Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
A Victorian seaside villa in Bournemouth, kept as a historic house, with art galleries, a Japanese-inspired interior and collections from world travels.
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About the museum
The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum occupies East Cliff Hall, a villa on the cliffs above Bournemouth beach. Sir Merton Russell-Cotes had it built between 1897 and 1901 to designs by the architect John Frederick Fogerty and gave it to his wife Annie on her 66th birthday. They filled it with objects from their travels, including Japan, and with a large collection of British art, so that the house could also be a showcase for the town.
In 1907 the couple announced that they would give the house and its contents to the people of Bournemouth. They continued to live there, and the public could visit one day a month until Annie died in 1920 and Merton in 1921. Three art galleries were added in 1919, and the first curator started in 1921. The museum was formally opened to the public on 10 March 1922.
Over the following decades more display cases and gallery space filled the former family rooms, so that the house became more of a museum. In 2000 a major Heritage Lottery funded project returned the building to a historic house, restoring original decoration and styling the rooms as they were in 1907. A modern wing now holds the visitor entrance, an orientation gallery with an introductory film, and the café. The museum is part of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council and shows its own collection as well as temporary exhibitions.
Highlights
- Victorian seaside villa with restored 1907 interiors
- Main Hall with a night-sky glass dome and a Japanese-inspired pond
- Four art galleries with a large collection of British art
- Dining room, conservatory and Morning Room with period decoration
- Garden and sea views on the East Cliff
Permanent exhibitions
- East Cliff Hall historic house – The Russell-Cotes family home, with rooms styled as they were in 1907, including the main hall, dining room, conservatory and Morning Room.
- Art galleries – Galleries added to the house with a large collection of British art and objects from the family’s travels.
- Founded
- 1922
- Operated by
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £6Students and visitors receiving means-tested benefits |
| Children & teens | £6free up to age 4 · Child ticket for ages 5 to 17; children under 5 are free. |
| Seniors | £12.50Seniors pay the adult price. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · An essential carer or companion is admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | £6UK Higher Education ID or ISIC card required. |
| Groups | –Separate prices apply for groups, schools and language schools. |
| Families | £30Up to two adults and three children. |
The listed prices include a 10% Gift Aid donation for UK taxpayers, which visitors can decline at the desk for a standard fee. Entry is free for members of the Friends of the Russell-Cotes and for members of Art Fund, the Museums Association, the South West Federation of Museums and Art Galleries, and Historic Houses. The café, café gallery and shop can be visited without a ticket. Tickets can be bought online or on arrival.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- 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 entrance has step-free access, and a lift serves the orientation gallery, café and the ground floor of the historic house; there is no lift to the upper floor of the house, which can be seen in a video tour. A platform lift for one wheelchair, or four steps, links the main hall to the galleries. Wheelchairs up to the UK reference size can be used in most areas, class 1 scooters are usually allowed, larger scooters must stay outside, and a manual wheelchair can be borrowed. An accessible toilet and a family toilet with baby changing are on the first floor. The entrance slope on East Cliff is steep. The nearest car park, Bath Road South, has seven disabled spaces. Assistance dogs are welcome, the main lift has braille buttons and an audio chime, and torches and magnifiers can be borrowed. The orientation film has subtitles. Free carer or companion tickets are offered, and a free 30-minute scoping visit can be arranged.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £30 · Up to two adults and three children. |
- Baby changing facilities
Children under 5 enter free. Buggies and pushchairs are welcome in the café, shop and learning gallery, but the historic house was not designed for them; slings and a hip seat can be borrowed. There is a family toilet with baby changing.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Westover Road, by the Bournemouth Pavilion
Morebus services run from the Travel Interchange every three to four minutes (about five minutes), stopping on Westover Road by the Bournemouth Pavilion. Bournemouth railway station is 1.2 miles away, about 20 minutes on foot, with Morebus services from Stand 5 to Bath Road.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park. The closest is Bath Road South (sat nav BH1 2EW, 2 m height limit), and there is more parking on the cliff top and in nearby car parks. There are no facilities for coach parking.
- Accessible parking
The museum is on East Cliff Promenade, a two-minute walk from Bournemouth Pier and ten minutes from the town centre. Use BH1 3AA for sat nav. Bicycle racks are next to the garden gate and outside the entrance.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
Museum café in the modern wing with a gallery and an outdoor terrace, serving light lunches, drinks, cakes and afternoon tea; high chairs are available. Museum shop. Lockers at the entrance are limited, and large bags and backpacks are not allowed beyond the entrance. Dogs on a short lead are allowed in the garden only.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Drinks receptions, after-hours tours, dining, filming and photography, and hire of the restored conservatory.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography is allowed without flash; tripods, student projects and commercial photography need advance approval. |
| Good to know | Talks, guided tours and events are held through the year. Wet coats must be left in the cloakroom to protect the historic rooms. Schools, further and higher education groups, home educators and language schools are welcome. |
