American Museum & Gardens
American Museum & Gardens
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The American Museum provides a fabulous day out for all adults and children. The New American Garden, Mount Vernon Garden and play area, 'The Children’s Garden', awaits explorers of all ages. From winding paths and colourful flowers to woodland wanders with your four-legged friends (dogs on leads are welcome!) and climbing adventures, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Housed in a fine Georgian manor house with outstanding views over the Limpley Stoke Valley, on the edge of Bath, the American Museum takes you on a journey through American history, with its remarkable collection of folk, decorative arts and cultural objects. The only museum of Americana outside of the United States, it was founded to bring American history and cultures to the people of Britain and Europe. Each year, special temporary exhibitions are on display in our Exhibition Gallery, and throughout the year there are a range of exciting events. To plan your visit go to: https://americanmuseum.org/
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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See what travellers are saying
- Rebecca NBath, United Kingdom14 contributionsLovely but not worth the high entry fee.Visited with adult sons to see the Christmas lights - the trail was lovely but very short and only took 35 mins to walk around. It was very pretty but I wouldn’t go again because of the expense - a family of four adults cost £78 and two mulled wines and two ciders came to £27 . Over £100 for an hours entertainment was very steep. I wish these places would charge a little less so that more people could enjoy the experience. This would simply be too expensive for so many families and I certainly won’t go again next year at that price.Thank you for taking time for visiting and your honest feedback. This type of event is very costly to put on so the ticket prices are determined in order to cover our costs and also help support the Museum which is a charity without any government funding. We are reliant on sponsorship, daytime visitors and special ticketed events, such as our Christmas lights, to be able to keep our doors open.Written 3 January 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited December 2022Written 29 December 2022
- Nigel HKeynsham, United Kingdom67 contributionsPoor poor poor!The museum, it’s contents, guides and overall experience is great. The big let down was the cafe. The service was slow to the point of absurd. Waited 20 minutes to get to the food order point! Why? Poor organisation! American deli food it was but fast food it was not! Avoid today if you want to be out by closing time! Gordon Ramsey would have a field day. Mould on the children’s sandwich just summed up it all up!!Thank for you for your feedback which is very important to us to ensure we are able to provide a great experience for all. We are pleased to hear that you enjoyed the museum and your overall experience. We are very sorry about your experience in the Deli. We are aware of some of the issues around wait times which we are working to improve. We have a new layout, menu and team in place and are actively working to improve the experience on our very busy days. Please do give us another chance in the future and again thank you for providing us with feedback.Written 3 April 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 2 April 2023
- KarenKewPortishead, United Kingdom647 contributionsSo disappointedThe Museum is rather dated, not much to interest children. The playground was far smaller than we anticipated. But the biggest disappointment was the cafe. An endless queue, small portions, long delays.... We won't be backThank for you for your feedback which is very important to us to ensure we are able to provide a great experience for all. We are very sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy your visit. We have exciting future plans for the museum which we are actively fundraising for at the moment and this summer will be hosting a family friendly LEGO bricks exhibition. We also offer a range of great events throughout the year for visitors of all ages. We are aware of the issues around wait times which we are working to improve. We have a new layout, menu and team in place and are actively working to improve the experience on our very busy days. We do hope you will give us another chance in the future and again thank you for providing us with feedback.Written 8 April 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 6 April 2023
- EmmaSouthampton, United Kingdom16 contributionsEnjoyed revisiting the houseInteresting to see some of the changes since my last visit a few years ago. Always enjoy seeing the quilts on display and love the fact they are different each time. However as several other people have noted the deli has serious training needs. I would not have counted today as a particularly busy but the staff seemed to be easily confused about orders and there did not seem to be anyone in charge. We waited 10 minutes after ordering only to then have someone come and retake our order. The food itself was nice and I felt the range on offer was niceThank you very much for visiting after a few years' absence, and we are pleased that you enjoyed seeing the quilt collection again. Thank you too for your feedback about the American Garden Deli. It is good news that you enjoyed the range of food on offer, and the individual items. We are very grateful for all feedback. The Deli was set up this year and has experienced a very busy initial period. We are working on staff training and the flow of food delivery, to give customers an improved experience regarding this. In the meanwhile thank you for taking the time and trouble to post your comments. We hope you visit again in the near future.Written 19 April 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 18 April 2023
