The American Museum & Gardens costs £17 for an adult day ticket, covering the museum, exhibition gallery, gardens, deli and shop, with children aged 5 to 17 at £10 and under-5s free. It's about ten minutes from central Bath by car, and it's a genuinely different day out from the city's Georgian and Roman sights.
What it is
This is the only American decorative arts museum outside the United States, set in a country house at Claverton Manor on the edge of Bath, with period rooms furnished as American interiors from the 17th to 19th centuries, a quilt collection, folk art and a Native American gallery. Outside, the estate has landscaped gardens including a recreation of George Washington's garden at Mount Vernon, an arboretum and walking trails with views back over the Avon valley.
It's a combined indoor-and-outdoor visit rather than a quick museum stop: most visitors treat it as a half-day out, splitting time between the house, the gardens and lunch at the on-site deli.
Prices and opening times, checked September 2026
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £17.00 |
| Child (5–17) | £10.00 |
| Under 5 | Free |
| Student | £14.00 |
| 1 Adult Family (1 adult, up to 3 children) | £25.50 |
| 2 Adult Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) | £42.00 |
Prices include a voluntary 10% donation; you can ask at the ticket office to pay without it if you'd rather not add the donation. The museum and gardens are open Tuesday to Sunday (plus bank holidays and local school holiday Mondays) from mid-February to early January, with the museum itself open 11am to 4pm (last entry 3pm) and the gardens, exhibition gallery, deli and shop running longer, generally 10am to 5pm in the main season. Parking on site is free for visitors.
If you're planning to come back more than once, an annual individual membership is £42, a joint membership £65, and a family membership from £79, which works out cheaper than day tickets if you're likely to visit two or three times in a year.
Is it worth the trip?
Yes, if you want a change of pace from central Bath's Roman and Georgian sights, or you're specifically interested in American history and folk art. It's less crowded than the Roman Baths, the gardens give you a genuine countryside walk without leaving the Bath area, and the American décor and history angle is something you won't find replicated anywhere else nearby. Families tend to do well here too, since there's more room to roam than in the tighter museums in the city centre.
It's a lower priority if you're only in Bath for a single day, since it takes a chunk of a day on its own and it's outside the walkable centre; in that case, our things to do in Bath guide covers the sights to prioritise first.
Getting there
The American Museum & Gardens sits at Claverton, about ten minutes' drive from central Bath, with a free on-site car park. Without a car, it's reachable by local bus from the city centre, though services can be infrequent, so check current times before you set off; a taxi is the more reliable option if you're short on time. For the wider picture on getting around without driving, see our Bath taxi companies compared guide if you'd rather book ahead than wait for a bus, or our Bath parking guide if you're driving yourself.
FAQs
How much does it cost to visit the American Museum & Gardens? £17 for an adult day ticket, £10 for a child aged 5 to 17, and free for under-5s. Prices checked directly on the official site in September 2026.
What's inside the American Museum & Gardens? Period rooms furnished as American interiors from the 17th to 19th centuries, plus a quilt collection, folk art, a Native American gallery, and landscaped gardens including a recreation of George Washington's Mount Vernon garden.
How do I get to the American Museum & Gardens without a car? Local buses run from central Bath, though check current times as services can be infrequent. A taxi is a more reliable option if you're short on time.
Is there parking at the American Museum & Gardens? Yes, free on-site parking for visitors.
How long should I plan for a visit? Most visitors treat it as a half-day out, splitting time between the house, the gardens and lunch at the on-site deli.
Is the American Museum & Gardens good for families? Yes, the combination of an indoor museum and extensive outdoor gardens and trails gives families more room to spread out than most of Bath's central attractions.