

Participating Museums:

CHANNEL ISLANDS

Jersey Heritage

Visit Jersey Heritage's purpose-built store and discover its eclectic collections including a mammoth skull found at La Cotte de St Brelade and the contents of 19th-century chemists shops. Tours will be guided by knowledgeable staff.

Meet at Rear of the Sir Francis Cook Gallery, Trinity, Jersey

Friday 8 June, 10-11.30am, 12noon-1.30pm, 2.30-4pm (jerseyheritage.org)

EAST MIDLANDS

Snibston Discovery Museum

Discover highlights from Snibston's collections and talk to staff . Highlights of the tour include the Beaumanor coach and fascinating objects from the Tudor coal mines of northwest Leicestershire.

Meet at Admissions desk, main museum building

Wednesday 6 June, 2-4pm

(leics.gov.uk/index/ leisure_tourism/museums/ museumcollections)

Leicestershire County Council Collections Centre

One million objects illustrating the changing natural history of Leicestershire and its residents include the "cursed" Papillon shoes, coins from the Hallaton Treasure and a Queen of Spain fritillary butterfly collected from the Battle of the Somme.

Meet at Directions will be emailed to you on booking

Thursday 7 June, 2-4pm (leics. gov.uk/index/leisure_tourism/museums/museumcollections)

The Collection: Art & Archaeology in Lincolnshire

A rare chance to see behind the scenes at the museum and Usher gallery, looking at objects in the archaeology, geology, world cultures and militaria collections (morning tour) and the art collections (afternoon tour) that are not normally on display.

Meet at The reception of Lincolnshire Archives, St Rumbold Street, Lincoln

Friday 7 June, 10-11.30am, 2-3pm (thecollectionmuseum.com)

EAST OF ENGLAND

Peterborough Museum

Find out how the 227,000 items in our collections are cared for, and get the chance to see some hidden gems not on display.

Meet at Museum reception

Saturday 9 June, 11-11.45am; Sunday 10 June, 2-2.45pm

(vivacity-peterborough.com)

Letchworth Museum

Discover the story of north Hertfordshire and the people who have lived here from pre-history right up to the turn of the 21st century. Our tours offer visitors a unique opportunity to see behind-the-scenes work on the collections.

Meet at Front door of museum

Wednesday 6 June, 11-11.45am, 2.15-3pm (north-herts.gov.uk/ letchworth_museum_and_art_gallery.html)

Museum Resource Centre, Hitchin

The North Hertfordshire Museum Service's collections covering social history (things we use in everyday life and work), archaeology, art, costumes and natural history.

Meet at Museum resource centre, Bury Mead Road, Hitchin

Friday 8 June, 2.15-2.55pm; Saturday 9 June 11-11.40am; Monday 11 June 11-11.40am

(north-herts.gov.uk/letchworth_museum_and_art_gallery.html)

Bishop's Stortford Museum

Revisit the successful 2011 exhibition "Beautiful, vulnerable and inaccessible", offering an unusual look at some of the fragile objects held in the museum's store. The museum is providing two workshop sessions to learn about how the exhibition was photographed.

Meet at The Rhodes exhibition gallery

Saturday 9 June, 10-11am, 11.30am-12.30pm (rhodesbishopsstortford.org.uk)

Mill Green Mill & Museum, Welwyn Hatfield Museum Service

Step behind the scenes and see how the collections of this unique local museum are used, stored and cared for. Store tours with a Jubilee theme.

Meet at Museum reception

Friday 8 June, 10.30-11.30am, 2-3pm (welhat.gov.uk/museum)

LONDON

Horniman Museum and Gardens

A chance to visit the Horniman Museum's Study Collections Centre (SCC), the museum's major off-site storage facility. The tour will highlight how the museum has improved the care, storage and documentation of the collections over the years, and offer a glimpse of our hidden treasures.

