Gold Hill Museum

About

Gold Hill Museum and Garden can be found at the top of picturesque Gold Hill, with its steeply inclined cottages and cobbled surface. The hill has featured in countless calendars and in the perennially popular Hovis “Boy on a Bike” advert filmed by Ridley Scott in 1973.

Gold Hill Museum is set in two historic buildings. One was once a priest’s house and still has a ‘squint’ through the wall to neighbouring St Peter’s Church; the other provided basic lodgings for traders at the market on Gold Hill. The secluded, award-winning garden offers a magnificent view over Thomas Hardy’s Blackmore Vale and seats for quiet contemplation in sun and shade.

Six light and airy galleries on two floors tell the story of Shaftesbury and District from the days before the foundation of town and Abbey by Alfred the Great. Among the artefacts on display are the unique Byzant, carried during annual celebrations of the securing of the water supply, so vital to a hilltop town; Dorset’s oldest fire engine, dating from 1744; fine lacework and costumes; handmade Dorset buttons; and a mummified Dorset cat.

Entry to Gold Hill Museum is free, though donations are welcome. All our rooms, including a further two used for temporary exhibitions and our Education Room, are accessible to wheelchair and buggy users.

An Explorer’s Quiz and baskets of activities in Rooms 2 and 4 are available for younger visitors. Locally sourced gifts and books are on sale in the Museum Shop, while visitors may browse in our second-hand book corner. The nearest café is within twenty yards of the Museum gate, and other cafes, coffee shops and pubs are less than two minutes’ walk away in the High Street.

Gold Hill Museum is owned and managed by volunteers of The Shaftesbury & District Historical Society, registered charity no. 1156273. Further details on our website www.goldhillmuseum.org.uk

Opening Times

Opening (1 April 2020 - 31 October 2020)
Day	Times
Monday - Sunday	10:30	- 16:30*

Dates and times marked with a '*' are provisional and may be subject to change

Guide Prices

Ticket Type	Ticket Tariff
Free Admission	Free

Admission is free, however donations are very welcome.

Website

Telephone: +44 01747 852157

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

289 reviews

Certificate of Excellence 2019

Excellent
178
Very Good
99
Average
12
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Recent Reviews:

Phil H
Fareham, United Kingdom
Day trip
Friday, 20th September 2019
Not many places you go that have free entry but this place is one of them,great knowledgeable staff and a must if you are doing gold hill.Donations are gratefully received on your way out but they... Read full review
mowden
Witham, United Kingdom
Trip Type:
Couples
An interesting museum
Saturday, 21st September 2019
This museum is small, but it has a lot of local interesting things to explore. The museum is free to enter. Read full review
BobF19
Bognor Regis, United Kingdom
Very intersting
Tuesday, 8th October 2019
While in the Dorset area we could not go without visiting Gold Hil (Where the Hovis Advert was made) its so pretty there. This time we visited the Museum which is at the top of the hill. It is a... Read full review

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Facilities

Accessibility

All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
Guide Dogs Permitted
Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors - Drop off at front of Museum
Ramp/Level Access - Lift to First Floor
Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Attraction Facilities

Shop

Establishment Features

Conference facilities
Dogs Accepted - On leads
Event venue

Key Features

Approx length of visit - 01:00
In town/city centre
Indoor Attraction
Max group size - 40
No Smoking Attraction
Open by appointment outside normal opening times

Parking & Transport

On Bus Route

Payment Methods

Blue Badge Guides admitted free
Can be packages by 3rd parties
Min group size - 10
TIC Staff Admitted Free

Specialist Features

Family Fun
Marketed towards children
Marketed towards families
Marketed towards senior citizens
Marketed towards student/youth

Tours and Demonstrations

Educational Visits Accepted
Guided Tours Available for Groups - By appointment
Guided Tours Available for Individuals - By appointment

Venue Facilities

Groups Accepted - Pre-booking essential. Max number 50 (can split groups with Shaftesbury Abbey Museum)

Map & Directions

View Map

Road Directions

Shaftesbury is at the junction of the A350 and A30 – please follow the signs to the town centre and car parks. There are a marked drop-off point and two free spaces for coach parking in the Bell Street car park. Five minutes’ walk from Bell Street round into the High Street will bring you to the Town Hall, where access to Gold Hill is via steps to the left or quite a steep cobbled ramp to the right.

Public Transport Directions

Bus services from Yeovil, Salisbury, Blandford, Poole and Bournemouth. National Express coaches provide a daily service to and from London. Nearest railway station is Gillingham - 5 miles. Taxi or local bus service to Shaftesbury, alight Town Hall.