Museum of the Iron Age
Andover museum telling the story of Danebury hillfort and Iron Age life, with a replica roundhouse and real artefacts to handle.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Museum of the Iron Age tells the story of Danebury hillfort, south-west of Andover, which Professor Barry Cunliffe excavated between 1969 and 1988. The site is one of the best-studied Iron Age sites in Britain, and the museum shows what its finds reveal about defence, home life, farming, grain storage, bread-making, ritual and religion.
The museum opened in 1986 in the brick extension that was added in the 1880s to a Georgian townhouse in Church Close. The Grade II listed house dates from the mid-18th century; Martha Gale bought it in the 1840s and gave it to Andover Grammar School. Both the museum and neighbouring Andover Museum are run by Hampshire Cultural Trust and share the site.
Visitors can enter a replica roundhouse with genuine Iron Age artefacts to handle. The Fullerton Mosaic, a Romano-British floor showing the god Mars, was installed in 2009.
Highlights
- Replica Iron Age roundhouse with real artefacts to handle
- Finds from Danebury hillfort
- Fullerton Mosaic, a Romano-British floor showing Mars
- Displays on defence, farming, grain storage and ritual
- Activity sheets for children
Permanent exhibitions
- Danebury Iron Age hillfort – Finds and displays on life at the hillfort, including defence, home life, farming, grain storage and ritual.
- Iron Age roundhouse – A replica roundhouse furnished with genuine Iron Age artefacts that visitors can handle.
- Fullerton Mosaic – A Romano-British mosaic floor showing the god Mars, installed in 2009.
- Founded
- 1986
- Operated by
- Hampshire Cultural Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £4Concessions |
| Children & teens | £3.50free up to age 4 · Children aged 5 to 15; under-5s are free. |
| Families | £16.50Up to 5 people including a maximum of 2 adults; the discount is applied at checkout. |
Tickets are valid for a year (pay once, visit all year). Some special events may be charged separately. Tickets can be booked online. The neighbouring Andover Museum is free.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The front entrance has steps with handrails, and there is a step-free entrance at the rear. The ground floor, including the shop and the temporary exhibition gallery, is wheelchair accessible, and a stairlift serves the first and second floors. Some areas are restricted, so the museum advises phoning before a special journey. Assistance dogs are welcome if clearly identifiable.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £16.50 · Up to 5 people including a maximum of 2 adults; the discount is applied at checkout. |
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
The museum suits whole-family visits, with activity sheets for finding objects, artefacts to handle in the roundhouse and a family ticket.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The museum is within walking distance of Andover railway station, via Charlton Road and Marlborough Street into Newbury Street and Church Close. Andover bus station is a 10-minute walk through the Chantry shopping centre, following the blue signs on the High Street.
By car
Free parking
A free car park is next to the museum, with a disabled bay. Pay-and-display parking is available off Newbury Street.
- Accessible parking
From the A303 and the inner ring road, follow signs for the town centre and then the brown Iron Age Museum signs. Turn into Newbury Street at the New Street roundabout, then take the first right into Church Close. The museum shares the building with Andover Museum.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The café sells takeaway snacks, cakes and hot and cold drinks; bringing a reusable cup gives 30p off a hot drink. A gift shop is on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The Back to the Iron Age workshop is a 90-minute facilitated session for school classes (£160 per class), and an optional 90-minute self-led session is also available. |