Special conditions: visitors will be driven to the Study Collections Centre in a minibus provided by the museum. Wheelchair users should contact the museum in advance to discuss alternative arrangements for getting to the store. Finishing times reflect what time visitors will be back at the main museum site in Forest Hill. The Museum is open from 10.30am-5.30pm, and the Gardens from 7.30am until sunset, so we encourage people to visit them after the morning tour or before the afternoon tour for a full experience.

Meet at Totem pole in the museum gardens(10am or 2pm promptly)

Saturday 9 June, 10am-2pm, 2-4pm (horniman.ace.uk/visit/ getting-here)

Victoria and Albert Museum

Tours include an opportunity to learn about conservation at the V&A as well as a rare glimpse of the asian, ceramics and metalwork departments' collections. Attendees on the Edmund de Waal Signs and Wonders tour will need to have good head for heights, and to be physically fit for a climb of 68 narrow steps.

Meet at Secretariat Gate, V&A, Cromwell Road Thursday 7 June, conservation tour, 9.15-11am

Meet at Meeting point, Grand Entrance:

Friday 8 June, French porcelain tour, 11am-12noon; Asian and Middle Eastern shoes tour, 1-2pm; Metalwork 1600-1800 tour, 2.30-3.30pm

Monday 11 June, Edmund de Waal tour, 11-11.45am; ceramics tour, 2-3pm (vam.ac.uk)

Jewish Museum London

Experience objects from the museum stores under the supervision of the curators of Judaica and social history. Hear about the collections, how they were acquired, how they are managed and put your questions to the museum curators.

Meet at Hidden Treasures desk outside the auditorium

Sunday 10 June, 11am-12.30pm, 2-3.30pm (jewishmuseum. org.uk)

Hall Place and Gardens

Be transported to the pioneering days of early photography. Be among the first to see our collection of glass lantern slides that capture images of cities and people from around the world. Meet our collections manager to discover how we are documenting and preserving for future generations.

Meet at Reception (entry to the tour is free, but there is a charge if you would like to visit the rest of the house)

Wednesday 6 June, 11am-12noon; Thursday 7 June, 11am-12noon, 2-3pm; Friday 8 June, 11am-12noon, 2-3pm (hallplace.org.uk)

Bromley Museum

Bromley Museum in Orpington Priory is one of the most significant buildings in the local area. Find out about the history of the Priory – a Grade II* listed medieval rectory and one of the borough's oldest buildings. We will be offering a talk and tour of the building and a rare opportunity to sneak behind the scenes and see the fine art store.

Meet at The Great Hall

Wednesday 6 June, 2-4pm; Thursday 7 June, 2-4pm; Friday 8 June, 2-4pm (bromley.gov.uk/ bromleymuseum)

Imperial War Museum

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the Imperial War Museum's new state-of-the-art store, housing its collection of 20th century works of art. As well as more than 3,500 works of art, find out how this facility is leading the way in environmental sustainability.

Meet at Museum reception

Friday 8 June, 10.30-11.30am, 12noon-1pm, 1.30-2.30pm, 3-4pm (iwm.org.uk)

The Wiener Library

Explore the hidden treasures held in Britain's largest and the world's oldest archives on the Holocaust and the Nazi era. The Wiener library invites you on a behind-the-scenes tour of our new, state-of-the-art archives which hold 65,000 books, 17,000 photographs and 1,500 documents.

Meet at Main reception, 29 Russell Square, London, WC1

Thursday 7 June, 11am-12noon; Friday 8 June, 11am-12noon; Monday 11 June 11am-12noon

(wienerlibrary.co.uk)

The British Postal Museum & Archive

Discover fascinating collections from small objects to the national collection of 200 letter boxes, as well as telephone kiosks and the BPMA's collection of motorised vehicles. A rare opportunity to experience parts of the collection not usually available.

