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:

Uncanny Visions: Paula Rego and Francisco de Goya
This exhibition (until 5 January 2025) pairs Goya’s Los Disparates (1815–1824) with Rego’s Nursery Rhymes, exploring their shared use of unsettling imagery. Themes include absurdity, folklore, violence and satire, with works spanning etchings, aquatints, drawings and 3D objects. The exhibition highlights how Goya’s influence on Rego is reflected in her use of visual motifs, narrative devices and media.

Neon Dreams: Chila Kumari Singh Burman
Neon Dreams (until 12 January 2025) is an installation featuring Burman’s largest neon piece, Glowing Canopies (2023), illuminating the museum’s facade with colourful tree and bee shapes. Inside, the Ballroom showcases My Tiger Janu (2022), a life-size sculpture inspired by her father’s 1960s ice cream van, which had a Bengal tiger figurine on top, evoking memories from her childhood.

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.