St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery
Museum and art gallery in Lymington telling the story of the town and the New Forest coast, with changing art exhibitions, a cafe and a shop.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington grew out of a local campaign. The Friends of Lymington Museum formed in 1988, the Lymington Museum Trust followed in 1992, and New Forest District Council provided a former school building in New Street. A first small museum and shop opened in 1995, the art galleries opened in 1997 and the full museum displays were completed in 1999.
The museum tells the story of Lymington and the surrounding New Forest coast, with interactive displays and a collection that has been built up since 1989 and now contains several thousand objects. The gallery stages art and history exhibitions, and the museum has shown loans from national collections.
A refurbishment in 2017 enlarged the gallery and added a cafe and gift shop. The museum is an independent charity and has been an accredited museum since 2013. Families can try on costumes and explore hands-on displays such as a replica pilot boat wheelhouse.
Highlights
- Interactive displays on the history of Lymington and the New Forest coast
- Replica pilot boat wheelhouse and dressing-up costumes for children
- Art gallery with changing exhibitions
- Cafe and gift shop in the former school building
- Several thousand objects in the local collection
- Founded
- 1995
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £6.30 |
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Standard entry as listed by the Art Fund. No booking is needed. Art Fund National Art Pass holders get 50% off.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Two disabled parking spaces are beside the museum.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The museum runs workshops and events for children and families. Visitors can try on costumes and explore hands-on exhibits, including a replica pilot boat wheelhouse.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Lymington Town station · 5-min walk
About five minutes' walk from Lymington Town station.
By car
Parking available
The nearest car park is on Emsworth Road; two disabled spaces are beside the museum.
- Accessible parking
From the M27 take junction 2 and follow the A326 towards Fawley, then the B3054 through Beaulieu and follow the brown signs.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Old School Cafe and a gift shop are on site, and the museum has a tourist information point.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Year-round activities and workshops are offered. |
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