Bognor Regis Museum

About the museum

Bognor Regis Museum tells the story of the town and its surroundings, from rocks and fossils millions of years old to the present day. A large part of the story is the work of Sir Richard Hotham, who set out to turn a small fishing village into a fashionable seaside resort.

The museum was founded in 1984 and is run mainly by volunteers, helped by donations from the public. It is based at 25–27 West Street, close to the seafront, and attracts around 10,000 visitors a year according to its own website. A bathing machine, once used at the beach, was installed in the Seaside Room in 2022, and the museum announced an expansion at around the same time.

The displays include the story of Mary Wheatland, the best-known bathing machine proprietor of the town, models of Hotham Park House, the lost Esplanade Theatre and the Art Deco bus station, and a section on famous people of Bognor. The Ron Simpson Wireless Collection of vintage radios and early televisions was left to the museum by a former curator. Visitors can also see vintage cameras and a recreated vintage kitchen. A Research Room holds an indexed catalogue of local photographs and documents.

Highlights

• Story of Sir Richard Hotham and the founding of the resort
• Bathing machine and the story of Mary Wheatland in the Seaside Room
• Ron Simpson Wireless Collection of vintage radios and televisions
• Models of the Esplanade Theatre and the Art Deco bus station
• Research Room with an indexed catalogue of local photographs

Permanent exhibitions

• Sir Richard Hotham and early Bognor – The story of the founder of the seaside resort, with a model of Hotham Park House.
• Mary Wheatland and the Seaside Room – The life of the town’s best-known bathing machine proprietor, shown next to an original bathing machine.
• Ron Simpson Wireless Collection – Vintage radios and early television sets, with a Morse code station for children.

Founded

1984

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free. The museum relies on volunteers and donations from visitors to stay open.

Accessibility

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

The museum has ramped access, a toilet for visitors with disabilities and a wheelchair that can be borrowed on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children can use a dressing-up box with 1920s-style clothes, send a message in Morse code, do quizzes, use a colouring table and look for the museum cat. There are family events at Easter, Halloween (free ghost hunt) and Christmas.

Getting there & parking

The museum is just off the seafront, to the right of The Royal Norfolk Hotel and west of the Pier.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A small shop sells souvenirs, local history publications and retro toys. The shop accepts cash only.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The Research Room can be hired for small meetings, with refreshments available.

Plan your visit