Meet at The British Postal Museum Store Unit 7, Debden Industrial Estate, Lenthall Road, Loughton

Wednesday 6 June, 10am-12noon (postalheritage.org.uk/page/ museum-gettingto)

The National Archives

A rare glimpse behind the scenes at the National Archives, the UK government's official archive with one of the largest collections in the world. Our role is to collect and secure the future of the government record, both digital and physical, to preserve it for generations to come, and to make it as accessible and available as possible. The tour will show visitors how we do this.

Meet at Reception desk, National Archives, Richmond

Wednesday 6 June, 10-11.45am, 12noon-1.45pm, 2.30-3.45pm; Thursday 7 June, 10-11.45am, 12noon-1.45pm, 2.30-3.45pm; Friday 8 June, 10-11.45am, 12noon-1.45pm, 2.30-3.45pm,

(nationalarchives.gov.uk)

National Army Museum

A rare opportunity to experience the unseen collections of this unique institution. The tour will include silhouette portraits of First World War prisoners-of-war and an extremely rare copy of The Art of War, a treatise by Nicholaus Marschalk, 1515.

Meet at Museum welcome desk

Thursday 7 June, 2-3pm; Saturday 9 June, 10.30am-12noon, 2-3pm (nam.ace.uk)

Museum of Richmond

A tour of the eclectic but petite collection store of the Museum of Richmond, an independent, local-history museum of artefacts from Richmond, Ham, Petersham and Kew. The collection ranges from prehistoric times to present day.

Meet at Museum reception

Friday 8 June, 2-2.30pm, 2.30-3pm, 3-3.30pm, 3.30-4pm

(museumofrichmond.com)

Museum of London

Experience a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the Museum of London, including some of the "hidden treasures" of its collections as well as working areas, laboratories and offices. Gain an overview of how a museum works.

Meet at Museum foyer, by the front desk.

Tuesday 5 June, 2-3pm; Thursday 7 June, 2-3pm;Friday 8 June, 2-3pm

(museumoflondon.org.uk)

Natural History Museum

A fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of the 27 kilometres of shelves, 22 million specimens and cutting-edge scientific research in the Darwin Centre's Zoology spirit building. See hidden treasures such as the giant squid or specimens collected by Charles Darwin.

Special conditions: children must be accompanied by an adult, and tours are not suitable for children under eight.

Meet at Visitor reception desk in the main hall

Thursday 7 June, 11.45am-12.15pm; Monday 11 June, 11.45am-12.15pm (nhm.ace.uK)

NORTH WEST

The Manchester Museum

Fantastic collections housed in an amazing gothic revival building. The collection is enormous at around four million objects. We are offering tours to see behind the scenes for visitors to discover how we organise and preserve the collection, how we use it for inspiration and enjoyment and about some recent and forthcoming exhibition developments.

Meet at Reception

Wednesday 6 June, 2-3pm, Thursday 7 June, 2-3pm, Friday 8 June, 2-3pm

(museum.manchester.ace.uk)

Liverpool Medical Institution

Come and see what is behind the six sandstone pillars and impressive frontage of one of Liverpool's little-known buildings. The Liverpool Medical Institution is a members-only organisation and the building and its collections of rare books, medical objects, clocks and portraits is not often open to the public. With a history going back to 1779, the Liverpool Medical Institution is a unique library and organisation and the home of many medical "firsts".

Meet at Main entrance, 114 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool

Sunday 10 June, 10-11am, 12noon-1pm, 2-3pm (lmi.org.uk)

World Museum, Liverpool

Exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of the natural history collections. The museum boasts extensive collections from the Amazonian rain forest to outer space. Two tours will uncover the secrets of the vertebrate zoology collections store and botany herbarium.

Meet at Reception desk

Wednesday 6 June, Vertebrate Zoology Tour 10-10.40am, 2-2.40pm; Thursday 7 June, Botany Herbarium Tour 10-10.40am, 2-2.40pm

(liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml)

Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester)

Explore behind the scenes with a self-guided trail in the MOSI store. Discover fascinating and surprising science and industry objects, from machine tools to washing machines, from jam-jar filling machines to butter churns. See if you can correctly guess the ages of objects.

