Museums & Galleries · Dorset
Gold Hill Museum
📍 SP7 8JW
Photo: Basher Eyre (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons
- Unique Byzant carried during water supply celebrations
- Dorset's oldest fire engine dating from 1744
- Mummified Dorset cat on display
- Award-winning cottage garden with Blackmore Vale views
- Explorer's Quiz and button mice trail for children
Gold Hill Museum is Shaftesbury and District's local history museum, set in two historic buildings at the top of Gold Hill, famous for the Hovis advert. Across eight galleries you'll find the unique Byzant, Dorset's oldest fire engine dating from 1744, lacework, Dorset buttons, and a mummified Dorset cat, plus a secluded award-winning garden with views over the Blackmore Vale. It suits families and history enthusiasts alike, with quizzes and a button mice trail for children, wheelchair access throughout, and free admission with donations welcome. It's located in Shaftesbury, Dorset (BRITSTAYS:place), with Gillingham station 3.8 miles away (BRITSTAYS:station), and there are 22 bookable places to stay within 5 miles (BRITSTAYS:stays) if you want to linger in the area.
Practical details
- Open
- Every day until 1 November, 10.30am–4.30pm
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs welcome
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair and buggy accessible, with lift and folding wheelchair available
- Parking
- Nearest pay car park about five minutes' walk
- Booking
- Library and Archive research visits need an appointment
From the attraction's own website on 5 Oct 2026 — check before you travel.
Facilities
- ✓ Toilets
- ✓ Pet Friendly
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Make a proper break of it — these stays are all within 25 miles.
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🎪 What's on near Gold Hill Museum
Events from
Skiddle
Fri 13 Nov · 12:00
Salisbury Audio Tour: From Sacred Spires to Historic Crises
Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury · 17.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 13 Nov · 19:00
Skids + Theatre Of Hate
Cheese And Grain, Frome · 16.6 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Fri 4 Dec · 19:00
Beauty and the Beast
Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury · 17.8 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
Sat 5 Dec · 18:30
Carsick
Salisbury Arts Centre, Salisbury · 18.1 mi
Tickets on Skiddle ↗
🗓️ Make a break of it
Turn a visit to Gold Hill Museum into a proper getaway — ready-made plans, and the drive worked out with fuel, EV charging and the best stops.
A weekend in Bournemouth with the kids →
A weekend in Bournemouth →
A weekend in Bournemouth with older parents →
🗺️ Plan the drive to Gold Hill Museum
🚆 Or come by train
- Gillingham (Dorset) 3.8 miles
- Tisbury 6.4 miles
- Templecombe 9.6 miles
Straight-line distances · live departures on each station page