View of Quex House house with a row of cannons in front of a green canopy.

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 main season begins on Saturday 15th February with regular open days 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. 

Come for the natural history, stay for the feathers 🦚

Our resident peacock Pinfold is strutting into spring with a full fan of fabulous feathers! 

Come and meet our marvellous peacock, explore the museum and gardens and enjoy a day out filled with nature and history this Easter. 

We're open Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, 11am-4pm.

#SpringExplorers #NaturalHistory #QuexHouse #QuexGardens #PowellCottonMuseum #MuseumGardens #VisitKent #VisitThanet #EasterWeekend

Come for the natural history, stay for the feathers 🦚

Our resident peacock Pinfold is strutting into spring with a full fan of fabulous feathers!

Come and meet our marvellous peacock, explore the museum and gardens and enjoy a day out filled with nature and history this Easter.

We`re open Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, 11am-4pm.

#SpringExplorers #NaturalHistory #QuexHouse #QuexGardens #PowellCottonMuseum #MuseumGardens #VisitKent #VisitThanet #EasterWeekend
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Gorgeous blossoms are blooming in the gardens. 

With the season only lasting a few weeks, now is the best time to take a blossom break and enjoy this stunning annual show!

The museum, house and gardens are open from 11am - 4pm.

 #QuexGardens #BlossomWatch #SpringInBloom #GardenVisit #WoodlandWalk

Gorgeous blossoms are blooming in the gardens.

With the season only lasting a few weeks, now is the best time to take a blossom break and enjoy this stunning annual show!

The museum, house and gardens are open from 11am - 4pm.

#QuexGardens #BlossomWatch #SpringInBloom #GardenVisit #WoodlandWalk
...

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Come along to Quex Gardens to participate in the @rspb Big Garden Bird Watch!

The gardens will be open for a donation entry on Friday 24th - Sunday 26th January, 11 - 3pm.

Bring your binoculars and see how many beautiful birds you can spot in our 10 acres of gardens. We will provide spotter sheets to help you identify the birds. Stop along the path for a warming cup of tea or coffee in exchange for a small donation. 

When you have finished, log on to the RSPB website and submit your results (this can also be done by post). 

No booking required, just come along!

@visitkent @visitthanet @bestkentattractions 

#QuexGardens #biggardenbirdwatch #wintergardens #BritishWinter #birdwatching

Come along to Quex Gardens to participate in the @rspb Big Garden Bird Watch!

The gardens will be open for a donation entry on Friday 24th - Sunday 26th January, 11 - 3pm.

Bring your binoculars and see how many beautiful birds you can spot in our 10 acres of gardens. We will provide spotter sheets to help you identify the birds. Stop along the path for a warming cup of tea or coffee in exchange for a small donation.

When you have finished, log on to the RSPB website and submit your results (this can also be done by post).

No booking required, just come along!

@visitkent @visitthanet @bestkentattractions

#QuexGardens #biggardenbirdwatch #wintergardens #BritishWinter #birdwatching
...

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This week our Sunshine Project participants got to see their glazed pots. 
They created these beautiful pieces during a recent clay workshop.
We're all blown away by their talent!

The Sunshine Project receives a grant from AIM Connected Communities. AIM Connected Communities is funded by DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund through Arts Council England.

 @Aimmuseums @DCMS @Ace_national
#SunshineProjectSunday #QuexGardens

This week our Sunshine Project participants got to see their glazed pots.
They created these beautiful pieces during a recent clay workshop.
We`re all blown away by their talent!

The Sunshine Project receives a grant from AIM Connected Communities. AIM Connected Communities is funded by DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund through Arts Council England.

@Aimmuseums @DCMS @Ace_national
#SunshineProjectSunday #QuexGardens
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