The Holburne Museum — Attraction in Bath

It has been many years since I last visited the Holborne and I recall a lot of silverware and a non descript collection of antique bric-a-brac and dusty paintings. Since the installation of the striking rear extension I have stopped for coffee on a few occasions but I recently took a walk around the museum with a friend and was very pleasantly surprised. There is still silverware aplenty to be viewed, now arranged on a huge dining table dominating the first floor it is far more interesting displayed in context. The new annex now houses an eclectic selection of items thoughtfully shown under moody lighting. There still isn't any rhyme or reason to the collection but it is transformed from being a batch of greedy spoils to a rather romantic magpie's nest of treasures that speak volumes about the collectors and the times in which they lived. The crowning glory of a really enjoyable afternoon was undoubtedly the invigilators or curators, whatever their appropriate title is, who were both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the items in their care and the Holbourne estate as a whole. While wandering, my companion and I accidentally found ourselves in the paying exhibition of modern textiles. Before being very politely ejected I did have time for a quick spin round the main room. I am very interested in textiles both ancient and modern and I would have felt rather short changed had I parted with ten pounds for a ticket. Not a lot for the money I would have said. But the permanent exhibits and the environment in which they were displayed would certainly merit a generous contribution. Not so much a historical as sociological collection maybe with little of individual merit but as a whole it is a delightful journey through the interests and values of one wealthy individual or their family and gives a unique view of a slice of English history from one perspective. The cafe is also very pleasant if it is refreshment rather than culture that you are seeking on that side of the city as it is not as well catered as the city centre. The coffee is good, the food looks simple but enticing, unfortunately I can't speak for it quality as the prices are pretty astronomical even for Bath. I can't remember what the cost of a sandwich was but I was so taken aback I seem to recall commenting on it far too loudly! However tea and coffee are more reasonable and if the weather is warm enough they have plenty of garden seating, just make sure you ask for a cushion as the chairs are very attractive but the steel mesh becomes very uncomfortable for all but the most well padded of bottoms. As an afterthought, I don't know if they still run them, I suspect not, but they also used to show films at night in the garden during the summer months with free admittance. I hope they still do because it was lovely to bring the family and a picnic for an evening out. Perhaps if enough of us call and enquire they would consider reinstating them, Bath needs...

This is an absolute treasure of a museum in the Centre of Bath with an excellent and amazing range of things to see. The Museum houses a wonderful collection of paintings from different areas of Europe so reflects a wide and nice range of taste and also houses a wonderful of silverware, porcelain and other treasured items. This items are housed in many different galleries over many floors with the Shroder Gallery on the Ground Floor, The Posnett amd Fletcher Galleries along with the Dutch and Dutch Ballroom Gallery on the First Floor and Brownswood Picture Gallery and Roper Gallery on the Second Floor. Some of the paintings, silverware and porcelain are the finest of any collection in the UK and are so rich in taste it is that good. The Shroder Gallery on the ground floor probably has the best collection at the museum of Silverware at the museum with a rich collection of items from across Europe from the Renaissance period. The Posnett Gallery houses all of Dutch Paintings and Treasures that Sir William Holburne collected during his lifetime and there is an interesting and thought provoking display about his life and achievements and his links to the Slave Trade. The Fletcher Gallery houses brilliant treasures and paintings from the 18th Century giving you a full idea of tastes and ideas during that period and there is also an interesting display about Bath during the Georgian Period and how it established itself as main settlement in the area and how it grew to the city it is today. The Davidson Ballroom Gallery houses some amazing Flemish portraits and the Brownswood Picture Gallery houses some great British paintings and there is a great little exhibition on Jane Austen showcasing some great and beautiful sketches from that period. There is a cafe on the first floor selling a great range of food and drink at afforable prices and also there is a gift shop selling a lovely range of souvenirs at reasonable prices. Overall this is a truly spectacular, first class and spellbinding place to visit and makes for a great and amazing day out. Definitely a place well worth a visit...

Very disappointing! The collections were very dull and there was not a whole lot to do in the museum, we went in for free (every Wednesday after 3pm it's free entry!) so thank goodness we didn't have to spend £10 a ticket!

The building is fantastic, as is the interior, but the exhibitions were not. The staff at the main desk seemed to be sitting there doing nothing except chatting and there was only two tiny floors to explore with a handful of rooms. The icing on the cake of mediocrity was the 1960s teapot collection...I have more interesting and old tableware in my cupboard at uni! The paintings were generally ok, but none of them stood out as being that special apart from one or two.

Shockingly the Chinese porcelain section was probably the most interesting, learning about porcelain. And the collection of Napoleonic war swords and uniforms was cool.

All in all, a big letdown and would not recommend going for the price. On the plus side all of the exhibitions we saw were temporary so maybe they get reshuffled for more interesting items constantly and it's...