Dimbola Museum & Galleries
Dimbola Museum & Galleries
Dimbola Museum & Galleries
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
Former home and workplace of celebrated Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. Visit for: - Year round exhibits celebrating Julia's life and work - Vintage cameras - Programme of changing exhibitions - Victorian dressing-up room - Isle of Wight Festival displays - FREE entry to the award-winning tea room and gift shop Lively programme of talks and events, check website for further information. Coach parties and large groups welcome, please book in advance. Group and tour rates available.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.0
269 reviews
Excellent
133
Very good
94
Average
20
Poor
6
Terrible
16
Joanna S
Caterham, England, United Kingdom27 contributions
Aug 2020
We had a disappointing experience here last week. Despite bring the first people here in the morning and only 2 tables after us, the sandwiches and drinks took around 40 mins to get delivered to the table. The pre-made cakes were the last so not sure why they took so long but we had to repeatedly ask about their whereabouts. Every part of the order was wrong, despite it being repeated back to us. The staff seemed annoyed to be at work and didn’t apologise or seem sorry at all to have taken so long. The food was pretty poor too - and for £45 for 5 people to have a quick drink and snack, it should have been much better! I’d suggest going up the road to the Piano where the service is much better.
Written 11 August 2020
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.
Sn0wman
Cannock146 contributions
Aug 2020
We stopped in Freshwater Bay for lunch and this was the only place we could find. The cafe was badly organised and the very basic sandwiches were overpriced.
The Museum & Galleries were closed - but this was not our reason for visiting.
Lesson learned - don't stop in Freshwater Bay for lunch, and definitely don't go to the Dimbola Tea Room.
The Museum & Galleries were closed - but this was not our reason for visiting.
Lesson learned - don't stop in Freshwater Bay for lunch, and definitely don't go to the Dimbola Tea Room.
Written 16 August 2020
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.
Cathy H
Brighton, UK240 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
We stopped off here while we were walking the Isle of Wight coastal path. Although the sign said they close at 4pm, they refused to serve us a cup of tea at 3.45pm when we arrived. Even a take away. The lady was very rude about it and really couldn’t care less. We were tired and cold and found her attitude quite upsetting.
Luckily, someone who overheard the conversation suggested we try the Piano Cafe further up the road. I’m so glad we did as it’s a great find with welcoming staff and great cakes. Don’t bother with Dimbola, walk the extra 100 yards to the Piano Cafe.
Luckily, someone who overheard the conversation suggested we try the Piano Cafe further up the road. I’m so glad we did as it’s a great find with welcoming staff and great cakes. Don’t bother with Dimbola, walk the extra 100 yards to the Piano Cafe.
Written 8 October 2020
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 the time to leave a review; your feedback is much appreciated.
We're extremely sorry to hear that your experience was disappointing on this occasion. We have passed your comments to the tea room manager for review and with the aim of preventing this situation from occurring again.
We hope that you will give Dimbola Tea Room another chance in the future.
Written 22 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul S
Marlow, UK4 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We had the joy of visiting the tea rooms for some lunch after a beautiful coastal walk. Initially our waiter refused to honour the help out to eat out scheme as my wife and I had the cheek to ask to sit on one of their outside tables. We then had to show them the rules online in order to get the discount. We should have seen the signs and left, however, we both ordered sandwiches, some soft drinks and a coffee.
They were advertised as coming with a salad garnish and crisps. When the food arrived, we realised that they had not given us any of the advertised crisps so we pointed this out. To this, the waiter asked in a rather surprised fashion if we still wanted some and we said that we did. Shortly after, the waiter brought us a bowl of SIX crisps - for 2 people, so few they could be easily counted. This made me actually laugh out loud and I found it quite comical. We weren’t given our drinks until our food was almost finished.
The sandwiches were AWFUL... I ordered a beef sandwich but we had been given more crisps than I had beef. My wife had a ham sandwich but it was made with children’s ham.
In summary, the food was awful and the customer service was even worse. We couldn’t wait to get out of there!
They were advertised as coming with a salad garnish and crisps. When the food arrived, we realised that they had not given us any of the advertised crisps so we pointed this out. To this, the waiter asked in a rather surprised fashion if we still wanted some and we said that we did. Shortly after, the waiter brought us a bowl of SIX crisps - for 2 people, so few they could be easily counted. This made me actually laugh out loud and I found it quite comical. We weren’t given our drinks until our food was almost finished.
The sandwiches were AWFUL... I ordered a beef sandwich but we had been given more crisps than I had beef. My wife had a ham sandwich but it was made with children’s ham.
