Discover Bucks Museum is set in an impressive listed building dating back several hundred years with unique features including a painted Tudor Wall, medieval roof and decorated Georgian Room.
Discover Bucks Museum, in the historic heart of Aylesbury, is a family friendly museum telling the story of the people and landscapes of Buckinghamshire, from 200 million years ago to today. In our main galleries we showcase the best of Bucks heritage: archaeology, social history, natural history, geology, art, costumes and photographs. We also house the famous Lenborough Hoard, one of the largest hoards of Anglo-Saxon silver coins ever found.Â
Look out for our special exhibitions and events held throughout the year. We’ve had a whole variety of exhibitions from art to hands-on science to Lego and we’re always on the lookout for the next big ‘thing’ to bring to Aylesbury to excite our visitors.
Our events include school holiday family craft activities, spooky Halloween trails, Christmas science workshops and performances to Festival of Lights days to name a few.
Alongside the Museum, our site is home to the enchanting Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery—a vibrant space where imagination takes flight! Designed to inspire young minds, the gallery offers a hands-on, interactive journey into the beloved stories and ideas of Roald Dahl. It’s a place where learning meets adventure, inviting visitors of all ages to explore, discover, and create in a world brimming with wonder.Â
We’re open on the weekends and Bucks School holidays, plus we have special preschooler sessions on selected Fridays and are open for Home Education days too.
What are you waiting for come and Discover, Explore and Play today!
The stunning Georgian Room, on the ground floor of the museum, was once part of a family home known as Ceeley House. The room, built in the 1750s, has wonderful Georgian architectural features on the ceiling and walls and views through its French doors to the walled garden and coach house. On the walls hang eight magnificent paintings that show the spectacular landscape gardens of Hartwell House, just outside Aylesbury, in 1738. This room looked very different in 1900s as it was used as a family sitting room by Cecily Baker’s family. You can see what it looked like and find out about the people who lived here in the early 1900s from our audio guide, available from the ticket desk.Â
Why not hire this stunning room for your business meeting or family party?
The Tudor House is the oldest part of the museum dating back to the 1470s. It was originally a timber framed medieval guildhall built for the Fraternity of the Virgin Mary. The Fraternity owned almshouses and hospitals and carried out charitable work, employing two priests who prayed for departed guild members. The Fraternity was dissolved in 1547 and the building was converted to a private house. The splendid black and white wall painting, you see today, dates from the Tudor house rather than from the guildhall. In the 1750s, the front of the house was refashioned in the Georgian style with a red brick façade and symmetrical sash windows. Inside, the rooms were squared off and the walls plastered, covering the wall painting. The wall painting remained hidden until the 1990s when the museum was refurbished and the wall painting was revealed once again.
Come and relax in the popular walled garden with superb views of the splendid Saxon Church and historic fruit trees, including local and traditional Aylesbury Prunes and Aylesbury Pear Trees lining the walls. The oasis of central green lawn and lovely lime trees along with Café Patios, tables, chairs and benches allow visitors much needed space to play, eat or read a book. Many of our events are also set in the garden as fabulous surroundings for every occasion.Â
Why not hire this space for your private BBQ or event?
Sign up to the latest Discover Bucks news.
Hear about our exhibitions, events and offers
hello@discoverbucksmuseum.org
01296 331441
Buckinghamshire County Museum Trust
Trading as Discover Bucks Museum
Church Street,
Aylesbury,
HP20 2QP
Registered Charity number 1153345
