The Holburne Museum costs £16.50 for general admission, which covers every exhibition on that day, and under-18s go in free. It sits at the far end of Great Pulteney Street, next to Sydney Gardens, and it's the fine art option in Bath for visitors who've already done the Roman Baths and want something different.
What's inside
The Holburne is a fine and decorative art museum built around the collection of Sir William Holburne, a Georgian and Victorian collector whose paintings, silver, porcelain and furniture form the core of the permanent display. On top of the permanent collection, it runs a changing programme of temporary exhibitions, which is why the £16.50 ticket is described as covering "all our exhibitions" rather than a single show. Past and upcoming exhibitions have included major names, so it's worth checking what's currently on before you visit if a specific show is the draw.
The building itself is worth a look regardless of what's showing: a Georgian townhouse extended with a striking modern glass and ceramic-tiled wing, sitting at the head of Great Pulteney Street looking straight down toward the city centre.
Prices and opening hours, checked September 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| General admission | £16.50 |
| Under 18 | Free |
| Concessions | Available (check current terms at booking) |
| Opening hours | Mon–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun & bank holidays 11am–5pm |
| Last admission | 4.30pm |
General admission gets you into the permanent collection and every current temporary exhibition, so there's no separate "special exhibition" upcharge on top of the standard ticket. The museum also has a dog-friendly café on site serving drinks, pastries, cakes and a lunch menu from midday to 3pm, useful if you're planning to combine a visit with lunch rather than eating elsewhere.
Is it worth visiting?
Yes, particularly if you're spending two or more days in Bath and want a break from Roman and Georgian street architecture. It's a proper fine art collection in an attractive building, it's rarely as crowded as the Roman Baths, and the setting at the end of Great Pulteney Street, right beside Sydney Gardens, makes it easy to combine with a walk through the gardens either before or after. See our Pulteney Bridge and the weir guide for the other end of that walk.
It's a lower priority if you're only in Bath for a single day and haven't yet done the Roman Baths or the Royal Crescent, since those are the sights most first-time visitors will regret skipping.
Getting there
The Holburne is about a 15-minute walk from Bath Spa railway station, roughly 0.8 miles, through the city and down the length of Great Pulteney Street. It's also a similarly short stroll from the city centre. There's a small pay-and-display car park next to the museum, run through the MiPermit app (location number 701060), with charges from 8am to 6pm daily; rates run from £4.50 for up to two hours up to £15 for eight to ten hours. A number of free disabled parking spaces are available for Blue Badge holders. If you're relying on the bus, check the First Bus journey planner before you travel, since there are periodic diversions around city centre roadworks.
FAQs
How much does it cost to visit the Holburne Museum? General admission is £16.50, which covers the permanent collection and all current exhibitions. Under-18s go in free.
What is inside the Holburne Museum? A collection of fine and decorative art built around Sir William Holburne's collection of paintings, silver, porcelain and furniture, plus a changing programme of temporary exhibitions.
What are the Holburne Museum's opening hours? Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, and Sunday and bank holidays, 11am to 5pm. Last admission is 4.30pm.
Is the Holburne Museum near Sydney Gardens? Yes, it sits directly next to Sydney Gardens at the far end of Great Pulteney Street, making it easy to combine both in one visit.
Is there parking at the Holburne Museum? Yes, a small pay-and-display car park next to the museum, run via the MiPermit app, plus free disabled parking for Blue Badge holders.
Does the Holburne Museum have a café? Yes, an on-site café serving drinks, pastries and cakes all day, with a lunch menu from midday to 3pm. It's dog friendly.