In summary, the food was awful and the customer service was even worse. We couldn’t wait to get out of there!
Written 5 August 2020
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.
joan365
Cambridge, UK18 contributions
Sept 2020
We visited Dimbola cafe on Monday 7 September. Having been visiting the cafe over the years and noted it was under new management. Alas very disappointed. I ordered a cheese and tomato sandwich; my husband ham. When the sandwiches turned up they were so unappetising that I couldn't believe a child hadn't prepared them. Loads of cheese in mine but only part grated, large lumps of cheese. No discernible butter so said cheese fell out of sandwich when picked up. Could barely discern the tomato and the accompanying salad was not worth mentioning. Three crisps. All on a plate far too small (the waitress brought another plate to help). The bread doorstop brown. My husband's sandwich similarly unappetising. I ate the middle bits of the sandwich as starving and my husband choked his down. We did not want a refund but rather an acknowledgement not up to previous standards but waitress nowhere to be seen for some time so we left. Not visiting ever again. The impression: no care
Written 10 September 2020
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 the time to leave a review; your feedback is much appreciated.
We're extremely sorry to hear that your experience was disappointing on this occasion and we sincerely apologise.
The tea room manager changed again recently so we hope that you will decide to give Dimbola Tea Room another chance in the future.
Written 22 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
CityBoy50
United Kingdom259 contributions
Aug 2021
I came here to see the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival exhibition because I was there 51 years ago. I soon realised that it's not the main focus of the venue. Just a montage of musician photos and festival posters from 1968 to the present day. There was also a temporary display of photos of Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie.
Fortunately, my wife loved the Julia Cameron photographic exhibition. The concessions admission price of £5.00 was very reasonable. Very friendly staff, who are volunteers. Having read the reviews from last year of the adjacent cafe, I'm pleased to say that we found the food and service to be excellent.
Fortunately, my wife loved the Julia Cameron photographic exhibition. The concessions admission price of £5.00 was very reasonable. Very friendly staff, who are volunteers. Having read the reviews from last year of the adjacent cafe, I'm pleased to say that we found the food and service to be excellent.
Written 30 August 2021
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.
knott101
Southampton, UK233 contributions
Nov 2021 • Friends
What a very interesting museum giving you the history of Julia Cameron and showing her photographs.
Also at the time we went was an exhibition of the late David Bowie album cover and Jimmy Hendrix pictures.
You can also see the history of the promotion leaflets for the IOW Festival. These are very colourful.
Parking is available free to visitors and they also have a rather nice tea rooms
Also at the time we went was an exhibition of the late David Bowie album cover and Jimmy Hendrix pictures.
You can also see the history of the promotion leaflets for the IOW Festival. These are very colourful.
Parking is available free to visitors and they also have a rather nice tea rooms
Written 24 January 2022
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.
Mimi's S
8 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
Went to the cafe - great food (sausage and bacon sandwiches, great leaf tea), lovely staff - very accommodating of our fussy requests. We sat outside and even though there was a spot of rain, there were lots of tables with parasols which we sheltered under. Highly recommend as an add on to a trip to Alum Bay/The Needles. As in all cafes at the moment, have some patience as they work out the new rules.
Written 14 July 2020
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 lovely review. We appreciate you taking the time to do so.
Written 14 October 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Howard D
Cardiff, UK37 contributions
Jun 2022
Dimbola is a small independent museum and gallery dedicated to the 19th Century photgrapher Julia Margaret Cameron. It shows her remarkable pictures and explains some of the history of early portrait photography. While we were there there was also an exhinition of the work of Marilyn Stafford which was equally remarkable. The museum also has a small tearoom which is pretty good.
Written 27 June 2022
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.
dragonara2
Honiton, UK484 contributions
Oct 2021
We fond this small museum fascinating and linked up to visits in the past to the Fox Talbot museum at Lacock abbey, Wiltshire. The museum is well laid out with different rooms of different themes, the most modern being Jimmi Hendrix. Staff were helpful. we enjoyed a drink in the adjacent cafe which was good value. Limited parking outside but larger car park closer to the quay.
Written 28 October 2021
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.
Hi how long should I give myself to explore please?
Written 12 March 2017
If you fall into the magic of Dimbola Lodge and Julia Margaret Cameron's work and life, give yourself a few hours at the Lodge. I also spent a few hours walking around Freshwater Bay, and on the beautiful beach. I then took a lovely path to Freshwater. Then caught a bus back to the ferry and up to London by train. What a fabulous day.
Written 13 March 2017
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