Update 19th July: We strongly suggest booking a ticket in advance to be sure of your visit. Face coverings must be worn in the museum unless visible proof of exemotion is shown. . Please book your tickets here

Welcome to Ilfracombe Museum

Ilfracombe Museum Trust CIO

Explore a world of curiosities at our friendly museum. Discover the story of Ilfracombe’s rich history and find objects from around the world. Be amazed at the variety of our collections, from natural history and archaeology, art and photography, costume and domestic history. There’s something here for everyone to enjoy.

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Plan Your Visit

We are open Mon to Friday and Saturday afternoons. We strongly recommend booking in advance as visitor numbers are restricted

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Visitor Information

What’s On

We’ve got lots of exciting free family activities for you to take part in – click the Stay Curious button

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Explore a world of curiosities at our friendly museum

Ilfracombe’s great value family attraction

A fascinating place to visit come rain or shine

Overflowing with the curious and the wonderful, we have unimaginable finds from around the world – from a shrunken head to pickled bats! There is something here for everyone and children visit free! A great experience for all the family.

The whole family will be intrigued by the variety of displays. Peer into drawers and peek into cupboards; wander through eight different rooms and uncover the museum’s hidden treasures. You won’t be disappointed by your visit to one of North Devon’s best museums!

There’s more to discover than you’d ever imagine!

Museum gift shop – browse our great gift range

Children’s quizzes, brass rubbing & regular children’s activities.

Under 16s FREE. Disabled access.

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ilfracombe_museum

Our craft maerials have arrived and we can't wait $Our craft maerials have arrived and we can't wait to make these cute hedgehog dreamcatchers with you!🙌 We also have dangling bats, and glittery spiders - how to choose?🤔 Just £4 per child, adult is free. Places limited on a first come first served basis #halftermfun #autumn2021 #kidsactivity #ilfracombe$

#Octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #kidscraft # $#Octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #kidscraft #ilfracombe #bats #diwali #hedgehogs$

Today we welcomed a visit by Bristol Uni Phd stude $Today we welcomed a visit by Bristol Uni Phd student Polly Bence 🙌. Polly is looking at material in south west museums that come from the Pacific region. Fortunately we have a little collection here, including this lovely piece of shell work from the Solomon Islands 🥰 #collections #oceania #museums #devonmuseums #ilfracombe$

This week is #nationalbakingweek and to celebrate,

#octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #ilfracombe $#octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #ilfracombe #kidscraft #bats #diwali #hedgehogs$

Faces of war - not just anonymous faces to us, the $Faces of war - not just anonymous faces to us, these are Ilfracombe men and boys who went to fight for their country in World War I. Come and see their photos, read their stories and learn how the community was brought together to support them. #ilfracombe #worldwar1 #lestweforget #museum #ilfracomberemembers$

#onthisday Today in 1888 P G Wodehouse was born. H $#onthisday Today in 1888 P G Wodehouse was born. He is famous for his Jeeves and Wooster books. This photo is from 1886 and shows some of the very well turned out staff from the Ilfracombe Hotel which was in its heyday. Can you imagine the amount of 'behind the scenes' staff there must have been? When you visit us, you can see our cabinet with lots of fascinating Ilfracombe Hotel mementoes. You can also see the tunnel which connected the hotel to the laundry - no need for any visitors to be distressed by the sight of dirty linens! #ilfracombemuseum #ilfracombehotel #pgwodehouse #jeevesandwooster #victorian$

Did you know we are one of a small number of museu $Did you know we are one of a small number of museums in the south west with collections from South America? 🤔 Here is one of our favourites - a beautiful vessel from the Iquitis region of Peru. It is decorated in a style known as Shipibo, named after the tribe who love complex linear designs. This pot was brought back by our founder Mervyn Palmer after he had spent years travelling and collecting in South America. It had been on display in our galleries but has now been carefully packed and put away in our stores. #behindthescenes #museumcollection #devonmuseums #southamerica #peru #iquitos #shipibo #ilfracombe$

#Octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #kidscraft # $#Octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #kidscraft #ilfracombe #bats #diwali #hedgehogs$

Coming soon!! October half term craft event, Wedne

There are very few pictures of the Ilfracombe Hote $There are very few pictures of the Ilfracombe Hotel Laundry - it became the museum in 1932 and has remained here ever since. Our first curator and founder of the museum, Mervyn Grove Palmer, retired to the town after spending the early 1900’s travelling in South America collecting for major museums. He had several species named after him and wrote two books about his expeditions. After much negotiation and many committee meetings the museum opened on the 1st August 1932 with a collection, much of which was natural history, donated over the previous year from local people. Over twelve hundred visitors arrived on our opening day. Admission was free until 1941 and during the war the museum ran an education programme for local children and evacuees. We have had many changes to staff and volunteers and trustees over the years but we try to stay true to the spirit of the museum that Mervyn created. We are very proud of our little museum and always so grateful for the lovely reviews that visitors leave us. #museum #ilfracombe #ilfracombehotellaundry #palmercollection$

#Octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #kidscraft # $#Octoberhalfterm #whattodowiththekids #kidscraft #ilfracombe #bats #diwali #hedgehogs$

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Welcome to Ilfracombe Museum

Ilfracombe Museum Trust CIO

Plan Your Visit

What’s On

Support Us

Sign up – for inspiration, news and other good stuff!

Explore a world of curiosities at our friendly museum

Ilfracombe’s great value family attraction

A fascinating place to visit come rain or shine

Follow us on Instagram …

ilfracombe_museum

Newsletter Sign Up

How to find us

Ilfracombe Museum