American Museum and Gardens

About the museum

The American Museum opened on 1 July 1961 in Claverton Manor, near Bath. It was created by two friends and partners, the American Dallas Pratt and the Englishman John Judkyn, who wanted to show British visitors the achievements of American craftspeople and to counter the cowboy stereotypes common in films of the time. They also hoped to strengthen the friendship between the two countries that had grown through two world wars.

The founders spent about two years travelling in the United States to collect furniture, textiles and folk art. Because many historic American houses were being demolished in the 1950s, they were able to buy not only furnishings but entire rooms, shipping panelling, floorboards and door frames across the Atlantic. These were rebuilt inside the manor as period rooms that look as if the occupants have just stepped out. The collection now holds more than 12,000 objects, including a large group of historic quilts, folk art and maps.

The present manor house dates from about 1820 and was designed by Jeffry Wyatt, later Sir Jeffry Wyatville, for John Vivian, on a site that had earlier belonged to Ralph Allen, owner of the Bath stone quarries. The house needed no structural change when it became a museum. The grounds hold a reproduction of part of George Washington's garden at Mount Vernon, the New American Garden, which was replanted in 2018 in a prairie style, a Victorian grotto, an arboretum and a children's garden. The museum is an independent charity.

Highlights

• Period rooms rebuilt from American houses inside the Georgian manor
• Collection of more than 200 historic quilts and rugs
• Folk Art Gallery with painted and carved objects
• Mount Vernon Garden, a reproduction of part of George Washington's garden
• New American Garden with prairie-style planting and views over the Limpley Stoke Valley

Permanent exhibitions

• Period rooms – Rooms rebuilt from American houses, furnished to show daily life in earlier centuries.
• Quilts and textiles – A collection of more than 200 historic quilts and rugs, together with embroideries, weavings and prints.
• Folk Art Gallery – Painted, carved and decorative objects from American folk traditions.

Founded

1961

Operated by

American Museum & Gardens (independent charity)

Admission & discounts

Day tickets cover the museum, exhibition gallery, gardens, deli and gallery shop. Listed prices include a voluntary 10% donation; visitors who prefer to pay without it can ask at the ticket office. Prices apply from 2 September 2026. Annual membership gives unlimited entry. Concessions at the ticket office include free garden entry for RHS members on some days, free entry for Museums Association members, 50% off for National Art Pass holders and 25% off for BANES Discovery Card holders.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The museum buildings are reachable by wheelchair, with ramps in places and a lift in the main building, and the gardens are accessible. Some doorways are only 70 cm wide, so mobility scooters and very large electric wheelchairs are not allowed inside the museum; manual wheelchairs can be borrowed at reception. Blue Badge parking is in the main car park, followed by a 150 m step-free walk along a gently sloping gravel path to the ticket office; a golf buggy lift can be arranged in advance. A Tramper outdoor mobility scooter can be booked for the gardens. In an emergency the lifts stop working, so visitors who need assistance to leave cannot use the upper and lower floors of the Manor House and Stables unless accompanied, and at most two visitors with mobility impairments can be on those floors at a time. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are in the gallery shop and the Coach House. Temporary induction loops are available at the ticket office, museum reception, deli and shop, and a fixed loop is in the Stables auditorium. Noise-cancelling headphones can be borrowed free of charge. Audio-descriptive tours with handling objects can be booked for groups. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

A family trail led by Charlie the Chipmunk runs through the museum, with games and dressing-up clothes. There is a children's garden with climbing and play features, creative activities on weekends and school holidays in the Coach House, and natural springs for splashing. Single-width pushchairs are welcome in the museum, but double buggies must be left at reception because some doorways are narrow, and some parts of the grounds are steep. Baby-changing facilities are in the toilets by the deli, in the exhibition gallery, in the gallery shop and in the Coach House; baby carriers can be borrowed.

Getting there & parking

The turning is signposted from the A36 and from the University of Bath; satellite navigation often does not recognise the postcode, so the what3words address enjoyable.mobile.groom is recommended. Coaches cannot approach from the A36 and should come via North Road and Bathwick Hill. The route from the bus stop uses a footpath through the university grounds because the road down is narrow and steep. Bath has a Clean Air Zone, which the museum itself is outside, but some vehicle types may be charged on the way.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The American Garden Deli serves American-style food with a terrace overlooking the valley, and has a children's menu and high chairs. The gallery shop sells American sweets, toys, books, quilts, craft kits and gifts. Picnics are welcome in the grounds.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 240 guests.

Historic and contemporary spaces for 12 to 240 people. The Coach House and Stables are licensed for civil wedding ceremonies. Catering is provided by an exclusive partner.

Plan your visit