News
Kids go free every day of the year at Dorset Museum
July 3, 2023
Dorset Museum is delighted to announce that from Monday 3rd July all children under 17 will be able to come and enjoy 250 million years of history for free.
Children will need to be accompanied by a full-paying adult. In addition, all adult tickets will now allow for unlimited visits for a whole year. This amazing offer provides great value for families to return time and again to enjoy the Museum’s exciting range of exhibitions and events – from hands-on fun and creative activities to regularly changing exhibitions.
Elizabeth Selby, Interim Director said: ‘We have been offering Kids Go Free at weekends for the last few months and we have been blown away by how well it has been received. We are very conscious of the financial challenges a lot of people are facing at the moment, so we have decided to extend this offer to all children, whenever they come during the year.’
The fun starts this summer, as alongside our permanent exhibitions the Museum is excited to be hosting The Natural History Museum’s world-famous exhibition ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year’. Running from 21st July–29th October, more than 100 incredible images of nature and wildlife will shine a light on stories and species from around the world. The stunning photography will highlight the astonishing, varied animal kingdom, as well as reveal the impact of human activity on the planet, in a way that words simply cannot.
The National Festival of Archaeology runs from 15th – 30th July, and the Museum has a host of events planned to celebrate Dorset’s rich archaeological heritage. Visitors can take a tour of the Roman Town House, one of the best examples of its kind in England. Or bring children to watch history come to life as the Vikings invade Dorset Museum. A living history encampment will showcase the lifestyles of Viking and Anglo-Saxon people, and children can get hands-on and create their own Viking-themed art activities.
The Museum has something for everyone. History, the arts, the natural world, archaeology, culture: Dorset Museum offers all this and more.
What's on
3 February - 30 May 2024
John Brown in Dorchester: Rebuilding a Life after slavery
Discover the little-known story of John Brown, in this new showcase display outside the Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more11 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tour
Join our trained guides through the history of the Roman Town House site and and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Find out more16 May 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.
Find out more16 May 2024, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Paul Nash in Dorset | Professor Paul Gough
This richly illustrated lecture explores over 80 Paul Nash artworks created from the mid-1930s until his death in 1946. They range from ancient places such as Maiden Castle and Badbury Rings to the limestone promontories and fossilised forests on the Purbeck coast.
Find out more22 May 2024, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Collections Discovery Centre Tour
Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more22 May 2024, 7:30pm
25 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
Roman Town House Tour
Join our trained guides through the history of the Roman Town House site and and the precious artifacts recovered and now on display at Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.
Find out more30 May 2024, 10:00am - 12:00noon
May Customs and Ooser Mask Making
Our themed event will delve into the customs and traditions surrounding the merry month of May, learn about the famous horned Ooser mask displayed in the museum, and have a go at making one.
Find out more6 June 2024, 10:00am- 10:30am
Storytime at the Museum
Come and join us for fun-filled Storytime where you can listen to some amazing tales in our Community Space at the Museum.
Find out more