Ludlow Museum
Small town museum in the Grade I listed Buttercross in Ludlow, with local fossils, a medieval hoard and displays on the town’s past.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Ludlow Museum is housed in the Buttercross, a market hall in the centre of Ludlow that was built in the mid-18th century to a design by a local architect and is a Grade I listed building. The town council runs the museum with the support of a friends group, and it marked ten years in the building in August 2026. It holds Arts Council accreditation.
The displays tell the story of Ludlow and its surroundings, starting with fossils from the local rocks. They go on through the Bitterley hoard and finds from the medieval church and castle to Georgian Ludlow and the town in wartime and peacetime.
The museum is designed to be hands-on. It offers interactive exhibits, a children’s craft area and a handling area, and entry for visitors under 16 is free. A temporary exhibition about the town’s lost Town Hall is shown at Ludlow Market Hall in autumn 2026.
Highlights
- Fossils and the Bitterley hoard
- Finds from Ludlow’s medieval church and castle
- Displays on Georgian Ludlow and the town at war and in peace
- Interactive exhibits, handling area and children’s craft area
- Housed in the Grade I listed Buttercross of 1743–1746
Permanent exhibition
- Ludlow Museum displays – Local fossils, the Bitterley hoard, finds from the medieval church and castle, Georgian Ludlow, and the town in war and peace.
- Founded
- 1955
- Operated by
- Ludlow Town Council
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £1.20 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 15 · Under-16s enter free. |
| Groups | –Normal entry fees apply to group visits. |
The current temporary exhibition at Ludlow Market Hall has the same price (£1.20 for adults, free for under-16s).
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A fully accessible lift under the Buttercross is reached by a ramp at the back of the building; stairs lead up from the Church Street entrance. Pushchairs are welcome. Only assistance dogs are allowed in the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 15 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
The museum has interactive exhibits, a children’s craft area and a handling area. Under-16s enter free.
Getting there & parking
The museum is in the Buttercross in the historic centre of Ludlow, with views along Broad Street and Church Street. A map is on the museum’s contact page.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
A small shop area, toilets with baby changing, seating, and a water refill point.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Schools, clubs and groups are welcome; request a group visit by email. Exhibits marked with a thumbs-up sign can be handled or interacted with. |
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