OPENING TIMES
The museum is open to members, the public and small groups, on most Tuesdays 10am – 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)
Occasionally the museum will be open on other days particularly during school holidays. See Upcoming Events, or Next Major Event page, Facebook and Instagram.
GROUP BOOKINGS
If you would like to arrange a group visit (for more than 10 people) for a school, college, university or other organisation, please email contact@bnss.org.uk or phone 01202 553525 to pre-book, and we will inform you of our charges.
ADMISSION
We make no charge for entry, but do encourage visitors to make a Donation.
The Museum is open to everyone, but as a charity we rely almost entirely on Membership Fees and Donations. These contributions allow us to open to the public, maintain the building and our collections, as well as running a varied programme of events throughout the year.
DONATE HERE or for information about MEMBERSHIP CLICK HERE.
ACCESSIBILITY
Although we would wish to welcome everyone, our museum is housed in a Victorian listed building, which may make access to all floors difficult for some of our visitors.
Where access is not possible, we will endeavour to make specific movable items available to view on request.
Our volunteers are on hand to answer your questions and help visitors to access and learn about our collections. Please do not hesitate to ask.
All our rooms have chairs for anyone who needs to sit down.
There are several steps leading to our front door, one step up into the house, and then two up into the Inner Hall.
We have disabled access through double doors on the left-hand side of the building to the Lecture Theatre and Toilets on the lower ground floor, and to the ground floor via a chair-lift.
Please phone in advance or on arrival to gain access through these doors.
The Inner Hall and Main Museum room on the ground floor are on one level and displays of birds, mammals, shells, marine life, birds’ eggs, some minerals, insects and moths and butterflies can be viewed. There may also be an opportunity to handle live insects, spiders and snakes in the Main room.
The Egyptology, Microscopy, Botany, Archaeology and Exhibition rooms are on the first floor, accessed by a wide staircase with two half landings.
The Geology department is in the Basement, accessed from the Entrance Hall by three steps and a narrow staircase.
The garden is fairly level and mostly accessible with some paths suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and buggies. See the section on the GARDEN below for full details.
Please contact us if you need further information about access.
Email: contact@bnss.org.uk or Phone 01202 553525.
TOILETS & BABY CHANGING FACILITIES
We have one disabled toilet on the lower ground floor, near the Lecture Theatre, accessible from the Entrance Hall via a single flight of stairs or by using the stair-lift, or through double doors on the left-hand side of the building.
We have two toilets off the Entrance Hall. These are accessed via three steps.
There is a baby-changing table next to these toilets with hand washing facilities.
WHEELCHAIRS, SCOOTERS & BUGGIES
The Lecture Theatre is potentially accessible to wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Please check in advance of your visit by
Email: contact@bnss.org.uk or Phone 01202 553525.
If a person is able to use the chair lift, and their wheelchairs can be brought into the building, then the ground floor is potentially accessible to wheelchair users.
We also have a push wheelchair available that can be booked in advance by Email: contact@bnss.org.uk or Phone 01202 553525.
Unless you are attending a lecture, mobility scooters should be left in the car park.
We have limited space for buggies in the house. Please leave them in your car, or in the car park or garden if at all possible.
GARDEN
Our garden is open to visitors to the Museum during opening hours. The garden is fairly level and mostly accessible with some paths suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and buggies.
Access to the garden is via a gate to the right of the building, which is a maximum of 86cm wide. The path and gate to the left side of the building is more than 160cm wide, but as the path turns right at the rear of the building, it reduces to 1 metre wide, with plants on either side.
There are several benches and a lawn. Visitors are invited to bring a picnic to enjoy in this pleasant space, but we do ask that you dispose of your rubbish considerately.
We also ask that visitors respect our shrubs and venerable trees, some of which are rather old and fragile and must not be used for climbing.
Please supervise children in your care, particularly around our two wildlife ponds and other potential hazards. Children must be in the care of an adult at all times.
PARKING
The car park is for members, visitors to the museum or others on Society business only.
There are 25 spaces, 2 of which are designated disabled spaces.
Additional parking can be found on surrounding side roads. On some roads parking is free, but times may be restricted on certain days. On others, pay and display operates. Please check notices carefully.
BICYCLES
We have two Sheffield bike stands at the front of our building where bicycles can be locked securely.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
There is a bus stop just outside the Museum on the south side of Christchurch Road, and on the north side close to the pedestrian crossing, which are served by several buses.
We are a 10–15-minute walk from Bournemouth Train & Bus Station.
ACCOMMODATION
Details of local accommodation can be found here.
