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Entrance to the museum is free!
Donations are most welcome, as the museum does not receive government funding. You can also help by feeding our TYGER, when you visit the museum, put a coin in his mouth and he will roar! Children will also enjoy counting the many tigers hiding around the museum.
Normal opening hours are:
The Museum is open 6 days a week:
Tuesday – Friday from 10.30am – 4.30pm,
Saturday from 10.30am – 4.00pm,
Sunday 11.30 am – 3.30pm.
Closed on Monday.
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Children aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Dogs on a lead are allowed in the museum
Accessibility
Our museum welcomes all visitors. There is a wheelchair lift to the mezzanine floor and a wheelchair is available. Disabled toilets are near by.
How to find us
Malmesbury is situated just off the A429, five miles north of M4 junction 17, Postcode SN16 9BZ. The museum is in the Town Hall, by the Cross Hayes short stay car park in the centre of town. There is disabled parking at the near end of the car park.
The museum is located within Malmesbury Town Hall, and is accessed through the Tourist Information Centre.
The Town Hall also contains a Café, a small local art gallery and public toilets.
Inside the Museum
Entering the museum through the large archway. The volunteers’ desk is in front of you. If you have any questions please talk to one of the volunteers.
We are able to discuss making an appointment to view items not currently on display, e.g. for research purposes. Please contact us at: info@athelstanmuseum.org.uk
Immediately in front of you is a large topographical model of the town. This overview illustrates what an ideal place Malmesbury was to fortify. There are buttons to press that show the location of key features in the town, and if you are new to the town it will help you orientate yourself.
The museum is laid out around a time line which links Malmesbury with national and global events. Don’t miss the archaeological drawers nor the Romano British coffin. There are features of Iron Age Malmesbury, the Saxon influences and especially King Athelstan who had a soft spot for the town. See Eilmer, our flying monk and Walter Powell, the ill-fated balloonist; learn about Thomas Hobbes, the famed philosopher; look into our lace-makers cottage and learn about our silk industry. After that go upstairs and enjoy the wonderful Turner painting of Malmesbury Abbey.
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While you are visiting our museum we hope you will enjoy browsing our shop, and find something to buy as a memento of your visit.
The shop sells many books relating to the long and varied history of the town and these can also be ordered online.
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Other places to visit
Explore Malmesbury is an interactive website ideal for use on a mobile phone that tells Malmesbury’s stories at the places they happened. People have lived on this hilltop for over 2,800 years and we have a lot to share!
Follow a themed trail, enjoy an immersive Explore! tour or make up your own self-guided journey.
Keep in touch with everything that’s going on in Malmesbury via the Discover Malmesbury website.
