Hythe Pier Museum

21/05/2026

Following on from Rachel & Donald, we've decided to slash the entry fee for the Hythe Pier Museum for kids this summer (y) Come on down any Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, and for an extra £1, we'll let you walk the pier and ride the train - what can be better than that? :-)

Nice to see the government subsadising bus travel again, but not the ferries - just sayin :-( Maybe if we dressed up the heritage pier train as a large pink pig? 🤔 Whatever it needs...

PS: Museum entry is free for everyone (y) T&Cs apply, absolutely no refunds!

15/05/2026

Pier Volunteers Needed

Are you happy to talk to strangers of all ages, are you able to talk about interesting things, such as;

• The Hythe Pier, Train and Ferry
• The Titanic and Mayflower
• Spitfires and Flying Boats
• Southampton and D-Day preparations
• Sir Christopher Cockerell and the Hovercraft
• Jane Austen and Lawrence of Arabia
• Oystercatchers, Curlew, Redshank, and Sammy the Seal
• Memories of the Pier & Fery as a child
• In fact, anything heritage relating to the area! :-)

The current volunteers from the Hythe Shed (at the pier), the Hythe Pier Heritage Association, the Hythe Pier Company, and the Hythe Pier Museum, have all been working hard to get the pier, museum, shop and train operating for this summer, and now that it’s open, we need more volunteers of all ages. We initially need help with the Pier, Museum and Shop - so a wide range of skills and knowledge. We’re also working on “Train Driver” training for volunteers in the coming weeks.

If you’re interested, and can spare a few hours a week, then please get in touch via [email protected], or direct to the organisations mentioned above, for more information (y)

( Photo by Mark Futter - Thanks Mark (y) )

24/04/2026

WTF - What the... Friday

While sorting through the various boxes and drawers at the pier, we discovered this brass conundrum. It's about the size of a large key, with a loose end. You may think it passes through a hole, and the rocker bit locks it in place, but there is no barb, and when you pull it, it just flips back into place - so useless as a harpoon too.

It's got to be boat, buildings, pier or train related - so anyone got any suggestions? The item is available for inspection at the Hythe Pier office if you're really intrigued.

18/04/2026

What absolutely lovely weather we're having today. Why not pop down to the pier and take a stroll along the planks and pop into the Hythe Pier Museum for a look around 👍

05/04/2026

The Hythe Pier Museum and Hythe Pier aren't open on Easter Sunday or Monday - so if your desperate for your local history fix, why not pop down to the New Forest Heritage Centre, Lyndhurst where they have an exhibition on some old forest businesses (y)

04/04/2026

Karen popped into the museum a few weeks ago, as she knew her family were involved with the ferry. I think she was surprised when Alan Titheridge showed her his ferry book which included her relatives.

If you've got family links to the pier & ferry, then please do get in touch, we'd love to hear your story and raid your photo album if possible :-)

03/04/2026

The Hythe Pier Museum is proud to be stocking the much loved "A seal swam in from the sea" that's been unavailable for years (y)

If you can't get into the museum, then you can pick up your copy from the following amazing stockist;
- Toys Ahoy in Hythe
- Mirkay's of Dibden Purlieu aka "Dibden Post Office"
- Hythe Pier at the Ticket Office
- Ceratopia Books online stockist if you're not local

How many of the landmarks in the book have you visited? Can you share a recreated photo of the scene?

01/04/2026

The Hythe Pier, Hythe Pier Museum & shop will all be open from 10am on Thursday - come on down, pick up a discounted coffee from Howley Coffee Co and take a stroll down the pier. On the way back, pop into the Museum and brush up on your local history.

To coincide with the reopening of Hythe Pier to the public, Ceratopia Books is pleased to announce a reprint of the sell-out children’s book ‘A Seal Swam In From The Sea.’

Originally published in 2021, the book helped to raise thousands of pounds for the Hythe ferry. This new printing will be donating £2 from every copy sold to supporting Hythe Pier and the train.

Simon will be signing copies of the book on April 2nd, from midday onwards, at Hythe Pier. What’s more, for every copy sold, he’ll draw your child a cartoon of their favourite animal (whether it’s a seal or not).

Books are also available at Toys Ahoy, The Herald offices, the Hythe Pier Museum, Dibden Purlieu Post Office, and online at ceratopiabooks.co.uk

Come along and say hello, walk the pier, and help make a contribution to its future!

26/03/2026

Due to unforeseen safety issues with access (and the excitement with the pier opening next week) we have decided NOT to open the Museum & Shop today - sorry.

We are planning to be open this Saturday as usual (y)