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THE UK's National Poo Museum is closing for the rest of the year... but there is some hope of seeing the exhibits.

Located inside the disused Sandown Barrack Battery fort on the Isle of Wight, the museum first opened to the public in 2016.

The National Poo Museum with a flower garden in front.
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The National Poo Museum in the Isle of Wight will close for an entire year to go on a UK-wide tourCredit: Simon Jones
Man holding a glass sphere containing human feces.
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The quirky museum was the brainchild of former plumber Daniel RobertsCredit: Simon Jones

The quirky museum was the brainchild of former plumber Daniel Roberts, who started the tiny museum as an exhibition at the Isle of Wight Zoo.

Faeces samples were gathered, along with donations from Isle of Wight Zoo and Dinosaur Isle Museum.

The samples were displayed in resin spheres after being prepped for the museum using a specially-built drying machine.

Following on from its initial success, the National Poo Museum opened in a former public toilet near Sandown Bay two years later, in 2018.

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It now displays samples from around the world and has other features too, including a window frame displaying various specimens from the British Isle.

In a bid to break yet more taboos, the tiny museum is gearing up for a UK-wide tour.

According to its website, the touring exhibition will feature an illuminated aquarium with yet more preserved number twos.

Faeces samples have been collected for the aquarium from a midwife, a policeman, a baby, an artist and a Cambridge scientist.

Each of the samples has been frozen and set in resin before being dropped into a water tank.

Earlier this year, Daniel told the Sun Newspaper what to expect from the aquarium, he said: "We’ve preserved them in clear resin spheres in a glass tank.

How to do an Isle of Wight holiday with Hols from £9.50

“It’s interactive, people can circulate around and can press buttons and control how fast the poo spins, and change the lighting and add bubbles.

“Each poo has a QR code and they can scan them as they go past and see scientific papers or funny songs, or facts".

The tour will begin in the Isle of Wight, with the exhibition appearing in local libraries.

However, further tour dates and locations have yet to be revealed.

Director Nigel George told the : "Since we moved to the Battery, we can’t keep up with demand.

"It’s a small museum and, most days during the school holidays, there are large queues going right down the road.”

We have been a victim of our own success

"Basically, we have been a victim of our own success. We now want to get the museum on the road and we have been in discussions with three interested organisations, one on the island and two on the mainland."

The unusual museum has a 4.5/5 star rating on TripAdvisor from just over 100 reviews.

One person wrote: "I went to the museum with my two grandchildren who absolutely loved it.

"The staff were very friendly and helpful taking their time to explain to my grandchildren all of the interesting articles that they had on show."

Another person added: "This place is a little gem. It doesn't take long to go around but it is fascinating."

A third reviewed: "Simply, informative, fascinating, and well run".

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Five other unusual museums to visit in the UK

HERE are five other unusual museums to visit in the UK.

The Dog Collar Museum, Leeds Castle, Kent
This unique museum houses a fascinating collection of dog collars dating from the 15th century to the present day. The display includes ornate and practical collars, illustrating the changing relationship between humans and their canine companions.

The British Lawnmower Museum, Southport
Dedicated to the history and development of the lawnmower, this quirky museum features over 300 restored exhibits, including lawnmowers once owned by Princess Diana.

The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall
This intriguing museum explores the history, folklore, and practices of witchcraft and magic, with a collection of over 3,000 objects. Visitors can delve into exhibits ranging from spell books and charms to tools and ceremonial items.

The Fan Museum, Greenwich, London
The only museum in the UK dedicated solely to fans and fan-making, it boasts an extensive collection of fans dating from the 11th century to the present day. The museum also features beautifully decorated rooms and a tranquil Japanese-style garden.

The Cumberland Pencil Museum, Keswick, Cumbria
Celebrating the humble pencil, this museum traces the history of pencil manufacturing in Keswick, home of the first pencil factory. Highlights include the world’s largest colouring pencil and a secret World War II pencil with hidden maps.

Meanwhile, England's best hidden gem attractions have been revealed, including a brewery that lets you make beer and a fighter jet museum.

And here's the tiny English market town that's right on the river and is home to unusual sci-fi museum.

A man holding a glass sphere containing human feces, in front of a human poo aquarium.
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Daniel opened the museum back in 2016 when it was an exhibition at Isle of Wight ZooCredit: Simon Jones
Poo museum exhibit with animal poo samples in glass domes on shelves.
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It is not yet known when and where the museum will be touringCredit: Simon Jones
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