The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge

About the museum

The Beaney was created thanks to a bequest of £10,000 from the Canterbury-born doctor James George Beaney, to which Canterbury City Council added a further £5,000. The Tudor Revival building was designed by the architect A. H. Campbell in 1897 and opened on 11 September 1899. The city's existing museum and library moved in and took the added name Royal Museum and Art Gallery.

A wing added in 1934 provided a gallery for art. The collections include works by local artists such as Thomas Sidney Cooper, European oil paintings and Old Master pictures, and a portrait by Van Dyck bought in 2004. Much of the Anglo-Saxon and Roman material found in the area is shared with other local museums.

The building closed for a major refurbishment in 2009, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and reopened in 2012 as the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge. Today it combines museum galleries, a library and the city's visitor information centre. Galleries range from natural history and objects brought home by travellers to art and the story of the Smallfilms animators, while the Learning Lab hosts workshops for schools and families.

Highlights

• Museum galleries with art, natural history and objects from travellers
• Pilgrim badges and portraits in the People & Places gallery
• Smallfilms Gallery about Bagpuss and its makers
• Free entry, with spotlight tours on Thursdays and Saturdays
• Library and visitor information centre in the same building

Permanent exhibition

• The Garden Room and permanent galleries – Galleries with artworks, artefacts and animal specimens, including Colour & Camouflage, People & Places and Explorers & Collectors.

Founded

1899

Operated by

Canterbury Museums and Galleries

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the museum is free and donations are welcome. A charge may apply to some special exhibitions and events. No booking is needed for a museum visit.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

The Best Lane entrance has step-free access with a platform lift to the ground floor, although the visitor lift there was reported as unavailable and the accessible entrance at Orange Street car park is then used with help from staff. A passenger lift serves the mezzanine library and the first-floor galleries. Four accessible toilets with baby change units are on the ground and first floors, and a Changing Places facility is next to the Visitor Information desk. Most galleries have seating and portable seats can be borrowed. Hearing loops are available, braille interpretation books and audio description are provided, and several objects can be handled with gloves on request. A 12-space disabled car park is on Orange Street next to the Best Lane entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The Learning Lab is used for artist-led activities and the museum runs school workshops. An annual family Halloween trail with puzzles takes place in the galleries. Baby change units are in the accessible toilets.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available

The cafe has closed; there is a free water refill station outside the Best Lane entrance and snacks are allowed but there is no formal seating. Visitor toilets are open. Wi-Fi is mentioned only for pre-booked sessions in the library.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The Explorers & Collectors gallery can be hired for receptions, a meeting room with views over Canterbury's rooftops is available, and The Front Room is a contemporary gallery space for hire.

Plan your visit