Poole Museum & Scaplen's Court
Museums & Science Centres · Poole, Dorset
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Closed — opens tomorrow at 10am
🏠 Indoor & outdoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16🆓 Free entryEducational☔ Rainy-day friendlyGardens
What’s there
- Café on site
- Baby changing
- Buggy friendly
Access & inclusion
- Step-free access
No car park of the museum's own. Blue Badge bays on Poole Quay near the Customs House and marina (up to three hours), and 16 Blue Badge bays in the Quay Visitors multi-storey car park, BH15 1SB, a short walk away.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
Poole Museum tells the story of a harbour town and its people, spread across several floors of galleries in a converted quayside warehouse. Its displays range from an Iron Age logboat and maritime galleries to the Poole Pottery collection and a replica bird hide overlooking the harbour. Family trails and hands-on interactive displays give younger visitors something to do, and the museum runs workshops and events through the year. A short walk away, Scaplen's Court is a medieval merchant's house with a physic and herb garden and a café called the Old Town Salt Pig. Entry to both buildings is free, so a visit suits a relaxed afternoon in the Old Town, with time to see the harbour and the quay nearby.
Questions parents ask
- Can I get a buggy around the museum, and will it work with a toddler and an older child?
- Yes, the museum is buggy friendly with step-free access throughout, making it manageable with multiple children of different ages. You'll also find baby changing facilities on site.
- Is there somewhere to eat, or should I bring a picnic?
- The Old Town Salt Pig café is located in Scaplen's Court on the ground floor, serving quiches, sausage rolls, salads and sweet treats made with local sustainable ingredients. You can eat in or take food away, so a picnic isn't necessary unless you prefer it.
- How long should I allow for a visit?
- The page suggests making a day of it by exploring the main museum, Scaplen's Court and Garden, and the Sea Music Sculpture along the quayside, though you can of course visit for a shorter time if you prefer.
- Will a wet forecast spoil our visit?
- The museum is both indoor and outdoor with galleries inside Scaplen's Court, so you can explore exhibitions and collections regardless of the weather. The gardens and quayside sculpture are best enjoyed in dry conditions, but the core experience works in rain.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
Wet wipes
Small first aid kitPlasters solve more days out than anything else here.
Fidget toy- Pram blackout coverA nap on the move is a whole extra hour of day out.
Bum bag
Sick bagsYou only forget these once.
Reusable cutlery
Tissues
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Photos: 維基小霸王, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Renée Kools, CC BY 4.0 · MissLunaRose12, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Plusea, CC BY 2.0 · Politikaner, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Web-Betty, CC BY 2.0
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