The Games Museum
Step into a world of nostalgia at The House of Marbles’ Games Museum – a delightful journey through the history of play. This unique collection showcases classic games and toys from decades past, sparking fond memories for older generations and curiosity in younger ones. It’s the perfect place to explore with grandparents, who’ll enjoy reminiscing about the games of their childhood while sharing them with the next generation.
Through the Years
It is not only an excellent opportunity to see a variety of games from across the ages, including original specimens from the Victorian era, but it has also been a great source of inspiration for House of Marbles’ own range of toys and games over the years.
Traditional Games
House of Marbles specialises in recreating traditional, vintage, and retro games, breathing new life into timeless classics. Games like skittles, dominoes, and Steeplechase may spark memories from your own childhood, and you’ll likely recognise them from our collection in recent years.
Classics
The museum also features an extensive collection of Pinball and Bagatelle games on display, which may remind you of traditional fairground games. With a variety of unique designs and versions on display, these games represent the early roots of modern entertainment, serving as precursors to the original arcade-style and early computer games.
Games like Pinball, Pong, and Space Invaders drew clear inspiration from these mechanical classics, and you’ll easily spot their non-digital predecessors in the collection. Even the origins of Pac-Man can be traced back to the maze-like challenges found in traditional Labyrinth boards.
Evolution
Games and toys are part of an industry that has seen remarkable change over the years. While technological innovation has played a significant role, many developments have also been shaped by evolving toy safety standards, which were first introduced in the 1960s and have been continually updated since then.
This makes the museum’s collection particularly fascinating to explore, as many of the items on display predate these regulations. Some are made from materials no longer considered safe, such as lead, which was once commonly used for small components.
Craftsmanship
This is in direct contrast to the exhibits in the Glass Museum (located directly opposite the Games Museum on our site), where many production techniques have remained unchanged for hundreds of years, and those in the industry actively work to preserve these age-old customs.
Legacy
If you’re planning a visit soon, remember that even our shop offers treasures that will become cherished mementoes of the past in years to come. House of Marbles is one of those rare businesses that bridges the past and present of gaming through its thoughtfully crafted creations. It’s a big responsibility – but we like to think we have the best teacher on our side: the incredible powerhouse that’s history!
Recognised Venue
We have been recognised by a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Awards in consecutive years from 2014 - 2019, and the new Traveller’s Choice Award in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2026!
