Business Details
Explore Worcestershire's Heritage at Museums Worcestershire
Museums Worcestershire stands as a custodian of Worcestershire's rich heritage, operating three distinct venues: The Commandery, Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, and the Worcestershire County Museum at Hartlebury Castle. With a legacy spanning centuries, our collections encompass art, archaeology, social history, and natural history, brought to life through innovative exhibitions and events. Our dedicated curators and educators deliver engaging school programs, outreach sessions, and community-focused initiatives, ensuring accessibility for all.As a registered charity, we rely on public support to preserve these cultural treasures while maintaining our commitment to educational excellence and community engagement. Our venues host nationally recognised artists, large-scale heritage events, and interactive experiences, making history and art accessible to future generations.
Services
Museum Exhibitions
Educational Programs
Venue Hire
Collections Management
Public Events
School Visits
Outreach Sessions
Loan Boxes
Volunteer Opportunities
Membership Programs
Highlights and features
- We manage three historic venues with nationally important collections
- Our expert curators deliver award-winning educational programs for schools
- We host interactive exhibitions from Paul Kidby's Discworld illustrations to Roman coin hoards
- Our Collections Centre offers research access to 500,000+ heritage objects
- We provide accessible learning through outreach sessions and loan boxes
Services
Museum Exhibitions
Our three venues showcase diverse exhibitions spanning British Impressionist art, Roman coin hoards, and Discworld illustrations. Temporary displays like Eduardo Paolozzi's pop art and permanent collections including Victorian chemist shops provide year-round cultural experiences. All exhibitions combine historical artefacts with modern interpretation techniques for visitor engagement.
Educational Programs
We deliver curriculum-linked sessions for all key stages across our sites. Programs include 'In Their Shoes: Life in Stuart Times' at The Commandery and 'Mary Anning and Her Fantastic Fossils' at the Art Gallery. Outreach services bring museum-quality learning to classrooms through loan boxes and specialist workshops tailored to specific educational needs.
Venue Hire
Historic venues at The Commandery, Hartlebury Castle, and Worcester City Art Gallery offer unique spaces for weddings, conferences, and private events. Each location provides period features combined with modern facilities, with dedicated event coordinators ensuring seamless planning. Our drone policy and accessibility features support diverse event requirements.
Collections Management
We care for over 500,000 objects spanning Worcestershire's history, including the Tickenhill Collection and the Worcestershire Conquest Hoard. Our Collections Centre provides research access while conservation teams maintain artefacts ranging from gypsy caravans to David Cox paintings. Digitisation projects enable online exploration of our holdings.
Public Events
Seasonal events include Christmas fairs, family trails, and curator-led talks. Special programmes like 'Museum After Hours' combine themed cocktails with historical themes. Our calendar features over 100 annual events, from blacksmithing courses to Discworld illustration workshops, designed to engage diverse audiences with local heritage.
Questions
What are the opening hours for Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum?
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm, and Sundays 10am-3pm. Closed Mondays and bank holidays.
Are there educational resources for school groups?
Yes, we offer curriculum-linked sessions, outreach programs, and loan boxes for all key stages across our three venues.
Can I access the museum collections online?
Our online collections portal provides digital access to thousands of artefacts, with new items added regularly for remote research.
Do you offer venue hire for private events?
Yes, we provide historic event spaces at all three locations with dedicated support for weddings, conferences, and private functions.
How can I support Museums Worcestershire?
Support through membership, volunteering, donations, or shopping in our gift shop helps preserve Worcestershire's heritage for future generations.
What special exhibitions are coming soon?
Upcoming exhibitions include 'Designing Terry Pratchett's Discworld' and 'I Grew Up 90s', with seasonal displays throughout the year.
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Reviews (4)
Eleanor Price
Jan 29, 2022
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Nice small museum to look around well laid out with a mix of stuff, found by accident and was pleasantly surprised, I bought a cool broach made by a local crafts person
Lauren Gray
Jan 24, 2022
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A lovely art gallery and museum, although quite a small collection, its quite nice for families. They have a section of art from local artists aswell as a area about the Worcestershire regiment. Also to note is a children's activity room which my toddler enjoyed.
Adrian
Jan 12, 2022
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History of Worcester was detailed with lots of interesting historic artefacts to see. Also impressed that the lady who restored the seagull, so impressively, was from Ipswich like me!!
Corbin Bailey
Jan 12, 2022
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Very much enjoyed visiting great display of local history and as its free there is no excuse not to visit
