Parc Howard Museum
Museum in an Italianate mansion in a Llanelli park, with an Imaginarium gallery on local inventions and the largest public collection of Llanelly Pottery.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Parc Howard Museum is housed in an Italianate mansion on a hillside park in Llanelli. The house began as Bryncaerau Mansion and was bought by the Buckley brewing family, then rebuilt between 1882 and 1886 and renamed Bryncaerau Castle. In 1911 it was sold to the Liberal politician Sir Edward Stafford Howard, who with his wife Lady Catharine gave the house and grounds to the town in 1912, on a 999-year lease that required the house to be used for public enjoyment, such as a museum. It was renamed Parc Howard in their honour.
The First World War interrupted plans for the house. In 1914 it sheltered Belgian refugees, and from 1915 to 1921 it was a Red Cross auxiliary hospital for wounded servicemen. It was then leased for a time to help disabled soldiers rehabilitate.
The museum is run by Carmarthenshire County Council's CofGâr museum service, with support from Llanelli Town Council. A two-year refurbishment restored the tower, roof and porch and created new galleries: the ground floor reopened in December 2023 and the first floor in spring 2024. The displays include the Imaginarium, with interactive displays on inventions and ideas from Llanelli, the Llanelli Story gallery, and the largest public collection of Llanelly Pottery.
Highlights
- Imaginarium gallery on Llanelli inventions and creativity, with a pyramid puzzle, kaleidoscope and Pepper's Ghost
- Largest public collection of Llanelly Pottery
- Llanelli Story gallery created with local communities
- Italianate mansion in a public park
- Free entry
Permanent exhibitions
- Imaginarium – An interactive first-floor gallery on inventions and ideas from Llanelli, with a pyramid puzzle, a kaleidoscope and a Pepper's Ghost illusion.
- Llanelly Pottery – The largest public collection of Llanelly Pottery, looking at the people who made and used the famous brand.
- Llanelli Story gallery – A gallery on the history of Llanelli and its people, created through community projects.
- Operated by
- Carmarthenshire County Council (CofGâr)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free entry, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.
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
The park and museum entrances are step free, with a shallow slope up from Felinfoel Road and a push-button door. There is one wheelchair-accessible lift to the first floor and one accessible toilet on the ground floor. A portable induction hearing loop is available at reception, all films have subtitles, large print guides can be requested three days ahead, and child-sized ear defenders can be booked. There is seating in every gallery. The special exhibition gallery is small and can be hard to navigate in a wheelchair when busy. Trained assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
- Playground / play area
The museum has interactive displays, regular family events and a painting gallery where families can make art together. Individual buggies can be used, but wide double buggies may not fit through some historic doorways. Baby changing is in the accessible toilet on the ground floor and in the first-floor women's toilets. An outdoor play area and tennis courts are a short distance away in the park.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Felinfoel Road (route 128) · 3-min walk
Bus route 128 from Ammanford stops on Felinfoel Road just outside the park. From Llanelli bus station the museum is a 20-minute uphill walk, and from Andrew Street (route 111) a 15-minute uphill walk. Llanelli railway station is a 35-minute walk away.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is no car park at the museum because it is in a public park; visitors who need to park close by should call or email in advance to make arrangements.
The museum encourages sustainable travel and publishes a guide on reaching it by bus, train and active travel.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Coat check
The gift shop sells takeaway hot and cold drinks, snacks and ice creams, which can be enjoyed at picnic tables outside, and local Carmarthenshire products. A space is available to store bags and coats.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Venue hire and commercial photography enquiries go to info@cofgar.wales.
Plan your visit
| Photography | Photography for personal use is welcome. Very short filming for personal use is allowed with permission from staff; commercial or wedding photography and other filming need permission and may be charged. |
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| Good to know | The museum is usually quieter in the first and last hour of opening; weekends, school holidays and event days are the busiest. Digital learning resources for schools are available. |