Meet at An open drop-in session; enquire at reception

Thursday 7 June, 11am-1pm (mosi.org.uk)

SCOTLAND

Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

A snapshot of the vast collection of objects that we store on behalf of the City of Glasgow. This tour is a great introduction to GMRC, and is recommended for anyone visiting the venue for the first time. You'll get an idea of the range and scale of Glasgow Museums' collections.

Please note: advance booking is essential. If booking for 4 June, please contact the museum direct on 0141 276 9300 or email gmrcbookings@glasgowlife.org.uk giving name, email, telephone and date of tour.

Meet at 200 Woodhead Road, Glasgow

Monday 4 June, 2.30-3.30pm; Tuesday 5 June, 2.30-3.30pm; Wednesday 6 June, 2.30-3.30pm; Thursday 7 June, 2.30-3.30pm; Sunday 10 June 2.30-3.30pm (tiny.cc/glasgowlife)

Falconer Museum

Moray Museum Service looks after over 30,000 objects, many of which are kept in the museum store, when not on display in the Falconer Museum. Take a tour through the eclectic collections housed in the Museum Store, from Mexican Milagros to Indian mica miniatures, tiger skins to moths, forceps to golden false teeth.

Meet at Moray Museums Store at the top of Leys Road, Tolbooth Street, Forres

Thursday 7 June, 2.30-3.30pm, 7-8pm; Saturday 9 June, 2.30-3.30pm (falconermuseum.co.uk)

Marischal Museum, University of Aberdeen

Explore the hidden gems within the University of Aberdeen Museum stores, including a guided walk through the old Marischal Museum galleries. Visitors will be invited into the conservation lab and the main store. Expect some intriguing tales too...

Meet at Reception

Friday 8 June, 1-2pm, 3-4pm; Saturday 9 June, 10-11am, 11.30am-12.30pm

(abdn.ace.uk/museums)

National Museums Scotland

From Moby the whale to dinosaur bones, from motorbikes to traction engines – the material gathered here is as diverse as it is vast. The stored material enables us to refresh exhibitions and study subjects in depth. Visit our state-of-the-art conservation laboratories and enhanced storage for the national collections.

Access conditions: the tour will include stairs and therefore is not suitable for wheelchair access. Children must be accompanied

Meet at National Museums Collection Centre, 242 West Granton Road, Edinburgh

Friday 8 June, 10.30am-12.30pm; Saturday 9 June, 10.30am-12.30pm

(nms.ace.uk/our_museums/museum_of_flight/museums_collection_centre.aspx)

SOUTH EAST

National Maritime Museum at No. 1 Smithery, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham

No. 1 Smithery houses ship models from the National Maritime Museum and Imperial War Museum: with over 3,000 items it is one of the finest collections in the world. Special conditions: Please note that The Independent voucher does not cover admission prices to The Historic Dockyard Chatham, other than to No. 1 Smithery.

Meet at The main visitor entrance, 20 minutes before the tour is due to start. Visitors will then be directed to No. 1 Smithery.

Saturday 9 June, 10.30-11.15am, 12noon-12.45pm, 2-2.45pm, 3.15-4pm (thedockyard.co.uk)

SOUTH WEST

Hypatia Trust, Penzance

An opportunity to discover the Elizabeth Treffry Collection on Women in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Displays and tours of the collection will take place in the informal and homely surroundings of Trevelyan House, a grade II-listed Georgian gem in the heart of historic Penzance.

Meet at Trevelyan House, 16 Chapel Street, Penzance,

Monday 4 June 2.30-3pm, Tuesday 5 June 2.30-3pm, Wednesday 6 June, 2.30-3pm, Thursday 7 June 2.30-3pm, Friday 8 June, 2.30-3pm

(http://tehmina.goskar.com/tag/hypatia-trust)

St John's Museum Store

Explore the hidden treasures in the museum store. Marvel at the range of historical spa equipment, find out more about furniture by local craftsmen.

