Families at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum
There is so much to discover for children and families at Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum – we encourage play, laughter and joy throughout the museum!
Through the school holidays, the Art Gallery and Museum also hosts a wide range of activities including family trails and drop-in activities. Find out more on the What’s On page.
“Lovely local museum. Kids will have a fantastic time. Always something to do!”
Our dedicated space for families
At the Art Gallery and Museum, the Activity Space offers a bright and welcoming environment to explore, create and learn! With child-height cases, creative play and our brand-new play guides to colour in.
Play Guide
Our brand-new colourable Play Guide is available at the Art Gallery and Museum. Pick one up for free on your next visit, or download here!
What could my child explore?
There is lots to enjoy for all ages at the museum. The museum has a broad mix of art, natural history, archaeology and local history, making it suitable for a wide age range within the same family.
- Exploring colours, shapes and large artworks
- Activity Space with colouring and creative play
- Looking at fossils and animals
- Lift-accessible building for buggy users
- Family-friendly environment
- Family trails and activities
- Fossils, animal and art displays
- Local history objects
- Creative activities in the Activity Space
- Art galleries and changing exhibitions
- Fossils, geology and archaeology collections
- Steward’s Chemist Shop (open on certain days)
- Worcestershire Sauce archive and local history stories
- Family trails and activities
- Temporary art exhibitions
- Contemporary and historic art collections
- Local history and archaeology
- Independent exploration of galleries
- Special talks and events
Facilities
The accessible bathroom at the Art Gallery and Museum contains baby change facilities.
There is step-free access throughout the museum. A lift is available and pushchairs are welcome throughout the Art Gallery and Museum.
Access information for Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum can be found here.
Free entry
Entry to the museum is FREE, making it perfect for a family day out. Some exhibitions are ticketed with a small charge and can be booked online or when you visit. Children often go free, and there are discounts for Worcester residents!
Find out more here.
Helpful information for your visit
A typical family visit is likely to last around 1.5–2 hours.
This allows time to:
- Explore the museum galleries and exhibitions (charging exhibitions may be in place in the art gallery)
- Visit the Activity Space where you can see fossils, animals and take part in creative activities
- Complete our family trail
- Take part in family sessions and activities like ‘Get Arty’ sessions and ‘Bags of Fun’
- Visit the café
Families with younger children may spend closer to 1–1.5 hours.
Those engaging fully with activities, temporary exhibitions and the café could spend 2–3 hours here.
Quieter times:
- Weekday afternoons 2-4PM during term time. It may be noisier if we have schools or groups in, so please call before your visit to confirm.
Busier periods are likely to be:
- School holidays
- Family event days
- Saturdays, particularly morning and early afternoon
Admission to the museum is free. There are some charged for exhibitions (children often go free). There are family activities (trails and Bags of Fun), which are available to purchase from the shop.
A free visit can include:
- Access to permanent museum displays
- Access to art gallery exhibitions (unless a special ticketed exhibition is running)
- Family trails and Bags of Fun (in school holidays) but there is a small charge for these
- The Activity Space where there are creative activities as well as museum displays, including child height cases
The museum displays include:
- Fossils and natural history
- Local history
- Archaeology
- Art
- The historic Steward’s Chemist Shop display (open on certain days)
- Worcestershire Sauce archive material
Prams can be used throughout most of the museum thanks to lift access and accessible routes.
If you wish to leave a buggy, please ask in the shop when you arrive – the Art Gallery & Museum doesn’t have a special area for prams so we can’t guarantee somewhere to park prams on busier days.
Families at Little Al’s Kitchen
Children are very welcome at Little Al’s at the Balcony! Jugs of hot water can be used to warm milk, and breast feeding is welcome.
Due to safety reasons, high-chairs are not available.
Please ask at the café for about children’s portions. They are very happy to adapt menu items.
