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The Holburne Museum

Great Pulteney Street, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 4DB

Type:Museum

Add The Holburne Museum to your Itinerary

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From £11.00
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Tel+44 (0) 1225 388588

The Holburne Museum

About

On the impressive approach to The Holburne Museum, the building’s grand façade and gardens provide an inkling of its grandeur and history. The Grade I listed building was originally designed and constructed as a hotel but is now home to a collection of fine and decorative art.

The fascinating pieces that adorn one of Bath’s most beautiful buildings vary from Renaissance treasures to masterpieces by Gainsborough. There is so much to see and explore, and even if you’re a regular visitor you can discover something new with the continually-changing temporary exhibitions.

Upstairs you can experience themes of eighteenth-century culture through porcelain, paintings and sculpture. In the impressive former ballroom, silver and china are laid out as though for a banquet, sparkling under a crystal chandelier, while glamorous members of seventeenth and eighteenth-century society look down from the walls.

Just across the hallway you’ll find the impressive collections of Sir William Holburne, who founded the museum. You’ll get a real sense of what Sir William enjoyed in his art with a strong presence of Golden-Age Dutch works and miniature objects such as gems and portrait miniatures.

The top floor of the museum is home to pieces from the Golden Age of British painting. Discover more about the history of Bath as the works embrace Bath's history as a fashionable and artistic spa city. William Hoare and Thomas Gainsborough lived in Bath and examples of their work can be found at the Holburne. Their paintings are hung alongside canvases by Zoffany, Ramsay and Stubbs amongst others.

The museum also has its own Garden Café, which opens onto the historic Sydney Gardens, offering the perfect place to relax after exploring indoors. The Garden Café prides itself on seasonal, delicious, fresh food and has won a Restaurant and Bar Design Award, showing that inspirational design isn’t confined to the museum’s exhibition rooms.

Access information

The Holburne Museum is fully accessible for all visitors.

Parking spaces are available for Blue Badge holders.

There is level access to the front door which opens and closes automatically. The ground floor is level and is where you’ll find the Garden Cafe.
There is a lift to all floors.

You are welcome to pre-book a wheelchair for your visit. If you need assistance or if your mobility is impaired, please ask the Front of House staff for help. Benches or chairs in all galleries and in the Entrance Hall and on the First Floor landing.

The public toilets are wheelchair accessible, on the ground floor and in the basement. The basement toilets are accessible via the lift from any floor. Both the men’s and women’s toilets have baby changing facilities.

Large print labels available in all galleries.

Hearing induction loop at the Reception Desk and also in the Picture Gallery on the Second Floor for lectures and events.

Assistance dogs are welcome.

Find out more

Dog-Friendly

The Holburne offers a warm welcome to dogs visiting the ground floor of the museum. The Garden Cafe has a range of indoor and outdoor seating and serves drinks, snacks and light lunches. Ideally situated next to Sydney Gardens, your furry friends can stretch their legs (or chase the squirrels!) in the Georgian pleasure gardens.

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Book Tickets

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Art Fund/ NUS card holders/ 19-25 year olds£11.00 per person per day
Full Price£11.00 per person per day
Groups (10+)£11.00 per person per day

Free admission from 3 to 5pm every Wednesday afternoon and from 5 to 9pm the last Friday in the month.
Free for 18 and under, friends and patrons of the Holburne, staff and students from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University and adult accompanying a disabled visitor.
The Shop, Garden and Cafe are free to enter.

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Special Offers

  • Accompanying Carer entitled to free entry

    The offer: Free ticket for carers when accompanying a paying disabled visitor.

    How to book: For further details, terms and conditions and to book visit The Holburne Museum website.

    Offers for Carers - redeem this special offer immediately

    More offers like this - Offers for Carers

Facilities

Other

  • Gift Shop

Accessibility

  • All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
  • Designated parking provided for guests with disabilities
  • Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors
  • Facilities for Visually Impaired Visitors
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Level access, ramp or lift to a public toilet
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Catering

  • Restaurant

Children & Infants

  • Facilities for children

Establishment Features

  • Dog Friendly
  • Dogs-Accepted
  • Event venue

Key Features

  • Film or TV location

Parking & Transport

  • Car parking
  • On Bus Route

Show Facilities

Awards

  • Regional and MiscellaneousWTTC Safe Travels WTTC Safe Travels 2021

Opening Times

2024 Opening (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024)
DayTimes
Monday - Saturday10:00 - 17:00*
Sunday11:00 - 17:00*

* (Museum is closed 24-26 December 2020 and 1 January 2020)

There’s an admission charge to visit the Holburne’s collection, displays and exhibitions on the first and second floor galleries.

- Full Price £11 (£12.50 includes a £1.50 Gift Aid donation).
- Concessions Art Fund | NUS card holders | 19 to 25 year olds £5.50 (£7 includes a £1.50 Gift Aid donation).
- Groups 10+ £10 (£11.50 includes a £1.50 Gift Aid donation).
- FREE admission from 3 to 5pm every Wednesday afternoon and from 5 to 9pm the last Friday in the month.
- FREE for 18 and under | Friends and Patrons of the Holburne | Staff and Students from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University | Adult accompanying a disabled visitor.

The Shop, Garden and Cafe are free to enter.

Dates and times marked with a '*' are provisional and may be subject to change

Events

Monday, 16th September 2024 - Sunday, 12th January 2025

A neon tiger against a dark backgroundChila Kumari Singh Burman at The Holburne MuseumKnown for large-scale light installations, the display will include a multi-coloured neon work on the façade of the museum and a life-size neon tiger in the Ballroom.
more info

Friday, 27th September 2024 - Sunday, 5th January 2025

Etching of a girl next to a giant spiderUncanny Visions: Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya at The Holburne MuseumThis major exhibition will explore the notion of the uncanny through the work of Francisco de Goya y Lucientes and Paula Rego.
more info

Monday, 14th October 2024 - Monday, 14th October 2024

Monday, 21st October 2024 - Monday, 21st October 2024

Monday, 28th October 2024 - Monday, 28th October 2024

Exterior of The Holburne Museum in BathBlack History Month: Walk and Talk Sessions at The Holburne MuseumEvery Monday in October, a member of the Holburne’s staff including the Director, Curator and Head of Learning, will be hosting free informal ‘Walk & Talk’ sessions, exploring how the museum reclaims narratives within its collection and sharing some of the work it is doing. 
more info

Friday, 25th October 2024 - Friday, 25th October 2024

Festival of Light posterFestival of Light at The Holburne MuseumJoin for an array of colourful creative workshops, film, pop-up food stalls, performance and a finale of fire dancing!
more info

Map & Directions

Road Directions

From M4 junction 18 take A46 then A4 towards Bath. Once on the A4 turn left at third major set of traffic lights towards the A36, then at the lights at the end of the road turn right on to the A36 towards Bristol. The museum is a short distance on the left.

Public Transport Directions

No 18 bus from Bus Station/City Centre to Great Pulteney Street.

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TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

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Map and Directions

Road Directions

From M4 junction 18 take A46 then A4 towards Bath. Once on the A4 turn left at third major set of traffic lights towards the A36, then at the lights at the end of the road turn right on to the A36 towards Bristol. The museum is a short distance on the left.

Public Transport Directions

No 18 bus from Bus Station/City Centre to Great Pulteney Street.

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