Meet at St Johns Museum Store, Upper Bristol Road, Bath

Saturday 9 June, 11am-12noon, 12.30-1.30pm, 2-3pm

(romanbaths.co.uk)

Bristol Museums & Galleries

These exclusive behind the scenes tours will be led by experts in geology, biology and ethnography, providing a unique insight into these extraordinary and diverse collections.

Meet at Museum reception

Wednesday 6 June, Geology tour 11-11.30am, Biology tour, 11-11.30am, Ethnography tour, 11.30am-12noon, Ethnography tour 1-1.30pm, Biology tour, 1-1.30pm (bristol.gov.uk/node/2904)

M-Shed, Bristol

Discover this unique collection celebrating the history of Bristol and its residents and enjoy the museum's selection of working dockside exhibits, including four electric cranes and the Pyronaut, a 1930s fireboat.

Meet at Reception

Wednesday 6 June, 2.30–3.15pm; Thursday 7 June, 11.30am–12.15pm

(mshed.org/visiting)

WALES

The Cardiff Story Museum

Uncovering Cardiff's Hidden Treasures: The Cardiff Story opened in 2011, with interactive displays exploring Cardiff's past, and with help from the public we have built the city's collection up from scratch in just a few years! Over the coming months we're particularly looking for objects related to culture, leisure, community and sport, for our future displays. Whether it's a vinyl record, football, tea pot or photograph, it's the personal memories that help tell Cardiff's history. If you have Cardiff-related objects that you'd like to donate, then bring them to this unique event, and speak to one of our team.

Meet at Museum foyer

Saturday 9 June, 10-10.45am, 11-11.45am, 12noon -12.45pm, 1-1.45pm (cardiffstory.com)

Wrexham County Borough Museum and Archives

Spend the morning in our collections centre seeing and handling the objects not normally on display. Learn about how we care for our objects and take a peek in our store. Meet the team and ask us any questions you may have about your own prized possessions.

Meet at Museum collections centre, Regent Street, Wrexham

Friday 8 June, 10.30am-12.30pm

(wrexham.gov.uk/english/heritage/collection_centre.html)

WEST MIDLANDS

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Royal Warwickshire)

Look behind the scenes at the hidden treasures that the museum does not display! This tour will take you into the attic store, which holds around two-thirds of the items in the collection. You will get a glimpse of areas of the house not normally accessible to visitors.

Meet at First floor reception, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum, St John's House, Warwick

Thursday 7 June, 10.30-11am, 11.30am-12noon, 1.30-2pm,2-2.30pm; Friday 8 June, 10.30-11am, 11.30am-12noon, 1.30-2pm, 2-2.30pm; Saturday 9 June 10.30-11am, 11.30am-12noon, 1.30-2pm, 2-2.30pm (warwickfusiliers.co.uk)

RBSA Gallery

To celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the RBSA Gallery presents a display of "hidden treasures" about the life and work of Teresa Lady Clarke RBSA, the first female Member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA).

Meet at Gallery reception

Open during museum hours from 4 to 11 June (rbsa.org.uk)

Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum

Discover the Natural History of Worcestershire since 1833. The atmospheric stores give a fascinating insight into the history of the area. Led by a collections officer who has over 40 years' experience of working with the collection.

Meet at Museum reception

Wednesday 6 June, 2-2.40pm; Thursday 7 June 2-2.40pm; Friday 8 June 2-2.40pm

(museumsworcestershire.gov.uk)

The Birmingham Assay Office

A rare opportunity to visit the Birmingham Assay Office's historic silver collection, which contains pieces dating from the 18th century to the present day by leading silversmiths such as Matthew Boulton, Elkington and Co and Nathaniel Mills.

