The Canterbury District has many museum and gallery attractions
to offer visitors and residents.
News - Council budget proposals for our museum services - clarification
In response to misleading allegations currently circulating in the media that the council is proposing to close three museums this April we have issued a clarification of our position.
Find out what's new and what's going on.
- New features
Get information on the latest additions, new displays and improved services. - What's on
See events, exhibitions and happenings at museums and galleries around the district. - Join our e-newsletter
Receive our new email newsletter direct to your inbox, with information on new exhibitions, events and museum news from across the district. - Competitions
See competition winners from across the museums. Find online competition entry forms to complete at home. - Digi-Guide videos
See animated videos from the award winning Museum of Canterbury anytime! A selection of videos can now be found on YouTube.
Beaney News
The Beaney - work begins inside (8 June 09)
Emptying the Beaney Institute of all it contained was never going to be an easy task, but the job is now coming to an end.
Staff of both councils - a joint project between Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council - have had to pack up countless books, pictures, ceramics and all the office equipment that had been needed for the museum, gallery and library services. The building closed at the end of February.
Internal scaffolding was then erected to enable staff and specialists to get to the painting collections, many of which were hung high up to use all available space. One particular challenge was the removal of TS Cooper's huge painting of Charlie the Bull from the main stairwell.
Although the library was soon relocated to 35 Pound Lane and museum collections moved to the Museum of Canterbury in Stour Street, it was just the start of other work inside the building, which has continued unseen to the public eye.
All fixtures and fittings of the museum and library have been removed from the building's three floors, and showcases moved out.
Partitions erected in the course of the building's 100-year history have been carefully removed, in some places revealing the early colour decoration.
And elsewhere the structure has been investigated to see if there are any problem areas. All this was work that could only be done when the public was no longer in the building.
Three months of archaeological investigations will be starting soon, ahead of the main building work.
Museums and Galleries
All museums and galleries in the Canterbury District, at a glance.
- Museum of Canterbury
Formerly known as the Canterbury Heritage Museum - the Museum of Canterbury is a 21st century interactive museum, whose theme is the city itself and its often turbulent story. - Rupert Bear Museum (at the Museum of Canterbury)
Come and join Rupert and his Chums in their very own museum - full of adventure and surprises! - Canterbury West Gate Towers
After the Cathedral, the West Gate is Canterbury's next eye-catching landmark. It has stood for six centuries on guard over the road to and from London. (pictured above) - Canterbury Roman Museum
The Roman Museum is underground at the level of the Roman town. It's an exciting mix of excavated real objects: authentic reconstructions; and preserved remains of a Roman town house with its famous mosaics. - Canterbury Royal Museum and Art Gallery
A splendid Victorian building houses decorative arts and picture collections - including a gallery for T. S. Cooper, England's finest cattle painter. Now closed for redevelopment, The Royal Museum and Art Gallery is due to re-open in 2011. - Whitstable Museum and Gallery
Whitstable's unique coastal community and seafaring traditions are the main themes of the town's lively museum; with special features on oysters, diving and shipping. - Herne Bay Museum and Gallery
This bright and modern museum highlights the history of the Victorian seaside resort of Herne Bay and its surrounding area, including finds from Reculver Roman fort.
Useful information
- Museum Group Visits, Education Services, Group Booking Forms
Information for educational visits and group bookings. - Join our e-newsletter
Receive our email newsletter direct to your inbox, with information on new exhibitions, events and museum news from across the district. - Group Booking Forms
Booking forms for Canterbury's Museums and Galleries. - Canterbury Map
See where museums and galleries are located in Canterbury. - Whitstable Museum and Gallery contact information
- You said, we did.....
All correspondence for the Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay Museums should be sent to:
Canterbury Museums Office
Museum of Canterbury
Stour Street
Canterbury CT1 2NR
Telephone: + 44 (0)1227 452 747
Fax: +44 (0)1227 455 047
Email: museums@canterbury.gov.uk
