How many observatories are in this guide?

We currently list 26 observatories across the United Kingdom — every entry sourced from Wikipedia, Wikidata or OpenStreetMap and validated against our schema.

Are these places free to visit?

Many places in the guide are free to enter — almost every national museum, every public park and garden, every parish church and cathedral. Castles, historic houses and theme parks usually charge admission; National Trust and English Heritage members visit those properties free.

Where does the data come from?

Every entry is built from open data: OpenStreetMap (locations, tags, opening hours), Wikipedia (descriptions), Wikidata (structured facts and operator information), Wikimedia Commons (images), ONS open data (population). The site never makes runtime API calls — everything is fetched at build time and committed.

How often is this updated?

A weekly automated job re-fetches the upstream sources and rebuilds the site. Manual editorial corrections are applied as overlays on top of the open data.

Observatories

Working and historic astronomical observatories — Greenwich, Jodrell Bank, the dark-sky retreats of the Cairngorms.

26 places in this category.

Observatories by region

All observatories

Observatories · Central Scotland

Airdrie Library

Airdrie Library — public library and observatory in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · Northern Ireland

Armagh Observatory

Armagh Observatory — observatory in Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Observatories · North Wales

Bidston Observatory

Bidston Observatory — Grade II listed former observatory in Bidston, Wirral, Merseyside, England, UK.

Observatories · Central Scotland

Binnhill Tower

Binnhill Tower — observatory tower in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · Central Scotland

Camera Obscura

Camera Obscura — Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · Central Scotland

City Dome, City Observatory, Calton Hill, Edinburgh

City Dome, City Observatory, Calton Hill, Edinburgh — observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · Scottish Lowlands

Durham University Observatory

Durham University Observatory — building in Durham, England, UK.

Lighthouses · Scottish Highlands

Erraid Shore Station

Erraid Shore Station — lighthouse in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · Scottish Lowlands

Eskdalemuir Observatory

Eskdalemuir Observatory — observatory in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · South Wales

Hakin Observatory

Hakin Observatory — scheduled monument in Wales.

Observatories · London

Hampstead Observatory

Hampstead Observatory is a observatory in the United Kingdom.

Observatories · Central Scotland

High School, Academy Road, Stirling

High School, Academy Road, Stirling — architectural structure in Stirling, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · East Midlands

Hoober Observatory

Hoober Observatory is a observatory in the United Kingdom.

Historic houses · Scottish Highlands

Kinnordy House

Kinnordy House — house in Angus, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · Central Scotland

Macfarlane Observatory

Macfarlane Observatory — first purpose-built observatory in Britain.

Observatories · South Wales

Marina Towers Observatory

Marina Towers Observatory — building in Swansea, Wales.

Observatories · South West England

Norman Lockyer Observatory

Norman Lockyer Observatory — Sidmouth, Devon, England.

Observatories · East Midlands

Nottingham Weather Centre

Nottingham Weather Centre is a observatory in the United Kingdom.

Observatories · North West England

Observatory

Observatory — observatory in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, UK.

Observatories · Yorkshire & the Humber

Observatory, Museum Gardens

Observatory, Museum Gardens — observatory in York, North Yorkshire, England, UK.

Observatories · West Midlands

Perrott's Folly

Perrott's Folly — tall tower built in 1758 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Observatories · Scottish Highlands

Reform Tower, Meethill, Invernettie

Reform Tower, Meethill, Invernettie — architectural structure in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.

Observatories · North West England

Stonyhurst Observatory

Stonyhurst Observatory is a observatory in the United Kingdom.

Observatories · East Midlands

Sutton Bonington weather station

Sutton Bonington weather station — weather station in Nottinghamshire.

Observatories · South West England

The Observatory

The Observatory — observatory in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, UK.

Observatories · West Midlands

Wast Hills Observatory

Wast Hills Observatory — astronomical observatory in England, part of the University of Birmingham.

Browse observatories by region

Frequently asked questions

How many observatories are in this guide?: We currently list 26 observatories across the United Kingdom — every entry sourced from Wikipedia, Wikidata or OpenStreetMap and validated against our schema.
Are these places free to visit?: Many places in the guide are free to enter — almost every national museum, every public park and garden, every parish church and cathedral. Castles, historic houses and theme parks usually charge admission; National Trust and English Heritage members visit those properties free.
Where does the data come from?: Every entry is built from open data: OpenStreetMap (locations, tags, opening hours), Wikipedia (descriptions), Wikidata (structured facts and operator information), Wikimedia Commons (images), ONS open data (population). The site never makes runtime API calls — everything is fetched at build time and committed.
How often is this updated?: A weekly automated job re-fetches the upstream sources and rebuilds the site. Manual editorial corrections are applied as overlays on top of the open data.