Tudor House and Garden

About the museum

The site in Southampton's Old Town combines buildings from several centuries. The oldest part, known as King John's Palace, is a Norman house from around 1180; there is no evidence that King John ever stayed there, and in the 14th century its walls were altered to become part of the town's defences. In 1491 Sir John Dawtrey joined three cottages to form the main house, which he gave a showy black-and-white timber front. From 1518 the wealthy merchant Sir Richard Lyster lived there.

In the 18th century the house enjoyed new prosperity and the artist George Rogers added a Georgian extension. As Southampton declined economically from the mid-1700s, the house was split into dwellings and workshops, and by the 1880s it stood in a crowded slum district. It escaped demolition when the local philanthropist William Spranger bought it in 1886, and it opened on 29 July 1912 as the town's first public museum. During the Second World War its cellar served as an air-raid shelter.

The house was closed for nine years from 2002 for a major restoration funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Southampton City Council. Today visitors explore furnished and interpreted rooms, a recreated Tudor knot garden and collections from Southampton's museums. The house is run by Southampton City Council together with the city's other museums.

Highlights

• Banqueting Hall with an audiovisual introduction to the house
• Trade Room with late 16th-century ship graffiti
• Recreated Tudor and Victorian kitchens with a handling table
• Tudor knot garden with more than 100 period plants
• Remains of the Norman King John's Palace in the garden

Permanent exhibitions

• The House – Rooms including the Banqueting Hall, Georgian Room, Tudor and Victorian kitchens and the Trade Room show how the house was used from the Tudor period to the Second World War.
• Tudor Knot Garden – A garden recreated from historical documents to show how a Tudor garden may have looked, with more than 100 plants, clipped box hedges and a rose arbour.

Founded

1912

Operated by

Southampton City Council

Admission & discounts

Annual passes are offered at the same price as day entry: a ticket allows free re-entry for one year on showing the receipt (each visit starts at reception; tickets are not transferable). The cafe can be visited without an admission ticket.

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

Platform lifts give access to the upstairs of the house, but they cannot take larger mobility scooters or electric wheelchairs (size limit 1.1 m x 0.8 m), and only two wheelchairs can be upstairs at a time; visitors should contact the museum beforehand to confirm the lifts are available. The basement, the attic, parts of the garden and King John's Palace are reached by steep steps. Toilets, including accessible toilets and baby changing, are in the cafe area and at the Work Room entrance; there is no Changing Places toilet. Scripts of the Big Show and the audio guide are available as printouts, labels can be provided in large print, and a visual guide can be downloaded. Several Blue Badge bays are close to the museum.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

The house has chests of clothes to try on, barrels of artefacts to handle and a pirate-ship model to play with. Workshops and holiday activities for children are offered. Pushchairs can be used on the ground floor, in the garden and in the cafe, but not on the first floor.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is on Bugle Street, opposite St Michael's Square. What3words: record.recent.fortunate. Bicycle racks are on Castle Way.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

The cafe overlooks the Tudor knot garden and sells hot drinks, cakes, sandwiches and hot lunches; the museum describes its Wi-Fi as good. Bags larger than 40 cm x 80 cm are not admitted; they can be left at the front desk for £3 per item. Pushchairs can be stored on the ground floor.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The building and garden can be hired exclusively or room by room. The Georgian Room seats up to 35 guests for a ceremony; the Banqueting Hall seats 35 for a ceremony, 32 for a reception or 40 standing; King John's Palace can be hired for wedding receptions. Children's birthday parties for ages 4 to 11 start at £250 for 15 children.

Plan your visit