- AndykeithharrisReading, United Kingdom273 contributionsInterestingThe museum was interesting with helpful guides on hand to explain the exhibits. The reconstructions of the American homes gave new insight into the social development of the country. Good range of food in the café. Grounds were pretty and extensive. My only criticism was that not enough was made of the house itselfThank you for your review and for visiting. We are pleased to hear that you found the museum interesting and interaction with our guides and that you enjoyed the Deli and grounds. We have exciting plans for the museum for the future and will be sharing more detail shortly. We hope to see you again soon.Written 22 May 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 21 May 2023
- Pete KCheltenham, United Kingdom8 contributionsGoodGardens were open with plant sale. Therefore had to park in the overflow, overflow car park, also known as the uni car park and use the JustPark App to pay. Not expensive, but was a fair walk, though it was more difficult getting the car to the car park!Dear Pete K, thank you for your positive review. We were very busy that day, but are glad you were still able to enjoy the Rare Plant Fair. We hope to see you again soon!Written 31 May 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited May 2023Written 29 May 2023
- Sandra J36 contributionsVisiting the garden with dogs, there are better alternativesWe visited on the 4th July with our 2 dogs, we were greeted by a friendly lady at the entrance and the dogs were offered treats. We paid to visit the gardens only as dogs are not allowed in the museum (understandably). We were given a map and told where we could go, the gardens were well kept and managed and there were a few photos opportunities, unfortunately a couple of the gates were locked (no explanation) onto the open field so we had to turn around and go back the way we had come. My overall impression was if you've got dogs and don't want to take it in turns to go into the museum and look after the dog whilst you wait there isn't that much to see. The gardens are quiet small, we walked around them stopping for photos within an hour. I'm sure the museum is very interesting and informative based on other reviews but if you want to just visit the gardens there are much better alternatives. The Botanical Gardens in Bath are free to visit with on road parking and were absolutely beautiful and the National Trust owned Prior Park was a hidden gem, free to visit if you're a NT member, again we found free on road parking on one of the surrounding roads.Thank you for taking time to give us feedback on your visit. We are delighted you had a warm welcome, but are sorry to hear that you were disappointed by some of your visit. The gates are normally open and are just kept closed if livestock were grazing in the parklands at time. The gardens were completely redesigned by Washington DC based landscaped architectural firm Oheme, van Sweden and were inspired by American-themed gardens and landscapes. The American Museum & Gardens were their first commission in the UK and Europe making our gardens quite unique. We host a range of exciting events throughout the year using spaces in our gardens which might give you a different experience. We do hope you’ll come to visit again in the future.Written 13 July 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited July 2023Travelled with familyWritten 8 July 2023
- LWS15 contributionsStunning location away from the citySuch a wonderful location. Relaxing place for a family visit. Great range of exhibitions and events keep it worth visiting. Sadly the new style deli café has not found it's way. All a bit of a muddle there so I think we'll take a picnic next time. Shame as we always loved the cakes and cookies.Dear LBWS38, Thank you for your review - we are so glad you enjoyed your visit. Thank you for your feedback regarding the Deli. We shall pass this on to the Catering team. We look forward to seeing you again soon.Written 1 September 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited August 2023Travelled with familyWritten 26 August 2023
- Deb28 contributionsA quirky museumA quirky museum with a selection of historical rooms imported from the USA. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t good enough to explore the gardens so can’t comment on those. Enthusiastic volunteers added to the experienceThank you for your positive review. We hope we can welcome you again when the weather is better!Written 21 October 2023This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 October 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
804 reviews
Excellent
463
Very good
235
Average
60
Poor
34
Terrible
12
Departure33390714637
6 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Absolutely loved our visit to this gorgeous house and beautiful gardens, where we did the Halloween trail, and explore the Lego exhibition. Far exceeded our expectations, the food in the café was also incredible. Great to visit with kids
Written 28 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your 5-star review and we are delighted that you enjoyed your visit to us recently. We hope to welcome you back in the future.
Written 4 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Deb
28 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
A quirky museum with a selection of historical rooms imported from the USA. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t good enough to explore the gardens so can’t comment on those. Enthusiastic volunteers added to the experience
Written 20 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your positive review. We hope we can welcome you again when the weather is better!
Written 21 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Weymouth1953
Weymouth, UK320 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
We have passed this place many times on our trips to Bath. As we had the whole day to kill we decided to visit. Staff were amazingly friendly and knowledgeable. It was just opening when we arrived so we did a quick detoiur to the cafe for a cup of tea and a sit down admiring the view. We then had a walk around the gardens, which for the time of year, were really beautiful. The museum opens at 11am, an hour after the gardens have opened. We did a full walk around the museum which is really well presented over a number of floors. Staff were on hand to help with any questions and they all seemed to be very proud of the musems history. This really is a great place, for all age groups, to visit and the gardens seemed very popular with the younger visitors. Also there is an amazing Lego exhibition on at the moment with some amazing models.
