Discover our galleries
Level 0
Harbour Life
Sponsored by the Weston Foundation
Learn about Poole Harbour from the Ice Age to today. Explore history, connections, and evolution through fishing, ecology, maritime industries, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and partnerships including Birds of Poole Harbour.
Shipwreck!
Sponsored by the Wolfson Foundation
Housed in the impressive Town Cellars, a historically significant medieval port warehouse, Shipwreck! will showcase Poole’s Iron Age logboat alongside objects from both the Studland Bay and Swash Channel Wrecks, Poole’s medieval boatyard, and recently recovered objects from the 750-year-old Mortar Wreck.
Level 1
Setting Sail
Find out about pirates, superstition and life onboard ship in our Setting Sail gallery, alongside more challenging themes such as the impact and legacy of the Newfoundland cod trade and Poole’s connection to slavery.
Discover
Discover is a friendly, welcoming space, open for everyone to explore Poole’s fascinating history, delve deeper, and stay a while. Books, maps, photos, and stories, all ready for curious minds and fact-loving kinds.
Level 2
Co:Lab
Co:Lab is a collaborative space, powered by Poole’s people, shaped by shared stories. The museum’s beating heart. Community driven, inclusive and engaging, showcasing Poole’s diverse communities.
Research Room
Explore family history and local legends in this quiet space, with experts and archives at your fingertips. Book in, dig deep, and be inspired.
Collections Studio
Peek behind the scenes in our Collections Studio. See curators at work, ask questions, and explore amazing objects up close.
Level 3
Poole Creates!
Discover the magic where timeless craftsmanship meets bold design, and dive into the world’s largest collection of Poole Pottery. Here, tradition gets a modern twist, and every piece has a story to tell.
As an added bonus, explore our collection of fine art in a gallery within a gallery!
Creative Space & Terrace
Learn, make, share, and unwind in a vibrant, inclusive hub for creativity, wellness, and discovery. Sunshine and inspiration always welcome.
Level 4
Changing Exhibitions in The Fine Gallery
Sponsored by The Fine Family Foundation
Reimagined and ever-evolving, this dynamic exhibition space invites you to experience inspiring, immersive, and innovative displays, that are always a little bit spectacular.
Level 5
The Loft
Who doesn’t love a glorified attic that moonlights as an art studio, playroom, educational den, and a whimsical perch for pondering life’s most unnecessary questions – all in one charming, elevated nook.
