Brighton Museums

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Brighton Museums

The official page of Brighton & Hove Museums. We offer a range of exhibitions and family events, throughout the year.

The Royal Pavilion and Museums includes the famous regency palace of George IV, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Hove Museum & Art Gallery, the Booth Museum of Natural History and Preston Manor. Our collections include natural history, world art, decorative art, fine art, local history and archaeology, fashion and textiles, and toys, film and media, with over a million objects in our collections. Yo

u can also see us at: www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk www.twitter.com/brightonmuseums Book exhibition tickets : http://ow.ly/2Z9zx call +44(0)3000 2909

17/06/2026

Think Brighton & Hove Museums is just the Royal Pavilion?
You’re not alone.
But we’re actually five unique sites, each with its own stories to tell:
🏛️ Royal Pavilion & Garden
🎨 Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
🏠 Preston Manor & Walled Garden
🎬 Hove Museum of Creativity
🦋 Booth Museum of Natural History (currently being transformed ahead of an exciting reopening)
Together, they make up Brighton & Hove Museums.

16/06/2026

Happy Sussex Day!

Today we celebrate the rich heritage, culture and stories of Sussex.

The Sussex Charter calls on all of us to be guardians of our county's history, landscape, wildlife and communities. At Brighton & Hove Museums, we are proud to play our part in that mission every day.

From the Royal Pavilion and Preston Manor to Brighton Museum, Booth Museum and Hove Museum, our collections help preserve and share the stories of Sussex – its people, places, creativity, traditions and natural world.

Whether it's a Regency palace, an Edwardian manor house, local art and archaeology, or the wildlife that makes Sussex unique, every object in our care helps tell the story of this remarkable county.

Here's to Sussex and to everyone helping keep its stories alive.

💙 Sussex is Sussex... and Sussex won't be druv.

15/06/2026

Father's Day at the Royal Pavilion 🐉

Treat Dad to a dragon-sized adventure.

This Sunday, dads and father figures can visit the Royal Pavilion for just £5, including entry to our DRAGONS exhibition.

🎟 £5 entry for dads and father figures
📅 Sunday 21 June
🐉 Includes entry to DRAGONS
🚪 Available on the door only

Find out more: https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/dads-go-for-a-fire-ver/ VisitBrighton Brighton and Hove News The Argus Brighton & Hove Albion Foundation Rockinghorse Children's Charity Brighton & Hove Buses Brighton & Hove City Libraries The Grand Central, Brighton Theatre Royal Brighton Pier Pressure - Brighton Escape Rooms Duke of York's Picturehouse Brighton Gin Sussex Teachers Sussex Savers The Living Coast Unesco Biosphere The Argus - Brighton and Hove Albion FC news

14/06/2026

Dads go for a FIRE-ver this Father's Day! 🔥🐉

Looking for a Father's Day adventure with some real heat? We've got you covered with an offer that's simply too hot to miss.

On Sunday 21 June, dads and father figures can visit the Royal Pavilion for just £5 and enjoy entry to our spectacular DRAGONS exhibition.

Follow the trail of runaway baby dragons, discover hidden creatures throughout the palace, and explore fascinating dragon stories from around the world. Whether he's a history enthusiast, a fantasy fan or simply young at heart, it's the perfect family day out.

🎟 £5 entry for dads and father figures
📅 Sunday 21 June
📍 Royal Pavilion
🐉 Includes entry to DRAGONS
🚪 Available on the door only – no pre-booking required

Just speak to our ticket desk on arrival to claim the offer.

Ready for a Father's Day adventure that's truly FIRE-ver? 🔥

https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/dads-go-for-a-fire-ver/

13/06/2026

🌳 On 28 June 1850, the Royal Pavilion Grounds opened to the public for the very first time.

A report in the Brighton Herald described how, despite the morning rain, crowds flocked to the gardens to stroll among the trees, listen to music from the 8th Royal Irish Hussars band and explore what had previously been a royal pleasure ground. The writer proudly noted that the newly accessible gardens could rival any public space in Europe.

The accompanying painting, Lawns of the Royal Pavilion by Joseph Nash, from the Royal Pavilion & Museums collection, captures the beauty and atmosphere of these gardens in the mid-19th century.

Exactly 176 years later, we're inviting you to celebrate the Royal Pavilion Garden once again.

Join us on Sunday 28 June for a day of discovery, creativity and nature on the North Lawn. Meet our Garden Volunteers and Archivists, uncover stories from the garden's past, explore wildlife trails, enjoy botanical art activities and learn more about the plants, people and history that have shaped this remarkable green space.

https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/event/pavilion-garden-get-together/

Just as Brighton residents gathered here in 1850 to enjoy their newly opened garden, we're welcoming visitors today to experience it in a new way.

