The Atkinson

About the museum

The Atkinson occupies Cambridge Hall, a Grade II listed stone building on Lord Street in Southport, built in 1874 to designs by Maxwell and Tuke. The cotton manufacturer William Atkinson, who later moved to Southport, offered the town's corporation £6,000 to build an art gallery and library and gave about £40,000 to the town in his lifetime. The Atkinson Art Gallery and Library, designed by Waddington and Son of Burnley, opened in 1878.

The Victoria Science and Arts School opened behind Cambridge Hall in 1887, marking Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, and was the municipality's first provision for higher education.

Following a major refurbishment, the building now houses a museum, art galleries, a theatre and studio, Southport Library with tourist information, a shop and a café. The collection includes more than 3,500 artworks and over 25,000 items of social history, shown on rotation. The Goodison Egyptology Collection, based on the personal artefacts of a Victorian collector, is displayed in an interactive gallery funded by the Heritage Lottery. The Between Land and Sea museum tells the story of Sefton's coast from prehistoric times to the present.

The art galleries show paintings, sculpture and digital art, alongside regularly changing exhibitions that combine the collection with contemporary work.

Highlights

• Goodison Egyptology Collection in an interactive gallery
• Between Land and Sea: the story of Sefton from prehistoric times to today
• Atkinson Art Gallery Collection of more than 3,500 artworks
• Dressing-up wall in the local history museum
• Grade II listed Cambridge Hall on Lord Street
• Theatre, library and the award-winning café A Great Little Place

Permanent exhibitions

• Between Land and Sea – A local history museum telling the story of Sefton's coast from prehistoric times to the present, with QR codes, a digital postcard and a dressing-up wall.
• Discover Ancient Egypt – An interactive gallery showing the Goodison Egyptology Collection, assembled by a wealthy Victorian lady with a passion for ancient Egypt.

Founded

1878

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

The museum and art galleries are free to visit. Theatre and studio performances are ticketed separately.

Accessibility

• 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

Street-level entrance with automatic doors, a lift to all floors, accessible toilets throughout and a Changing Places facility on the first floor. Wheelchairs can be borrowed on site. There is an induction loop at the box office and infra-red emitters in the theatre auditorium, and large print menus are available in the café. Two Blue Badge parking spaces are outside the building. The theatre and studio are on the first level, reached by lift, with wheelchair spaces. A visual story and access policy can be downloaded from the website.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties: not available

Free family workshops run in school holidays, and there are craft activities for children in the gallery Art Box. Children can dress up in historic costumes in the local history museum and explore the interactive Egyptology room. Baby-changing facilities are on the ground floor, the café has highchairs and room for prams, and staff will help find a safe spot for buggies. Children's library with a reading ship.

Getting there & parking

There is a coach drop-off point 100 yards from the main doors on Eastbank Street. Alternative entrances are on Eastbank Street and through Cambridge Arcade and Cambridge Walks.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Café A Great Little Place, a social enterprise that offers supported work placements for young autistic people; shop with local crafts, prints, cards and souvenirs. Southport Library in the building provides free wifi. Only food bought at the Atkinson or the café may be eaten on site.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties: not available
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies: not available

Up to 405 guests.

The Theatre (405 seats) and the Studio are available for performances, conferences, screenings and presentations. The building is not available for private celebrations such as wedding receptions, birthday parties or discos. Meeting rooms are not taking new bookings at present.

Plan your visit