Museum of East Dorset

Name: Museum of East Dorset
Brand: Euan's Guide
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)

Overall rating

4.5

2 reviews

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About

The Museum of East Dorset is a historic house that dates back to the 1500s, before Elizabeth I was Queen of England. Today, the town house is Grade II* listed on the National Heritage List for England (NHLE). This means it is of particularly special architectural and historic interest and ensures that the building is protected for future generations. Step inside and discover some fascinating, and often quirky, architectural features including an enclosed stone courtyard, timber-framed walls, Georgian panelled rooms and a kitchen extension dating back to the mid-1700s. Visit the Museum of East Dorset to discover more about the house and all the different people who lived there. If you are fascinated by local history and love exploring traditional architecture, this is the place to visit in Wimborne. The Museum also features a scenic garden which is 100 metres long and extends from the back door of the historic house to the Mill Stream. It is part of a medieval burgage plot, which was created by town planners in the 1200s. The garden is open to the public and offers a safe place for visitors of all ages and abilities to relax or explore. Visitors can always enjoy a welcome cup of tea and slice of cake in the Garden Tea Room. When the weather is fine, the garden is often used as a venue for family activities, school visits and seasonal events.

Reviews

Overall rating

4.5

(2 reviews)

Overall rating breakdown

5 1
4 1
3 0
2 0
1 0

Access (avg.)

4.5

Parking (avg.)

2.5

Toilets (avg.)

Staff (avg.)

daisy97

Sept 2025

Wimborne museum

I'm in a manual wheelchair and I go here pretty regularly. The access is better than you'd expect considering the age! There are some steep ramps and some tight corners but theres a through floor lift and you can get to all the in use rooms in the museum apart from there is a step up to see the mummified cat as it's in a cubbyhole thing. The floor is a bit uneven at points especially in the garden and there are some bits that are kind of tricky outside (gravel in one part) but you can see it all staying on the pavers. In the shop there is a bit with secondhand books and there's a step up in to that though the people in the shop will tell you what's there and bring stuff out if you can't get over the step They have some sensory bags and stuff and as you go through the museum theres various audio bits though you'd probably need someone to guide you to them so you know how to turn them on There's a modern disabled toilet in the cafe though it's not a changing places one

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majarminors

Aug 2023

Inclusive, interactive, accessible and fun!

We attended a clay workshop at the venue and it was excellent. My neurodiverse tribe enjoyed the freedom of the garden and exploring the museum as well as the planned activities. The volunteers were friendly and made every effort to engage and encourage the children. It was definitely the best clay workshop we have attended. The teacher was excellent and ensured all children learnt relevant techniques and challenged others to have fun with their ideas and push their creativity even further. The Museum itself is wheelchair accessible to all floors and is hands-on. My children particularly enjoyed the schoolroom and the ironmongers. Video installations, touch screen information points, hunts, quizzes, dress-up opportunities too. We will definitely be coming back. Not once did I feel that my children were being too inquisitive and the volunteers were so welcoming. Thank you to all involved.

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Disabled Access Information Provided by Museum of East Dorset

Disabled Access at Museum of East Dorset

At the Museum of East Dorset, we recognise that accessibility is an important part of our role. We are pleased to welcome visitors of all ages and abilities to the museum and are committed to facilitating access for all, regardless of ability, age, gender, cultural or social background, sexual orientation, faith, language, location or wealth. We strive to do this by ensuring that there are no unnecessary barriers that may prevent or deter visitors from interacting with the museum, our team and our digital channels. Our aim is to make your experience here a positive one. Our disabled visitors may bring an essential carer/helper free of charge. If you have any special requirements, please let us know. Wheelchairs Every aspect of the museum is now fully accessible for wheelchair users, thanks to the newly installed lift between the ground and first floors. There is also ramp access throughout the museum. Assistance dogs Assistance dogs only are very welcome in both the museum and garden.

Accessible parking at Museum of East Dorset

There are disabled parking spaces on High Street Road directly in front of the Museum, however they are not specifically owned by the Museum of East Dorset. Availability of spaces may vary. Disabled parking spaces are also available nearby and these can also be found on the website.

Dedicated on-site parking

On-site accessible parking bays are available within 50 metres of the entrance.

Toilets features at Museum of East Dorset

There are toilet facilities on the ground floor that are fully accessible for wheelchair users, with grab rails. Baby change facilities are also available next to the Garden Tea Room.

Accessible toilet

A designated accessible toilet designed for wheelchair users and others with visible and non-visible accessibility requirements is available within the main public areas.