Shire Hall Museum

Brilliant always is, we do the meet Santa every year too, staff are excellent and kids love it

Visited the Cafe today for a festive cream tea. The food was excellent and the service helpful and friendly. I would definitely recommend.

We visited here as part of museums after dark this year and it was great! The initial part was through the cells from different periods in the buildings history including the cell where the Tolpuddle Martyrs were kept. Then there was a court room with great dressing up things which fitted me as well as the children!
It was very busy when we went and we did have to wait to start walking through as it operates a one way system but I would think you wouldn't normally have so many people visiting.
We also went to the cafe and the food was amazing and reasonably priced - well worth a visit even if you don't want to go into the museum.

It wasn't accessible for me to see anything in the museum as I have to use a mobility scooter. I spent my time in the cafe while my family went to see everything. I am giving 3 stars because the girls in the cafe were really nice and couldn't have been more helpful. The older people made a pfaff of me getting into the lift telling me I wouldn't fit but hey ho I did. Please bare in mind that not everyone can walk.

Historic and original courthouse with holding cells..a guided tour is recommended 👍
Also visit the Shire Hall Cafe and shop..

We went to visit the Agatha Christie exhibition which was very informative. We were told that a ticket enabled access for the year which is beneficial for those local to the museum.
The history of the hall was very informative, make sure you enquire about the headset tales of those incarcerated, we weren't advised and feel this would have added to the experience. That said the information boards were packed with details and the shop had some excellent reference books (I bought 3) I would definitely recommend a visit and there are lifts for those who find steps difficult.

Helpful staff, good for an hours visit with cafe at the end serving good quality tea and cake and some gluten free options. The prison cells are well worth the visit and the court room is good for trying on the clothes and hats. Only dropped a star as price is £20 for a family of four and I find that higher than normal for a museum of this size. When we visited it had iPads and activities to keep the children amused. Although a paper leaflet would be a nice addition . Well worth a look if you are in the area. Free return for a year with family ticket.