Welcome to the Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens

Famous for our natural history dioramas, featuring animals from tiny tortoises to enormous elephants, you’ll be amazed at what we have on display. Find us in Birchington, just a stone’s throw from the popular seaside town of Margate.

Our regular open days are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, until 31st October. Check our What’s On page for the latest events and activities. We can’t wait to welcome you!

Plan your visit

Find Out More

This is an exciting time for the Museum, Quex House and Gardens and we’ve got a lot to share with you. From restoration projects to new learning content and initiatives, follow the links to connect with us.

Wheels of Time - Kent

Collect your Wheels of Time badge from us!

We are thrilled to be a new participating member of the Wheels of Time Kent badge collecting scheme. Collect a badge on your next visit!

Everything is happening, all at once, and all of the time!

Our Head of Collections Madylene Beardmore reflects on her first year at the Powell-Cotton Museum for the March/April issue of Museum Journal.

Powell-Cotton Museum Gallery 2

Our roof replacement Part 6

The enabling works for phase 2 of our roof replacement project are now underway. Here's what you can expect...

Discover our collections

Explore the map to discover just some of the objects in our collection and where they are from. 

We had a great time this week exploring botanical printing with our Home Education visitors 🌿

Using plants and flowers from around Quex Gardens, we tried out  cyanotype to create prints inspired by nature. 

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a relaxed and creative session outdoors.

Looking forward to seeing you all again in September for Clay!

#BotanicalPrinting #HomeEducation #QuexGardens #PowellCottonMuseum #NatureArt #LearningInNature

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COMPETITION CLOSED!

Win a place for you and a friend at our Summer Wellbeing Day at Quex Gardens on Sunday 29 June.

To enter:

Like this post
Follow @powellcottonmuseum
Tag a friend you’d love to bring along
Share this post to your Stories and tag us for a bonus entry!

You'll win a full day of wellbeing and rest, including:

- A gentle yoga + meditation session on the lawn with @elise.anna.carter
- Seasonal lunch by @Angelas_of_Margate, using produce from our Walled Garden
- A private tour of Quex’s historic gardens with Head Gardener Sue Harris
- A calming sound bath around the fire pit with @eleanor.yankah of @floating.frequencies.

Prize includes: 2 free tickets (worth £180)

Competition closes Thursday 26 June at 12 noon and the winner will be announced by 4pm on the same day. See the link in our bio for full terms & conditions.

Good luck!

#Giveaway #WellbeingDay #SummerWellbeing #YogaRetreat  #QuexGardens

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Take a breath 🌿

Our summer wellbeing day is almost here!

If you need some time to relax and reconnect before the busy summer, come and join us on Sunday 29 June in Quex Gardens.

This special day of nourishing practices starts with a gentle yoga and meditation session led by @elise.anna.carter .

After the session, you’ll get to enjoy a tasty, garden-to-table lunch prepared by Rob Cooper, the Head Chef at the local green Michelin star restaurant, @angelas_of_margate.

After lunch, our Head Gardener, Sue Harris, will give you a tour of the gardens and a chance to wander before we gather around the fire for a healing sound bath with holistic practitioner @eleanor.yankah to end the day.

Tickets are limited so visit our website now to find out more and book your place. 

#summerreset #quexgardens #wellbeingday #yogaretreat

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From some of the oldest natural woodlands in Thanet to a vibrant Edwardian herbaceous border and roses by David Austin, Quex Gardens is a time capsule of garden styles.

And June is the perfect time to visit!

We’re open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-4pm. 

#QuexGardens #gardensinbloom #gardensofinstagram #roses #Thanet #kentgardens

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Do you have a passion for plants, nature and sharing skills with others?
 
We’re on the lookout for an Assistant Gardener to help care for, develop and enhance our historic gardens.

In this role, you'll be involved in a range of practical horticultural tasks to develop, enhance and conserve the garden, contributing to the long-term garden development plan including design, restoration and promotion. You'll also play a key part in ensuring that Quex Gardens are maintained to a high standard. 

Working together with your colleagues, you will help create and run training sessions and activities for volunteers in the garden providing a diverse group of people with opportunities to learn new skills and take part in garden activities.

Deadline to apply: Sunday 1st June 2025

More details on the role and how to apply at the link in our bio 🔗

 #GardeningJobs #MuseumJobs #KentJobs #Horticulture #QuexGardens #JobOpportunity #GardenLife #CommunityGardens

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New in the gift shop - our kids’ gardening gifts are fun, practical and full of colour! 

Think mini tool belts, gloves, seed pots to grow vegetables and summer flowers, and bird feeder balls. They're a great way to get little ones outdoors and learning about nature. 💚🪴🌼

#PowellCottonMuseum #QuexGardens #Gardening #LittleGardeners #KidsInTheGarden #NaturePlay

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