Poole Museum & Scaplen's Court

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COVID-19 VISITENGLAND WE’RE GOOD TO GO ACCREDITED BUSINESS

We are delighted to welcome back visitors to Poole Museum from 7th July, and Scaplen's Court from 1st August.

We have worked hard to make sure visitors have a comfortable and enjoyable time. We have restricted the number of visitors we can accommodate at one time and for the museum you will need to book free timed entry tickets in advance.

Poole Museum has achieved the Visit England COVID-19 Industry Standard, confirming we have followed government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, ensuring processes are in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social/physical distancing.

You will be able to view four floors of galleries telling the remarkable story of the port town of Poole, as well as our current exhibition. We have extended “Alchemy: Artefacts Reimagined” exhibition, in which artist Anne-Marie James has created new work in response to objects in Wessex Museums. Although some of our hands-on family activities have had to be removed for now, there will also be some new ‘I spy’ activities and take-away sheets for visitors to look out for. The Poole History Centre will be closed for the time being, as will the museum café, but the shop and Tourist Information Centre will be open.

For more information please visit our welcome back page on the website.

Poole Museum Covid-19 update - Currently 10am - 1pm Morning opening (1pm - 2pm Closed) 2pm - 5pm Afternoon Opening
Please always check opening times direct before visiting as these could be subject to change.

Closed Mon 14 September for a deep clean refresh.  
If you are planning to visit the museum you must book a free timed visit by 8am on the day of your visit.

Poole's rich history is revealed in Poole Museum's four floors of galleries, which tell the story of Poole. It is a fascinating story that will take you through thousands of years, across oceans and into the lives of many Poole people.

Set in a Victorian quayside warehouse, the Museum's galleries tell the story of the historic maritime town of Poole and its harbour from prehistory to the 21st century, with display from archaeology to art, pirates to potteries.

The museum hosts an exciting programme of events and activities throughout the year from trails and talks to living history.

The Town Cellars. originally built about 1300, now houses the Local History Centre, where residents and visitors can delve deeper into archives and resources covering the history of Poole and its people.  

Scaplen’s Court, is Poole’s most complete medieval domestic building, now principally dedicated to the Museum education service . The herb and physic garden is open throughout the summer and Scaplen’s Court can be visited during August.  The character-filled period rooms and pretty walled garden are also available to hire exclusively, creating a fantastic setting for weddings and corporate and private events. events.

Small cafe serving snacks and hot drinks.  

The Museum and temporary exhibitions are free of charge, and fully accessible.  

Scaplen's Court

We are delighted to welcome back visitors to Scaplen’s Court from Saturday 1st August.

Both the House and Garden will be open daily, 10am – 4.30pm (with a lunchtime closure between 1 – 2pm, last entry half hour before close).
In compliance with government guidance and to ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, volunteers and local communities, please be aware of a few changes in advance of your visit: 

There is no need to pre-book, though at busier times please be prepared to queue, where marked, outside the front entrance;
To allow for social distancing we have reduced the number of people we can welcome at any one time and a one-way route will be in operation;
In accordance with the governments ‘NHS Test and Trace’ scheme our friendly team will be ready to welcome you and take your details upon entry;
Please note access to the garden is through the House.

Full details are available here - We look forward to seeing you soon! ​