The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge — Attraction in Canterbury

Brilliant museum, lots of exhibitions, I enjoyed the Smallfilms gallery that housed the actual puppets for Bagpuss, The Clangers, Noggin the Nog. It had all the drawings to make the shows and Ivor the Engine, and lots of other artifacts from Rupert and Basil Brush. As Bagpuss was filmed in a barn in Blean. It's a great museum for children lots of interactive things to do. Nice display of paintings, a few with the Cathedral in them. Free to enter and also houses the public library and tourist information centre. It also has a shop so you can own your own Clanger or Bagpuss. Accessible toilets are also available. It's situated right in the high street, near the cathedral and bus station, the Marlowe Theatre and shops and restaurants. Staff are very helpful and friendly. Would definitely visit again and would recommend it to anyone. Have visited before the pandemic and used to have a cafe, it would be nice to see...

Amazing FREE museum in the centre of Canterbury high street. There is something for all the family to enjoy. Each room of this amazing old building has a different gallery or exhibition on show. For me (a child of the 70's) the most amazing and enchanting room is The Smallfilms Gallery. In there you will find the original character dolls, models and animation tools from Bagpus, The Clangers and Basil Brush to name but a few. It will bring back all of your chidhood TV memories. Definitely worth a visit if you are in Canterbury. It is free to enter all of the areas, but please consider donating a few pounds if you can to help support the great work on display and to keep the galeries free for...

Visited today with my two young daughters and sadly the experience wasn't what I had hoped. There is now zero provision for children, which I can appreciate is as a requirement / mitigation of Covid transmission by limiting hands on activities. However, I sensed that the staff (whom I have always found to be very helpful and friendly in many, many past visits) to be somewhat overbearing. Even my 5 year old daughter commented that she felt she was being stared at. Please try to let visitors experience the Beany without too much interference or unnecessary direction, I'm sure visitors will ask for help if required. Hoping a more relaxed atmosphere can be returned to...