Meet at The Birmingham Assay Office, corner of Charlotte Street and Newhall Street, Birmingham

Friday 8 June, 2-4pm

(theassayoffice.co.uk)

Cadbury Research Library

Experience unique collections of manuscripts and rare books on an enormous range of subjects, ranging from a 9th-century Kufic koran to Neville Chamberlain's notes from his 1938 meetings with Hitler. See conservation in action and tour our strong rooms.

Meet at Cadbury Research Library, Muirhead Tower (Lower Ground Floor), University of Birmingham, Edgbaston

Thursday 7 June, 2-3pm, 3-4pm

(special-coll.bham.ace.uk)

University of Birmingham Research & Cultural Collections

Discover a cornucopia of extraordinary artefacts – view material and handle objects from the university heritage collection that throws light on the history and developing traditions of the University.

Meet at The Study Centre, 32 Pritchatts Road, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston

Thursday 7 June, 3.30-5pm

(collections.bham.ace.uk/collections/other.shtml)

Birmingham Museums, Museum Collections Centre

An exclusive opportunity to visit one of the largest museum stores in the country, described as an "Aladdin's cave". See hundreds of items from our science, transport, social history and sculpture collections. Expert staff will be on hand to talk to you about the collections.

Meet at Main museum entrance

Friday 8 June, 1-3.30pm

(bmag.org.uk/Museum-collections-centre)

YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE

The Yorkshire Museums Trust Book Club

The book club meets monthly to discuss a book which relates to an aspect of our collections. Each session also includes access to relevant museum objects which are not currently on display. Independent readers are invited to their own book club session to discuss This Thing of Darkness by Harry Thompson, followed by a visit to the Yorkshire Museum Library, which is not currently open to the general public

Meet at Museum reception

Saturday 9 June, 12.30-2pm

Ring 01904 650333 or email groupbookings@ymt.org.uk to book your place

The Cutlers' Hall, Sheffield

Four Hundred Years of Paperwork! The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire has protected and promoted Sheffield's metal trades since 1624. Visitors can meet the archivist, and browse a display of some of the archives used for family and local history studies.

Meet at Front entrance

Wednesday 6 June, 2-2.30pm; Thursday 7 June, 10.30am-12noon, 2-2.30pm

(cutlers-hallamshire.org.uk)

Leeds Museum Discovery Centre

Step inside this state-of-the-art museum storage facility and discover over one million fascinating objects from elephant skulls to a medieval log boat, mummy bandages and meteorites.

Meet at Reception desk

Thursday 7 June, 11am-12noon, 2-3pm (leeds.gov.uk/discoverycentre)

Yorkshire Museum

The oldest working astronomical observatory in Yorkshire, dating from the 1830s. Expert staff will introduce the observatory and telescope.

Meet at Observatory, Yorkshire Museum Gardens, York

Thursday 7 June, 11.30am-12.30pm, 12.30-1.30pm,1.30-2.30pm; Saturday 9 June 11.30am-12.30pm, 12.30-1.30pm, 1.30-2.30pm (yorkshiremuseum. org.uk/Page/Visiting.aspx)

Temple Newsam House

Hidden Temple Newsam: take a guided tour through the hidden passages and cellars below this magnificent Jacobean House. Some steep steps and uneven surfaces. Not suitable for the under-sevens.

Meet at Reception

Saturday 9 June, 11am-12.30pm

(leeds.gov.uk/templenewsam)

Royal Armouries

Discover Britain's national collection of arms and armour. Visitors will have a rare opportunity to discover some of the hidden treasures of the museum's archives including fencing manuals from the time of William Shakespeare and diaries, letters, journals and photographs of soldiers from the early 19th century to the First World War.

Meet at Reception, Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, Leeds

Tuesday 5 June, 11am-12noon; Wednesday 6 June 11am-12.00noon; Thursday 7June 11am-12noon

(royalarmouries.org/home)