Welcome to the Hidden Treasure Trails on the 24 Hour Museum, exploring the hidden treasures of the People’s Museum TV programmes.

The May 2006 series explored the most fascinating objects on show at museums all over the country and asked viewers to vote for their favourites - what would they put on display in a museum? A masterful portrait, a scientific first, or perhaps a touching journal? It was up to the people!

These 12 region-by-region trails explore the venues and hidden treasures unveiled by The People’s Museum, as well as suggesting other museums with fascinating collections to visit.

The online trails highlight the winning objects - including the Supermarine Spitfire voted by viewers as the nation's top item in the People's Museum as well as some of the other fascinating objects held in the UK's museums and galleries.

Just browse the selection below to access the twelve trails...

Hidden Treasure Trail 1: London
From the treasures of HMS Bounty and a vintage speedboat at the National Maritime Museum to Chaucerian carvings at the Museum of London, this trail uncovers some remarkable items to be found in the capital's museums. Picture © UCL

Hidden Treasure Trail 2: South East
There are so many fascinating objects to be found in the south east's museums and galleries that we have had to split this trail into two to accommodate them all. Read on to discover everything from Clangers to Einstein's blackboard. Photo courtesy Canterbury Museum.

Hidden Treasure Trail 3: The South West
The south-west’s museums and galleries are full of hidden treasures. Brunel’s ss Great Britain reveals objects that show how the crew and passengers lived on board, whilst the Science Museum’s outpost at Wroughton contains some of its largest objects, including a huge Fleet Street printing press and ERNIE, the premium bonds computer. Picture © ss Great Britain

Hidden Treasure Trail 4: East of England
Did you know that you can find a massive whale skeleton at Cambridge's Museum of Zoology? And that the Fitzwilliam holds a large archive of Handel artefacts and rare Roman coins struck by Brutus? These and more are awaiting to be discovered in our East of England trail. © Fitzwilliam Museum

Hidden Treasure Trail 5: The Midlands
Transport fans can see one of the oldest British cars and compare it with Thrust 2 - the land speed record holder at the Coventry Transport Museum. Visitors can also step back in time to the 1920s with Birmingham's last surviving tram. Picture © Coventry Transport Museum

Hidden Treasure Trail 6: Wales
From the valleys to the coast, Snowdonia to the borders, Wales has a rich history and culture, ably represented by its museums and galleries, with everything from mining aretefacts, great art and a Sinclair C5 that you may not have come across. Picture © Cyfartha Castle

Hidden Treasure Trail 7: Yorkshire
Yorkshire has many fine museums, galleries and heritage sites containing exceptional treasures - from Reynold’s painting of the scandalous Lady Worsley at Harewood House to treasures from TV and film in Bradford. And just how petite do you think Charlotte Bronte really was? It's all in the Yorkshire trail... Picture © NMTPF

Hidden Treasure Trail 8: Liverpool
We visit the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, which has a fine collection of classic Wedgwood pottery plus some surprisingly ornate commodes. The Walker Art Gallery features some of the north’s finest art from the renaissance onwards while visitors can go back to the time of the monasteries at Norton Priory. Picture © Walker Art Gallery

Hidden Treasure Trail 9: Manchester
The Museum of Science and Industry illuminates the beginnings of electricity and lets the imagination soar in its Air and Space hall. The Imperial War Museum North tells the touching story of the boy who tried to enlist, and more stories from the dark and lighter sides of wartime. Picture © Manchester Art Gallery

Hidden Treasure Trail 10: Northern Ireland
We take a look at the Down County Museum with its grisly tales of past executions and the inspiring story of St Patrick. At the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum you can learn about Dublin Mean Time, not Greenwich Mean Time and also find out all about the Enniskillen 100 race. Picture © Ulster Transport and Folk Museum

Hidden Treasure Trail 11: The North East
Discovery Museum in Newcastle has turbines, windscreen wipers, Romans and pitmen whereas over at the Newcastle Military Museum you can the origins of the jeep and many other military vehicles. These are just some of the treasures awaiting you in the museums and galleries of the North East. Picture © Beamish

Hidden Treasure Trail 12: Scotland
Scotland’s history and culture are well represented by its fine museums and galleries. Hidden treasures at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow include Robert the Bruce’s toe bone and Whistler’s paint palette to name just two. Picture © Museum of Scotland

The Hidden Treasure Trails have been produced for The Campaign for Museums by the 24 Hour Museum with support from the Foyle Foundation.