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:

Joshua Donkor: I have more souls than one
In this exhibition (until 5 May 2025), Joshua Donkor, a Ghanaian-British painter born in 1997, presents recent works exploring identity, belonging and family history. His collaborative approach to portraiture incorporates objects, images, and personal belongings chosen with his sitters. Using layered painting and printing techniques, Donkor embeds these elements into his portraits, reflecting multi-generational narratives. The works combine glimpses of homes, families and memories, creating complex representations of identity shaped by past and present influences.

Iconic: Portraiture from Francis Bacon to Andy Warhol
This exhibition (24 January–5 May 2025) explores how mid-20th-century artists used photography to shape their work, focusing on figures like Francis Bacon, Andy Warhol and Peter Blake. It examines how photographs became both tools and subjects, influencing portraiture and media representation. Featuring works from the 1960s, the exhibition reflects on celebrity culture, media influence and nostalgia. It also draws connections between these modern works and the Holburne’s collection of historical portraits.

Diedrick Brackens: Woven Stories
This exhibition (24 January– 26 May 2025) marks the UK debut of Diedrick Brackens, born in Texas in 1989. His hand-crafted works incorporate West African weaving, Southern USA quilting and European tapestry techniques. Using hand-dyed cotton, Brackens explores themes of American history, African American and queer identity, labour and migration. His works often depict male tenderness, drawing on African and African American literature, poetry and folklore. The exhibition complements the gallery’s focus on craft and connections to its historic collections.

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.