Top Things to do in South West England
Things to do in South West England, England: The Best Art Museums
Discover the best top things to do in South West England, United Kingdom including The Lyme Bay Gallery, Artwave West Gallery, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Red Propeller Gallery, The Timehouse, The Box, Holburne Museum, Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, American Museum & Gardens.
Restaurants in South West England
1. The Lyme Bay Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
2. Artwave West Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 19 reviews
Artwave West, with its stylish open plan viewing space, specialist museum lighting and crisp uncluttered décor provides a superb place to enjoy looking at and contemplating artworks. The gallery has established itself as one of the principal independent contemporary art venues in the Southwest, by carefully selecting artists and attracting professional practitioners with impressive national and international exhibiting profiles. A number of regular Artwave West artists are frequently nominated for prestigious exhibitions and awards in cultural capitals such as London, New York and Venice. A lively programme of frequently changing exhibitions together with a large stock of additional artwork guarantees there is always something new to view. This year has seen the addition of a teaching Academy next to the gallery where a wide selection of Art Courses take place run by Exhibiting Artists and professional tutors.
Reviewed By FatherLeonard - Bridport, United Kingdom
I am a grateful frequent visitor to this splendid gallery for contemporary art. The exhibitions are always breathtakingly fresh, well curated, and enormously inspiring. Donna and Martin, quite apart from being talented artists themselves, are such lovely people, and Donna's welcoming smile is infectious. The artists represented are of the highest order ensuring that your visit will be highly rewarding.
3. Thelma Hulbert Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 34 reviews
Thelma Hulbert Gallery is an award-winning public art gallery, hosting contemporary art and craft exhibitions as well as a permanent collection of artist Thelma Hulbert's paintings. Perfect for rainy days, THG has a stunning ground floor gallery space (formerly Thelma's studio), a dedicated Learning Room with art & craft materials for kids, a Project Space, shop and refreshments area. Disabled access and lift, disabled parking. For your safety, the gallery is open for private guided tours. Please book your place via our website thelmahulbert.com Fun activities and workshops during term-time and holidays to entertain the family. See our website for dates and times. Awarded GOLD for 'Accessibility & Inclusivity' by Visit Devon and designated 'Hidden Gem' by national Visit England Awards.
4. Red Propeller Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
Red Propeller Gallery was founded by Sarah & David Anslow in 2006 and is renowned for showing a more outré strand of contemporary work. The Gallery has played a major role in seamlessly merging Urban Fine Art with Contemporary Fine Art. It was one of the first Urban Art Galleries to hit the street - just as the phenomena was gathering speed. Red Propeller continues to identify and showcase challenging and thought-provoking pieces by the best emerging Artists working today - all successfully working towards sealing their place in Contemporary Art history.
5. The Timehouse
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 481 reviews
The Timehouse is due to re-open 21 June 2021 subject to the Covid situation. Check here and elsewhere online for updates.
6. The Box
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 96 reviews
The Box is temporarily closed but is planning to re-open on Tuesday 18 May. Tickets will be available to book from mid-April. The Box is Plymouth’s major new museum, art gallery and archive. A place where the city’s heritage meets contemporary art; where archives meet interaction; and where the Mayflower meets a mammoth. It's also home to The Box Kitchen & Bar, a shop, education and research spaces.
Reviewed By fredcorby
A lot of money has been well spent on this attraction. We found the whole experience exciting and informative and the use of interactive displays very rewarding. We finished with a meal in the restaurant whish was excellent.
7. Holburne Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,162 reviews
With an impressive collection of fine and decorative art, this newly transformed Museum, with Garden Cafe, is situated in lovely grounds and is set to become Bath's must-see attraction. Open daily, admission £12.50/£7. 10am to 5pm (11am on Sundays)
Reviewed By bsandrs - Portsmouth, United Kingdom
We have visited the Holburne on several occasions in the past to see specialised exhibitions such as Peter Blake. Being in Bath just before lockdown we were pleased therefore to revisit and enjoy the Grayson Perry presentation. On a dry, sunny morning it was good to walk down Great Pulteney Street and sit in the tented garden cafe enjoying coffee before entering the galleries. The items on display from the earlier years of the artists work were very impressive and well presented. Staff were welcoming and knowledgeable. Covid restrictions were carefully observed and made for a very enjoyable visit. We will, no doubt, be back in the future
8. Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,487 reviews
Timed tickets are required. Please book in advance from website. The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden contains the largest group of Hepworth's works, permanently on display where she lived and worked from 1949 until 1975.
Reviewed By RedJock
Lovely little sculpture garden in the middle of St Ives with some amazing sculptures set in a lovely garden.
9. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,130 reviews
Explore our free collections of art, nature and history on display in this beautiful building. Find out about the last billion years of earth's history, explore the region's natural wonders and discover more about peoples' lives, past and present.
Reviewed By baldyman2019 - Helston, United Kingdom
Suggested donation to enter, no issue with that, you receive a map and further literature regarding other exhibitions within the museum. Plenty of staff around to ask questions if needed and a great cafe on the ground floor. I especially enjoyed the Egyptian display and spent most of my time studying the artifacts. Overall a great museum with a variety of displays to suit all tastes. There is also a multi storey carpark at trenchard street which is a five minute walk away.
10. American Museum & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 720 reviews
The American Museum provides a fabulous day out for all adults and children. The New American Garden, Mount Vernon Garden, and play area “The Children’s Garden” awaits explorers of all ages. From winding paths and colourful flowers to woodland wanders with your four-legged friends (yes, dogs on leads are welcome!) and climbing adventures, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Housed in a fine Georgian manor house with outstanding views over the Limpley Stoke Valley, on the edge of Bath, the American Museum takes you on a journey through American history, with its remarkable collection of folk, decorative arts and cultural objects. The only museum of Americana outside of the United States, it was founded to bring American history and cultures to the people of Britain and Europe. The gardens, children’s play area and cafe are open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am until 5pm. The Museum and exhibition remain closed in line with government guidance. Please see our website for updates,
Reviewed By rosannam316 - Inverness, United Kingdom
Such an interesting and informative museum. The gentleman on reception clearly explained how the layout works and from reading up about it beforehand I knew that the emphasis is on the folk art side of things. However I was very pleasantly surprised to find a lot of information about the history of America and it’s good to hear this is likely to be expanded. I particularly enjoyed the Native American section and the quilts and other textiles on display are wonderful. The skill and craftsmanship is just astonishing. A huge bonus was the Kaffe Fassett exhibition and I was blown away by the display. I also enjoyed the Thomas Kellner photos - imaginative and quite stunning. Lovely gift shop and I like the way it’s also used to display museum pieces. I had lunch in the cafe and thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice to see American dishes on the menu. Friendly staff and good service. Unfortunately due to the weather I didn’t have chance to go round what looked to be really interesting gardens. I used the hop on/off bus and would just say if you choose to do the same, it’s a good 20 min walk from where you’re dropped off, part of it on a narrow road with no pavement. I’m fit and healthy and enjoy walking but others may wish to consider different options. I also found there was a lack of signage once you turned off the “main” road and I had to check with passers by that I was still heading in the right direction!! I hope to visit again next year with friends who I know will love it.
