Museums & Galleries

‍Poole Museum

Poole Museum is temporarily closed for redevelopment and is planned to reopen in Summer 2025.

Situated in the Old Town, just off Poole Quay, the Museum tells the story of the historic maritime town.  From a 295 BC log boat discovered in Poole Harbour to the recognition of the town’s importance in the 1248 Longspee Charter and the trading history of 17^th and 18^th Century merchants, exhibitions chart Poole’s development from pre history to the 21^st Century. For more in depth research Poole History Centre, based in a medieval wool warehouse at the back of the museum, is home to an extensive library of original, digital and micro film resources for anyone wishing to research local or family history.

The Museum is also home to over 150 pieces of world famous Poole Pottery and a potter’s wheel – a must for collectors and fans.  

Discover more with a full programme of family friendly events and activities including trails, dressing up and the chance to learn about Roman armour, there’s plenty of hands on fun.

Galleries

Poole Museum hosts a varied programme of changing exhibitions on floors one and two ranging from local interest to world class exhibitions.

Scaplen’s Court

Dating back to the 1300s, this Grade I listed building features a working kitchen, school room and children’s toys through the ages, plus a beautiful courtyard garden.  Available for wedding and event hire, the building runs unique hands-on school learning experiences.  Open to the public daily in August, the venue hosts regular events, talks and tours or visit the Courtyard Garden, daily May to September.

The Lighthouse

Poole’s centre for the arts has a variety of unusual and eclectic space spaces for a changing programme of visual arts exhibitions.

The Gallery Upstairs

Based above the Tea Rooms in the beautiful surroundings of Upton Country Park, the gallery shows work by local professional and non-professional artists including art societies, local education classes and community groups.  

Our neighbours in Bournemouth showcase a unique historical and cultural offering and at its heart is the inimitable Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum. Perched on the clifftop, this Italian style villa was the home of two Victorian collectors and travel enthusiasts, Sir Merton and Lady Annie Russell-Cotes. They filled the exotic seaside villa with beautiful objects from their travels across the world, and lined the walls with a remarkable collection of British art.

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