Guernsey Museum and Art Gallery
Island museum in Candie Gardens with galleries on early Guernsey, folklore, the Guernésiais language and art, plus a hands-on Discovery Room.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Guernsey Museum building in Candie Gardens opened in 1978 and was purpose-built to bring together the collections of three earlier island museums. Its core consists of the Guille-Alles museum collection, the collection of the diplomat Wilfred Carey and the archaeological and natural history collection of Frederick Corbin Lukis, which had been bequeathed to the States of Guernsey in 1907. A Victorian bandstand in the gardens was built into the design.
The first full-time professional curator, Rona Cole, was appointed in 1972 and laid the foundations of the modern museum service, which also runs Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and the German Naval Signals HQ.
Today the museum tells the story of the island through permanent galleries on early people, folklore and the Guernésiais language, an art gallery with more than 200 works, and a changing exhibition programme. Candie Gardens, with its Victorian flower beds, old greenhouses and statues of Queen Victoria and Victor Hugo, surrounds the building.
Highlights
- Early People of Guernsey gallery with recent archaeological finds
- Folklore of Guernsey with artworks by David Wyatt and audio stories in English and Guernésiais
- Rona Cole Art Gallery with more than 200 works in drawers and on the walls
- Discovery Room with hands-on play, retro games and a yearly themed Time Warp
- Café Victoria and the Victorian Candie Gardens next door
Permanent exhibitions
- Early People of Guernsey – Recent archaeological discoveries give a fresh view of the story of the island and its first inhabitants.
- Folklore of Guernsey – Original objects, paintings by David Wyatt and figures by H&H Sculptors illustrate island legends, with audio points for folk tales in English and Guernésiais.
- Rona Cole Art Gallery – More than 200 works of art, many kept in banks of drawers so that visitors can see pieces that are too delicate to stay on permanent display.
- Founded
- 1978
- Operated by
- Guernsey Museums & Galleries
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £7 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £2Children aged 7 to 17 and students with a valid student card |
| Children & teens | £2free up to age 6 · Ages 7 to 17; children under 7 are free. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A person with a disability and an essential companion are admitted for the price of one adult ticket. |
| Students & apprentices | £2With a valid student card. |
| Discovery Pass (12 months, named adult) | £24Unlimited visits during seasonal opening hours to Guernsey Museum, Castle Cornet, Fort Grey and the German Naval Signals HQ; accompanying children under 18 go free. |
Prices for the 2026 season. Café Victoria can be visited without paying admission.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is suitable for visitors with limited mobility, including wheelchair users. Candie Gardens is a pedestrian area, but up to four Blue Badge parking spaces can be reserved by phone (first come, first served). A sensory sack with soothing and stimulating items can be borrowed at the front desk. Assistance dogs are welcome, and dogs on leads may enter the gardens. An access guide is published on the AccessAble website.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 6 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
The Discovery Room offers hands-on learning with retro games, traditional toys and a themed Time Warp that changes every year. Trails and activity sheets are available, and children can explore the flower beds and ponds of Candie Gardens.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
St Julian’s Avenue · 3-min walk
Buses 41, 42, 61, 62, 71 and 81 stop in St Julian’s Avenue, about three minutes’ walk away. The museum is a ten-minute uphill walk from the St Peter Port seafront.
By car
Parking available · 5-min walk to the entrance
The nearest car parks are Monument Gardens (the “Odeon”, five minutes’ walk) and Beau Sejour (seven minutes). There is some on-street parking in Candie Road, in disc zones that require a parking clock and limit the stay to two or three hours in places. There is no public parking in Candie Gardens; Blue Badge holders can use up to four spaces.
- Accessible parking
A bay for coaches is directly outside the gate.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
Café Victoria shares the building and has a terrace with views of the harbour and St Peter Port. There is a gift shop in the museum.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Up to 150 guests.
The museum and the terrace outside Café Victoria can be hired for drinks receptions, with catering from an in-house caterer; the Frossard Theatre is available for presentations and lectures.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Trails and activity sheets can be collected from the trolley in the foyer or in the Brian White Gallery. Victoria Tower, with an outside viewing balcony reached by 99 steps, is nearby. |