📍 Royal Pavilion Garden
📅 Sunday 28 June
⏰ 11am–3pm
🎟 Free to attend

12/06/2026

“Sorry, I can’t hear you... we’re kinda busy showcasing Brighton’s newest premium event space.”
Yesterday, Brighton Museum was buzzing as we welcomed event planners, businesses and partners to our Corporate Showcase, exploring the possibilities of the stunning Central Gallery as one of the city’s most unique event venues.
From elegant dinners and unforgettable weddings to conferences, receptions and large-scale celebrations, we spent the evening sharing ideas, making connections and imagining what’s possible within these remarkable historic surroundings.
With exclusive hire available across the ground floor and first-floor galleries, Brighton Museum can accommodate events for up to 500 guests.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped bring the space to life.
Special thanks to Roebuck Estates for the exceptional wines, and Food Glorious Food for the beautiful menu and for keeping the atmosphere just right with amazing soundtrack throughout the event.
If you’d like to learn more about hosting your event at Brighton Museum, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Venue Hire team via the link in our bio.

11/06/2026

250 years ago today, on 11 June 1776, John Constable was born.

And with Brighton treating us to a thoroughly rainy day, it feels like the perfect moment to celebrate the artist who found endless inspiration in dramatic skies, shifting light and the moods of the sea.

While best known for his idyllic countryside scenes, Constable was equally fascinated by the Sussex coast. He and his family stayed in Brighton on several occasions between 1824 and 1828, where he was inspired by the sea, weather and surrounding countryside.

Our collection includes two atmospheric studies of Brighton beach:
• Brighton Beach, Early Morning After a Wet Night(thought to depict the area near Ship Street)
• Brighton Beach, Rainy Weather(thought to depict the area near West Street)

Brighton in the 1820s offered a surprising range of cultural attractions. Alongside assembly rooms, theatres, horse races and libraries, the town was home to the much-praised Brighton Picture Gallery, shown here in an 1823 aquatint. Long before art exhibitions were held in the Royal Pavilion (from 1850) or Brighton Museum was built (1873), visitors could enjoy an impressive collection of paintings in this dedicated gallery. During his stays in Brighton, Constable is highly likely to have visited it himself.

The final image is Constable's dramatic Rainstorm over the Sea(1824–1828), painted during his Brighton years. Some of you may remember seeing this remarkable work when it was displayed in Brighton in 2017.
Do you remember the exhibition, or have a favourite Constable painting? We'd love to hear your memories in the comments.

Image credits:
Brighton Beach, Early Morning After a Wet Night– John Constable, Brighton & Hove Museums
Brighton Beach, Rainy Weather– John Constable, Brighton & Hove Museums
Brighton Picture Gallery(aquatint), 1823
Rainstorm over the Sea, 1824–1828 – John Constable RA, Royal Academy of Arts, London. Photo: John Hammond

10/06/2026

🖼️ One week to go.

How do we uncover the stories behind one of Britain's most extraordinary historic interiors?

From fragments of wallpaper to forgotten documents, the Royal Pavilion's archives contain vital evidence that helps us understand, interpret and conserve this remarkable building.

Next Wednesday, Royal Pavilion Archivist Saadia Khan and Paper Conservator Amy Junker Heslip will share insights from their ongoing work, revealing how archival records and surviving decorative fragments continue to shape our understanding of the Pavilion's lavish interiors.

This is a rare opportunity to hear directly from the specialists responsible for researching and preserving the history of the Royal Pavilion.

📍 William IV Room, Royal Pavilion
📅 Wednesday 17 June, 11am
🎟 £15 | Members receive 15% discount

https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/event/revealing-the-royal-pavilion-interiors-stories-from-the-archives/

Find out more and book your place via the link in the comments.

09/06/2026

Rare photo of the Royal Pavilion by Simon Dack.

This remarkable photograph, taken by Simon Dack, captures the Royal Pavilion bathed in golden sunlight as dark storm clouds gather over Brighton. Much like the skies above Brighton, the Pavilion's dragons are full of drama. Hidden throughout the palace, they can be found perched on rooftops, carved into woodwork, woven into decorative details and lurking in unexpected corners.

Next week on Saturday, you can discover their stories with Royal Pavilion Curator Dr Alexandra Loske.

🐉 The Dragon is in the Detail: Dragons for the Royal Pavilion
📅 Saturday 20 June
⏰ 11am
📍 William IV Room, Royal Pavilion
🎟️ £15 (£12.75 for members)

https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/event/the-dragon-is-in-the-detail-dragons-for-the-royal-pavilion/

Join Alexandra as she explores how George IV's designers John and Frederick Crace and Robert Jones created the many dragons that inhabit this remarkable pleasure palace, from tiny decorative sketches to magnificent carved and silvered beasts.

08/06/2026

Happy World Oceans Day 🌊

For generations, the sea has shaped life in Brighton. This photograph, taken in 1938, shows members of the Brighton Swimming Club enjoying the water that has connected our city to the wider world for centuries.

Today, World Oceans Day is a reminder that our oceans are not only places of recreation and adventure, but also vital ecosystems that support life on Earth. From the air we breathe to the wildlife that inhabits our seas, we all depend on a healthy ocean.

As we celebrate Brighton's close relationship with the sea, let's also remember the importance of protecting our blue planet for future generations.

💙 Love the ocean. Protect marine life. Preserve our seas.

📷 Brighton Swimming Club, 1938

Address

Royal Pavilion
Brighton
BN11EE

Telephone

+443000290900

Website

http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/

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