🏠 IndoorEducational
What’s there
- Limited parking
Parking on the university campus is restricted; designated disability spaces are on site. Reservations for disabled visitors can be requested from the museum.
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
The Museum of Design in Plastics, known as MoDiP, is a small free museum on the first floor of the Arts University Bournemouth library. Its collection covers objects from the 19th century to today, from toys, household items and packaging to fashion and early plastic gadgets, showing how plastics have shaped everyday design. Displays change regularly, with themed cases and temporary exhibitions drawn from the collection. The museum is a quiet, compact space, so it suits older children, teenagers and curious adults rather than very young families. Group visits and teaching sessions are offered for schools and other groups, and a learning resources section is available online. Step-free access is by lift, and designated disability parking is on site. Check the university library's opening pattern before travelling, as the museum is open when the library is open.
Questions parents ask
- Is the museum suitable for young children, or is it mainly for older kids and adults?
- The museum houses design objects and exhibitions like the current 'Britain made it' display, which focuses on design history and manufactured goods from the 1940s onwards. We haven't confirmed what age groups get the most from a visit, so it's worth contacting the museum to discuss whether your children's ages suit the collection.
- Can I take a buggy around the museum?
- The museum is on the first floor of the Arts University Bournemouth library and is accessible via a lift. We haven't confirmed whether the display areas are buggy-friendly, so it's worth checking before you visit.
- Is there a café, or should we bring food?
- We haven't confirmed whether the museum has a café. You may want to contact them to ask about refreshments and whether you can bring a picnic.
- How long should we allow for a visit?
- The museum holds a wide-ranging collection of plastic design objects from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, plus changing exhibitions. The time you'll need depends on how deeply you want to explore; contacting the museum can help you plan accordingly.
- Can we just turn up, or do we need to book?
- The museum welcomes individual and group visits and you can contact them directly for more information about visiting. Before you come, check the visiting us page for any planned closures.
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.
Kids' headphones- Children's paracetamol sachetsThe one thing a farm shop never sells.
- Zip-lock bagsThe shell collection, the wet swimming costume, the half-eaten sandwich.
Tissues- Wet bagFor whatever comes home soaked.
- Face wipes
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Photos: 維基小霸王, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Renée Kools, CC BY 4.0 · david falkner from Birmingham, England, CC BY 2.0 · Web-Betty, CC BY 2.0
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