Written 2 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your 5-star review and we are delighted that you enjoyed your visit. Our wonderful volunteer staff are extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to ensuring that you get the best from your visit and the gardens look wonderful due to the hard work of our garden team and fantastic volunteer gardeners.
We hope that you are able to visit us again soon!
Written 5 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LWS
15 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Such a wonderful location. Relaxing place for a family visit. Great range of exhibitions and events keep it worth visiting. Sadly the new style deli café has not found it's way. All a bit of a muddle there so I think we'll take a picnic next time. Shame as we always loved the cakes and cookies.
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear LBWS38,
Thank you for your review - we are so glad you enjoyed your visit.
Thank you for your feedback regarding the Deli. We shall pass this on to the Catering team.
We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Written 1 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anne M
Kemnay, UK178 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Excellent museum. Loved the Lego exhibition. Very well documented history of America. The gardens are spectacular particularly with the view from the front of the house.
Restaurant does fine fare too.:
Restaurant does fine fare too.:
Written 9 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear annemZ3507WL,
Many thanks for your lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed your visit.
We hope to see you again soon!
Written 10 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah b
Lytham St Anne's, UK1,633 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
We enjoyed our visit here, the volunteers were all very knowledgable and engaging. Lots of interesting information boards around and a good leaflet with information and floor plan. Good accessibility. One of our party had a problem with her knee and the very kind volunteer at the museum lent us a wheelchair and gave us good directions to the accessibility route around the museum so we didn't miss a thing. The Lego brick America on at the moment was very good to see people's painstaking work.
Good little cafe with a selection of sweet and savoury items. We enjoyed some lovely tea, coffee and cakes to break up our visit.
Good little cafe with a selection of sweet and savoury items. We enjoyed some lovely tea, coffee and cakes to break up our visit.
Written 3 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your favourable review after your visit. We are so glad you enjoyed everything on offer, and found the volunteers and staff helpful. The Brick America exhibition is quite impressive, we agree! We hope that you return to see us again soon, and thank you again for your kind words.
Written 7 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Navigate46857898938
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Lovely visit tarnished by apalingly bad food at the restaurant chef had to ask a member of staff to help x4 it took her 30 minutes to make 2 milkshakes food for tek adults two children =42.00 sandwich for kids pack 1 slice of bread orange returned rotten no chips or salad just a hot dog = Frank cesar salad lettice nasturtium bread cartons soft stale red cabbage poor quality and amount sadly had been warned it was crap but decided having been to museum before to give restaurant a go never again
Lego worth a visit volunteers amazing through out very knowledgeable the restaurant ruined the trip
Lego worth a visit volunteers amazing through out very knowledgeable the restaurant ruined the trip
Written 24 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your experience in the American Garden Deli. We are experiencing very high visitor numbers at the moment which means pressure on some of our resources, but we are working hard to address these issues.
Written 26 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
LottBert
Stroud, UK3 contributions
Jul 2023
Great Museum with interesting exhibits telling the story of life in America over the centuries. We particularly enjoyed a talk given on "Potions" (not Harry Potter - medicine!) by a very knowledgeable lady who I think was called Kim Jacobson who has been researching a book in the museum's collection. Fascinating.
Written 22 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your excellent review. We pride ourselves on the wonderful knowledge that our many volunteers bring to the museum. We have different pop up talks on each week and we hope you will visit us again.
Written 25 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
aefl
Mickleton, UK27 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Spectacular setting and a wonderful visit. So interesting and great accessibility options. Staff were very helpful and enthusiastic which was a joy. Even a secondhand book section in the cafe!
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your positive review and we are so glad you enjoyed visiting us. We hope to see you again very soon!
Written 12 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sandra J
36 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We visited on the 4th July with our 2 dogs, we were greeted by a friendly lady at the entrance and the dogs were offered treats. We paid to visit the gardens only as dogs are not allowed in the museum (understandably).
We were given a map and told where we could go, the gardens were well kept and managed and there were a few photos opportunities, unfortunately a couple of the gates were locked (no explanation) onto the open field so we had to turn around and go back the way we had come.
My overall impression was if you've got dogs and don't want to take it in turns to go into the museum and look after the dog whilst you wait there isn't that much to see. The gardens are quiet small, we walked around them stopping for photos within an hour. I'm sure the museum is very interesting and informative based on other reviews but if you want to just visit the gardens there are much better alternatives. The Botanical Gardens in Bath are free to visit with on road parking and were absolutely beautiful and the National Trust owned Prior Park was a hidden gem, free to visit if you're a NT member, again we found free on road parking on one of the surrounding roads.
