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You are here: Things To Do > Museum of Jurassic Marine Life - The Etches Collection

Museum of Jurassic Marine Life - The Etches Collection

Kimmeridge
WAREHAM
Dorset
BH20 5PE

Awards

  • Visit BritainWe're Good to Go We're Good to Go 2020

Add Museum of Jurassic Marine Life - The Etches Collection to your Itinerary

The Etches Collection - Museum of Jurassic Marine Life
  • The Etches Collection - Museum of Jurassic Marine Life
  • The Etches Collection - Museum of Jurassic Marine Life
  • The Etches Collection - Museum of Jurassic Marine Life
  • The Etches Collection - Museum of Jurassic Marine Life
  • The Etches Collection - Museum of Jurassic Marine Life

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1929 270000

About

Come and visit the ‘Jewel’ in the crown of the Jurassic Coast, The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life situated in the village of Kimmeridge, Dorset

Housing the finest single collection of Late Jurassic age fossils all found by just one man, Dr Steve Etches MBE - you will be mesmerized by sea monsters, prehistoric predators and the marine flora and fauna of 152-157 million years ago when Kimmeridge was but a shallow, tropical sea. All of the fossils in the collection were found by Steve in the Kimmeridge Bay locality, from the world famous oil rich Kimmeridge Clay, within 2 miles of where the Museum is located.

Learn about their Stories from Deep Time interpreted with state of the art CGI imagery of Jurassic marine life swimming above the amazing fossils in the museum gallery.

Watch as Steve Etches cleans and conserves his latest finds in the museum lab and workshop - our collection of world class fossils include many which are new to science and of national importance.

The museum features:-

** Exhibition fossil gallery with CGI imagery and interactives

** State of the art workshop, lab and reserve fossil collection

** Wolfson Education room with geological and palaeontological interactive displays and information, library, microscope and fossil handling collection, fossil excavation pit, fossil mould painting and activities

** Our lifesize recreation of the top chain predator of the Jurassic seas, the giant sea monster Pliosaur - Goliath

** Video information guides on the collection

** Shop featuring unique gifts, jewellery, branded merchandise, rare fossils and minerals for sale, Jurassic and dinosaur themed goods

** Clore Room - our Village Hall which features events, pop up exhibitions and is available for hire

** Refreshments

** Fully accessible, carbon neutral, modern museum building

Opening Times

2021 Opening (1 January 2021 - 31 December 2021)
DayTimes
Monday - Sunday10:00 - 17:00*

* We are open every day 10am to 5pm except when we are closed at Christmas on the 24th, 25th, and 26th December (please check website).
If you are a group, school, educational institution or university please contact us for discounted entrance tickets and details on a educational package
The entrance fee includes 12 months complimentary admission to The Etches Collection and is valid for one year from the date shown on your till receipt (which must be retained for re-admission).

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

Guide Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£8.00 per ticket
(1 Adult + 3 children)£16.00 per ticket
(2 adults + 2 children)£20.00 per ticket
(5 – 16 years)£4.00 per ticket
(under 5 years)Free

SPECIAL CONCESSIONS:- If you are a group, school, carer, educational institution or university please contact us at info@theetchescollection.org or call 01929 270000 for discounted entrance tickets and details on a educational package to support your visit.

The entrance fee includes 12 months complimentary admission to The Etches Collection and is valid for one year from the date shown on your till receipt (which must be retained for re-admission). You will be asked to sign and print your name on your till receipt. Tickets are not transferable including family/child tickets. Proof of signature will be required in order to gain re-admission. Conditions and exclusion dates may apply. For our refund and complaints policies, please see the attached documents.

Our Ticket Price…..

The Etches Collection exists due to the generous funding provided to enable the creation and build of the museum from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other trusts and donors. We are not funded or supported in any way by the government or other bodies when it comes to our day to day running and in order to maintain and sustain the fossil collection for future generations, we rely heavily on the income generated from our ticket sales, events and room hire. All of our revenue is reinvested back into the museum to enhance and grow the displays within the collection as well as conserve specimens for the long term future and to expand on the visitor experience for all of those that come and visit us at The Etches Collection. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in visiting us.


Gift Aid

With your permission The Etches Collection can reclaim from the government 25p in every £1 spent on admission by using GiftAid - It costs you nothing but helps us a lot. Please refer to the GOV.UK website for further information on GIFTAID.

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1929 270000

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theetchescollectionkimmeridge

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
202 reviews
  • Travelers Choice 2020
  • Excellent
    139
  • Very Good
    39
  • Average
    16
  • Poor
    5
  • Terrible
    3

Recent Reviews:

  • expedition_master
    Letchworth
    An exceptionally well presented small museum
    4 of 5 stars
    Sunday, 22nd November 2020
    We visited the Etches Collection on a week-long tour of Dorset in October 2020. This collection is exceptionally well presented and represents a small selection of one man's fossil hunting along the... Read full review
  • deskjet2
    Bournemouth, United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    Always interesting to visit
    5 of 5 stars
    Saturday, 5th December 2020
    Our second visit this year and well worth the time to see the amazing fossil collection again. Followed by lunch at Clavells across the road. Read full review
  • K567KCsharons
    Christchurch, United Kingdom
    Trip Type:
    Couples
    Inspirational
    5 of 5 stars
    Wednesday, 30th December 2020
    This museum (which also incorporates the village hall) is a an architectural and scientific gem. With amazing views over the very coast Steve etches collects his amazing fossil treasures, it is well... Read full review
Write a review
© TripAdvisor 2021

Facilities

Accessibility

  • Accessible to Wheelchair Users
  • All Areas Accessible to Disabled Visitors
  • Facilities for Hearing Impaired Visitors
  • Guide Dogs Permitted
  • Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
  • Ramp/Level Access
  • Toilets for Disabled Visitors

Attraction Facilities

  • Shop

Establishment Features

  • Conference facilities
  • Event Venue
  • Free car parking
  • On-site coach parking
  • Open All Year
  • Printed Material in Foreign Languages - French museum guide
  • Shop
  • Toilets
  • Wedding Venue

Key Features

  • In countryside

Parking & Transport

  • Parking (free)

Payment Methods

  • American Express accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Special group rates
  • Visa accepted

Printed Material in Foreign Languages

  • French printed material

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
  • Guided Tours Available for Individuals

Travel & Trade

  • Group discounts available
  • Wi-fi available

Venue Facilities

  • Groups Accepted

Map & Directions

View Map

Road Directions

We are in the village of Kimmeridge, eight miles south of Wareham in Dorset.

Kimmeridge is sign posted from the A351 at Wareham.  As you turn into the village, the museum building is on the right hand side, opposite Clavell's Restaurant.

It's useful to know that Kimmeridge is close to Lulworth Army Firing Ranges and sometimes there can be road closures in the area.  Visitors may need to take a detour via Corfe Castle or past The Blue Pool to get to us. The weblink to check for any scheduled road closures is: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lulworth-firing-notice

Public Transport Directions

Journey planning: Contact Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or visit their website: www.travelinesw.com to look up bus timetables. From 1st January 2019, calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.

Website

Email

Telephone: +44 (0)1929 270000

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