The Holburne Museum
About
The Holburne Museum sits at the end of Great Pulteney Street — one of the grandest avenues in Bath — in a beautiful neoclassical building with a striking modern glass extension at the rear. The collection focuses on fine and decorative arts: silver, porcelain, Renaissance bronzes, and paintings by Gainsborough, Stubbs, and Guardi, among others. The museum is named after Sir William Holburne, a 19th-century collector whose eclectic taste gives the collection its character. It's intimate enough to visit in under two hours, but rich enough to reward careful looking. The temporary exhibitions are consistently good — often drawing on the intersection of craft, design, and fine art. The modern extension houses an excellent café with views into Sydney Gardens (the pleasure gardens behind the museum, which are worth exploring in their own right — one of the few remaining 18th-century pleasure gardens in England). The museum is free, which makes it easy to drop in for a favourite room or a specific exhibition without committing to a full visit. A gem.
https://www.holburne.org/ 01225 388569
Tickets & Pricing
Free. Some temporary exhibitions charged (typically £7-£10).
Opening Times
Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 11:00-17:00. Closed 24-26 December.
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