What to do · Cotswolds
Corinium Museum, for a rainy day
Information
- From
- £10 adult
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Who it's for
- From 7 years
What it is and why it matters
The Corinium Museum, in the centre of Cirencester, tells the story of the town and the Cotswolds from the Stone Age to the Victorian era. Its strength is the Roman material: Cirencester was Corinium Dobunnorum, one of the important Roman towns of Britannia, and almost everything on display came out of its soil. The museum was born in 1938 from the merging of two private collections, those of the Bathurst and Cripps families, and today it holds more than 60,000 pieces. It passed to Cotswold District Council and reopened in 1974; the latest major refurbishment, "Stone Age to Corinium", was completed in 2020.
It is the Cotswolds visit for a rainy day: all under cover, in the centre of a town with shops and cafés.
What you see
- The Roman mosaics. Floors from the 2nd to the 4th centuries, among them the 4th-century Orpheus mosaic and the hunting dogs mosaic.
- Roman sculpture and daily life. Reliefs and gravestones, and household objects: knives, brooches, earrings, a comb.
- Prehistory. Neolithic tools, pottery, pieces from the Iron Age hillfort at Bagendon and "Rusty", the skeleton of a dog from that period.
- Anglo-Saxons. Grave goods, above all from the Butler's Field cemetery in Lechlade.
- Middle Ages. Cirencester Abbey and the wool trade.
The building includes part of Abberley House, an 18th-century house. The galleries are modern and bright, with interactive exhibits.
Allow an hour and a half.
Opening hours
According to its ticketing website, Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:00 and Sunday 14:00 to 16:00. In spring and summer the hours may be extended to 17:00: confirm on the museum's website before you go. Closed from 24 to 26 December and on 1 January.
Tickets
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £8.70 |
| Over 65 | £7.15 |
| Concession (students and others) | £5.50 |
| Ages 5 to 16 | £4 |
| Under 5 | Free |
| Family (2 adults and 2 to 4 children) | £23.10 |
The museum asks you to book online. You choose the day, not the time: with the booking you can arrive whenever you like during that day. With the National Art Pass, entry is free.
Getting there
It is on Park Street, Cirencester, GL7 2BX, in the centre. By car, park in the public car parks in the centre. The nearest railway station is Kemble; from there, a taxi.
Accessibility and children
The galleries are modern; for details of wheelchair access, call the museum on 01285 655611. For children there are interactive exhibits and activities on some dates: check the events page on the website. From about 7 years old they get a lot out of it; for the youngest, an hour.
Combine it
Bibury is about 10 km away. If the rain clears, carry on to Bibury by car or on the 855 bus.
Tips
- Book the day before That way you have the day's ticket and arrive whenever you like.
- Buy the family ticket if there are four of you Two adults and two children pay £23.10 instead of £25.40.
- On Sundays, afternoon only It does not open until 14:00: if you go on a Sunday, leave the morning for Bibury.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Corinium Museum cost?
£8.70 per adult, £4 for ages 5 to 16 and £23.10 for the family ticket. Under 5s do not pay.
Do you have to book?
The museum asks you to book online, but you only choose the day: you go in at whatever time you like.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Saturday from 10:00 and Sunday from 14:00, closing at 16:00 in winter.
As a familyWith teenagers
