Holburne Museum

The museum underwent a major renovation between 2008 and 2011 and during this time a modern annexe, designed by Eric Parry, was added to the rear of the Grade I listed building.

The Holburne has been used as a film set and has appeared in Vanity Fair (2004), The Duchess (2008) and the Netflix series Bridgerton (2020–21), where it stood in as Lady Danbury’s townhouse.

What to see at the Holburne Museum

The Holburne Museum of Art was originally built to showcase Sir Thomas William Holburne’s personal collection of over 4,000 objects with a focus on fine and decorative arts. The collection has been expanded over the years to encompass around 10,000 objects.

The museum now features works by prominent artists such as Thomas Gainsborough, Francesco Guardi, Allan Ramsay, George Stubbs and Johan Zoffany.

Temporary exhibitions at The Holburne Museum

In addition to its permanent collections, The Holburne Museum hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:

Bath Unlimited at the Holburne
This display (until 29 October 2025) explores Bath’s global influence in architecture, engineering and business. It highlights how local expertise contributed to international projects, including Singapore’s Supertrees, the Olympic Park Stadium and Everton’s new ground. Designed by Bath agency Mytton Williams, panels in the museum café showcase companies whose work spans sectors from finance to defence.

Sculpting the Earth: Ceramics by Natalie Bevan, Psiche Hughes & Ann Stokes
This exhibition (until 4 January 2026) presents ceramics by three 20th-century artists: Natalie Bevan, Psiche Hughes and Ann Stokes. Their figurative works echo 18th-century porcelain traditions while challenging divisions between art and craft. Stokes created both functional and sculptural pieces, Bevan produced imaginative figures and scenes, and Hughes modelled lively representations of animals and everyday life. Together, they reveal a personal, intuitive approach to clay that reflects individual experience and creativity.

Illustrating Austen
Marking 250 years since Jane Austen’s birth, Illustrating Austen (until 11 January 2026) examines how her characters have been visually interpreted over time. The exhibition explores the artwork that brought Austen’s stories to life and how these depictions evolved with changing audiences and societal contexts.

Dreams of the Everyday: Paintings by Winifred Nicholson & Andrew Cranston
This exhibition (until 11 January 2026) brings together works by Winifred Nicholson (1893–1981) and Andrew Cranston (born 1969), curated by Jonathan Anderson with Richard Ingleby. It examines how both artists depict ordinary life, domestic spaces and nature through memory and imagination. Though separated by a century, Nicholson’s travels and Cranston’s Glasgow-based practice share an interest in intimacy and the quiet observation of everyday experience.

Powder and Presence: Pastel Portraits in the Eighteenth Century
This display (until 4 May 2026) explores the rise of pastel portraiture in the 18th century. The medium, valued for its soft texture, allowed artists to capture fine detail and tone. Works include examples by Jean-Étienne Liotard, Anna Tonelli, William Hoare, Prince Hoare and Thomas Lawrence. The exhibition highlights how pastel’s immediacy made it practical for Bath’s visiting sitters seeking quick commissions.

Visiting the Holburne Museum

The Holburne Museum is at the northeastern end of Great Pulteney Street near the Sydney Gardens. The city centre is around a 10-minute walk from here.

At £11, admission to the Holburn Museum is fairly expensive for a museum in a small city, although admission to exhibitions is half price if you have a valid National Art Pass.

The museum is fully wheelchair accessible.

The museum’s Garden Cafe has a lovely setting facing the Sydney Gardens and the museum also has its own on-site gift shop.

Allow around two hours for your visit.

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