Learning
From school visits, to home educating groups, find out about our growing learning offer here
Welcome to the museum!
The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House* and Gardens are open for the season from Saturday 15th February – Friday 31st October 2025 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.
Opening Times:
Our standard 2025 opening times are 11 am- 4 pm. Opening times may vary on event days.
Prices:
Adult: £5
Concession: £4.50
Child (4-16 yrs): £4
Infant (0-3 yrs): Free
Your visit includes:
Free guided tours inside the museum and Quex House*
Entrance to the museum, Quex House and Gardens
Free hire of backpack buddies for young visitors
Free hire of SEND backpacks for visitors with additional needs
A programme of special activities and events throughout the year (please note these may incur a higher admission charge)
*Please note that entrance to Quex House will be by guided tour only. Tour times will be published on the day. Please email enquiries@powell-cottonmuseum.org to check if tours will be available on the day you plan to visit.
Weddings
We are delighted that Quex Weddings and Events operates at the museum. Occasionally, weddings may privately hire Quex House for their big day. There are currently no further weddings planned on our open days.
Accessibility Guide
We have worked with AccessAble so you can find out about our facilities before you visit. AccessAble’s surveyors assessed our venue to create a Detailed Access Guide. If you have any questions, please contact us on enquiries@powell-cottonmuseum.org and we will be happy to assist you in planning your visit.
Accessibility GuidePlanned roof replacement works 2025
Our roof replacement works are progressing well and we are pleased to have been able to minimise disruption to your visit. When we open for the 2025 season, we will be in phase 2 of the project. Visitors can expect intermittent closures to our world-culture galleries whilst work continues both above on the roof, and within the galleries themselves. Our natural history galleries will not be affected in this phase of works. We deeply appreciate your support and understanding throughout this project. If you have any concerns, please email us at enquiries@powell-cottonmuseum.org.
Opening Times
Our 2025 season open days
15th February – 31st October, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Times
11 – 4 pm unless otherwise stated for event days.
How do I buy tickets?
You can pre-book your visit online here.
We advise pre-booking online wherever possible to guarantee your chosen visit date.
Group Bookings: Please see our group visits page.
School Bookings: Please see our school visits page under ‘learning’.
How to get to us
We have teamed up with Good Journey to encourage car-free days out. We’re offering kids to visit free with each full-paying adult when they show a valid train or bus ticket or bike helmet. (Up to two free children with each adult).
There are no buses passing Quex Park. The walk from Birchington village is level and there are no hills or slopes. The bus stop is 0.7 miles / 1.1 km from Powell-Cotton Museum, House and Gardens.
The nearest train station is Birchington-on-Sea. The train station is 1 mile / 1.6 km from Powell-Cotton Museum, House and Gardens.
You can get a taxi with Central Cars who offer an accessible taxi service. Please call in advance at (01843) 88 88 88. They have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle on request.
The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens, Quex Park, Birchington, Kent, CT7 0BH.
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Parking
We have a car park adjacent to the main museum building entrance. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is free and there are three accessible parking spaces.
There is a drop-off point with a dropped curb at the main entrance. From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is a minimum of 1500mm wide.
Accessibility
We have worked with AccessAble so you can find out about our facilities before you visit. AccessAble’s surveyors assessed our venue to create a Detailed Access Guide. Read the guide here
If you have a suggestion on how we can improve accessibility, please contact us enquiries@powell-cottonmuseum.org
Dogs and Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs only are allowed in the museum, house and gardens. If your assistance dog is thirsty we will provide water, please just ask a member of staff.
Toilets
Male, female, gender-neutral and accessible toilets are available in the main museum building.
Eating and Drinking
You are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens. Please take your rubbish home with you.
Our gift shop stocks delicious ice cream and cold drinks.
Felicity’s cafe is situated at the front of the museum. They serve breakfasts, lunches, desserts and delicious afternoon tea’s. All their cakes are freshly baked on site. For more information and to book please visit https://felicityscafeatquex.co.uk/ or call 01843 482004. Indoor and outdoor seating available, pre-booking is advised.
