Name: Towneley Hall Museum & Art Gallery
Rating: 5.0

Towneley Hall Museum & Art Gallery

Towneley Hall Museum & Art Gallery, Towneley Holmes, Burnley, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Towneley Hall Museum & Art Gallery is a historic Grade I listed building set within 445 acres of beautiful parkland in Burnley. Known as the “jewel in Burnley’s crown,” it offers a perfect blend of history, art and outdoor exploration. It’s an ideal destination for families, history lovers and anyone looking for a relaxing day out.

Inside the hall, visitors can explore impressive collections including fine and decorative art, Egyptology, natural history and local heritage. The historic rooms showcase 17th-century furniture, while the art gallery features works by renowned artists such as John William Waterhouse and Edward Burne-Jones. Outside, Towneley Park offers woodland walks, gardens, a children’s playground, nature trails, a fairy sculpture trail and picnic spots, along with cafés and a garden centre for refreshments.

Entry costs £5.60 for adults, which includes a 12-month pass, while entry is free for children under 17, students and carers.

With its combination of rich history, impressive art collections and expansive outdoor space, Towneley Hall Museum & Art Gallery offers something for everyone. Whether you’re exploring the galleries, enjoying a walk in the park or relaxing at a café, it’s a memorable and well-rounded visitor experience.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Towneley Hall Museum and Art Gallery is set within 445 acres of beautiful parkland, providing all the ingredients for a fun, educational and adventurous day out. The Hall and surrounding grounds were purchased from the Towneley family by Burnley Corporation in 1902 and has since become affectionately known as ‘the jewel in Burnley’s crown’.
Inside the Hall you will discover displays of decorative and fine art, natural history, Egyptology, local history and textiles. The historic rooms, which are filled with fabulous examples of 17th century regional furniture, will transport you back in time to when the Hall was a home.
Whilst exploring the Hall, the Towneley Mouse Trail will delight visitors both young and old. The Museum of Local Crafts and Industries, which is housed in the former brew house behind the main Hall, is filled with objects representing Burnley’s key trades such as clogging, ironmongery, and weaving.
Here you will also see examples of locally made domestic equipment and a bar stocked with bottles from Massey’s Brewery. The Shop at Towneley is a great place to find gifts and treats. With a range of affordable toys and books, unique jewellery, prints and cards, and locally made beer, gin and coffee, you are sure to find those perfect presents.

Facilities

Food & Drinks: Cafe available.
Toilets: Toilets available.

What to see

Towneley Galleries and Exhibitions

Towneley Hall cares for one of the best collections of Victorian oil paintings in the North West. In the Art Gallery you can see paintings by artists such as John William Waterhouse, Laurence Alma-Tadema, Margaret Deborah Cookesley, Edward Burne-Jones and Joseph Farquharson.
With a fabulous art gallery, one of the best collections English regional oak furniture in the UK, displays of Egyptology and natural history set within a Grade 1 Listed building which was home to one family for over 600 years, Towneley Hall has it all.
Towneley Hall also has an exciting programme of temporary exhibitions, visit the What’s On page to plan your next visit.

Towneley Park and Grounds

Towneley Park is the largest and only dog-friendly park in Burnley. With woodland walks, formal gardens, a children’s play area, golf course, and historic features, there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy.
The park has a long history as a private estate, with much of its current landscape the result of work carried out in the late 18th Century by Charles Towneley. Places of historic interest include Folds Cross, the icehouse and the Cenotaph. There are different trails and walks to enjoy, including a woodland fairy sculpture trail.
There is an abundance of nature and you might even spot the occasional dragon! Towneley Garden Centre provides some retail therapy and their café, together with Parklife Café and The Rotunda are great places to rest and refresh.
Towneley Hall sits in an extensive historic parkland landscape of formal gardens, woodland walks, sculpture and nature trails. In spring the woodlands are filled with displays of bluebells and wild garlic, which are followed by spectacular rhododendrons in the early summer and brilliant autumn foliage.
An extensive network of well signed paths and nature trails allows you to explore Towneley’s historic landscape. A large adventure playground provides endless fun for children and there are good facilities for picnics by the river with a refreshment kiosk serving fresh coffee and snacks.