We were given a map and told where we could go, the gardens were well kept and managed and there were a few photos opportunities, unfortunately a couple of the gates were locked (no explanation) onto the open field so we had to turn around and go back the way we had come.
My overall impression was if you've got dogs and don't want to take it in turns to go into the museum and look after the dog whilst you wait there isn't that much to see. The gardens are quiet small, we walked around them stopping for photos within an hour. I'm sure the museum is very interesting and informative based on other reviews but if you want to just visit the gardens there are much better alternatives. The Botanical Gardens in Bath are free to visit with on road parking and were absolutely beautiful and the National Trust owned Prior Park was a hidden gem, free to visit if you're a NT member, again we found free on road parking on one of the surrounding roads.
Written 8 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking time to give us feedback on your visit. We are delighted you had a warm welcome, but are sorry to hear that you were disappointed by some of your visit. The gates are normally open and are just kept closed if livestock were grazing in the parklands at time. The gardens were completely redesigned by Washington DC based landscaped architectural firm Oheme, van Sweden and were inspired by American-themed gardens and landscapes. The American Museum & Gardens were their first commission in the UK and Europe making our gardens quite unique. We host a range of exciting events throughout the year using spaces in our gardens which might give you a different experience. We do hope you’ll come to visit again in the future.
Written 13 July 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cara P
Semington, UK8 contributions
Can you take dogs in the garden today ?
AmericanMuseum
Bath, UK
Hi Cara. Sorry for the delayed response. Dogs (on a lead) are welcome in the gardens, arboretum and parkland whenever we are open.
Hope you managed to join us on Saturday.
AbbieMB
Southampton, UK
How much of the museum is currently open? Reviews seem to suggest the kitchen and some gardens are closed
cao
3 contributions
I was there today Sunday 19/8/18 (visiting the textile fair) so I saw first hand what’s happening. A large part of the grounds/gardens are closed off and that part is essentially a large building site. Being a Sunday there were no trade persons at work so it could be different on a weekday. There are information boards up on the perimeter railings telling you what’s happening with the installation of a new American Garden and new ticket office/Welcome Centre. The main house Claverton Manor that houses the main collection, the Exhibition Gallery, the Folk Art Gallery, shops and cafe and toilets are all open. You can sit out on the terrace and enjoy the magnificent view of the valley ahead of you but some of your view on the right hand side will be of the garden works area and is not accessible.
I didn’t go into the main house /museum on this occasion so can’t speak about that.
You can walk down to the Mount Vernon Garden by passing the garden works (I did this) and I think you can still access the Arboretum/Parkland (I didn’t do this today).
I was told by the person at the arrival kiosk that they hope to have the new Gardens area open on 15th September.
I hope this helps
terrywood10
Lyndhurst, UK19 contributions
Is there a French translation
AmericanMuseum
Bath, UK
Hi terrywood10. As a small independent Museum on the edge of Bath we tend not to welcome as many overseas visitors as the city does so our static, written interpretation is just in English. Many of our volunteers are able to speak other languages so if there are any specific items of interest which you need additional help with, in French, do ask when you're here and one of the team should be able to help.
Fran S
Toronto, Canada110 contributions
- I heard tht Kaffee Fassett had an exhibition there . Is there anything there about him now? -We are coming from Canada in September..
AmericanMuseum
Bath, UK
Hi Fransan2014 and sorry for delay in getting back to you. Sorry but nothing this year, other than our Kaffe Fassett inspiration corner in our Gallery shop.
Kaffe's a great friend of the Museum and we KNOW he'll be back with us VERY soon (if you get our drift :) ).
You can keep up to date with all the Museums news and events on our Facebook, Twitter and webpages.
LesleyD47
Northampton, UK2 contributions
What religious sect was responsible for the household furniture and artefacts
AmericanMuseum
Bath, UK
Thank you for posing this question Lesley. Our Period Rooms span 200 years of American domestic life from 1690 to 1860, many simply showing the craftsmanship of the early colonies through to the new Independent United States. However, this does include New Mexico with it's Penitente Brotherhood, the Puritan's of New England, the United Society of Believers in Christs Second Appearing (AKA the Shakers) who had communities down the East coast and into the Midwest, plus the Pennsylvania Germans (AKA Penn-Deutsch) of Pennsylvania who include sects such as the Amish, Mennonite and Huguenots.
We re-open from Saturday 19 March and encourage you to come travel through these room settings with us when you can.
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Frequently Asked Questions about American Museum & Gardens
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