Museum of the Year 2008

The Pier Arts Centre in Stromness houses a remarkable collection of 20th-century British art, including works by Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson Photograph: Alistair Peebles/PR

Inside the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness, June 2007 Photograph: Alistair Peebles/Pier Arts Centre 2007

Set within a restored 19th-century dock, the Shetland Museum and Archives tells the story of Britain’s most northerly group of islands - from its geological beginnings to the present day Photograph: Mark Sinclair

Building of a sixareen, at the Shetland Museum and Archives Photograph: Billy Fox

A display in the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool. The first phase of the museum, opened in August 2007, tells the story of the exploitation of Africa and Africans within the transatlantic slave trade Photograph: Christopher Thomond/Guardian

A view of the outside of Liverpool's International Slavery Museum Photograph: Joanna Moorhead/Observer

The London Transport Museum, one of the capital’s most iconic cultural attractions, reopened in November 2007 following a £22m transformation Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Inside the renovated London Transport Museum Photograph: Graeme Robertson/Guardian

Exhibition by soldiers from the 16 Air Assault Brigade describing life in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, at the National Army Museum, London Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

The exhibition was created by soldiers and the team at the National Army Museum using the written accounts, photographs and oral histories of over a hundred members of the 16 Air Assault Brigade Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Sacred, an exhibition at the British Library in 2007, brought the world's greatest collection of Jewish, Christian and Islamic holy texts together side by side for the first time Photograph: Sang Tan/AP

Close-up view of the Qu'ran comissioned by Sultan Ulijayatu, on display as part of the Sacred exhibition at the British Library Photograph: British Library

Housed in a 17th-century building overlooking the Exe estuary, and entirely run by volunteers, Topsham museum celebrates the local history and ecology of Topsham and the Exe Estuary Photograph: PR

Inside Topsham Museum, Exeter Photograph: PR

Exterior view of the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol. The museum's exhibition, Breaking the Chains, commemorates the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade Photograph: PR

Breaking the Chains, which is open until October 2008, showcases authentic artefacts, film, music, photography, video and personal testimonies to provide visitors with an understanding of the slave trade Photograph: PR

Inside the Medicine Man gallery at the Wellcome Collection, London. Over 1,500 exhibits, spanning six centuries, shine light on the past, present and future of medicine Photograph: Rama Knight/PR

The groundbreaking new space, Medicine Now, at the Wellcome Collection in London is devoted to exploring the connections between medicine, life and art Photograph: Rama Knight/PR

Housed in a stunning new contemporary building, The Lightbox gallery and museum in Woking combines an innovative approach to presenting local history Photograph: Peter Cook/PR

Interior view of The Lightbox gallery and museum, Woking Photograph: Peter Cook/PR