Amberley Museum is an amazing place tucked away in the South Downs between Storrington and Arundel, with a focus on industrial and transport history. With 36 acres to explore and over 40 exhibits to visit, there is so much to discover, learn and have fun.
Train fans can investigate locos and rolling stock and see the James Bond exhibition, and in the electricity hall there are buttons to press, handles to turn and many other activities – for the adults as well! Can you set the controls to operate substations and switch the street lights on? It’s not as easy as it looks! In the communications hall you can enjoy a variety of vehicles and phone a friend using our collection of old telephones.
Further exhibits include the working printshop where children can have a go at printing a card with their name on, lime kilns, road steam engines, radio and TV exhibition, standard gauge line, stationary engines and more. On special days the amateur radio station is operational and visitors can witness communications right across the globe. Amateur radio operators can listen out for their station GB2CPM.
The Museum is also home to traditional craftspeople, such as the woodturners, wheelwrights, potters and blacksmith, with a café, gift shop and numerous picnic areas. The attraction aims to have at least three crafts being demonstrated on any day they are open. If children still need to let off steam, they also have an enclosed playground.
There are two nature trails, a bug hotel and two ponds, and depending on the time of year you visit, rare orchids, spring flowers, butterflies and many other wonders of nature to see. It’s well worth a visit and there is plenty to do in all weathers.
They have an on-site café serving hot and cold food, and picnic areas around the site. The Museum is accessibility friendly and dogs are also welcome on site but must be kept on a lead at all times. Recently they were awarded the Kennel Club ‘Best Dog Friendly Attraction Award’ for Days Out 2016.
The Museum is hosting over 50 events in 2017 ranging from children’s activity days to classic vehicle shows, craft days and steam days, and are pleased to welcome Hawking About on chosen dates, demonstrating their owls and birds of prey.
Standard Museum entry prices apply to all events except those outside of normal opening hours, which in 2017 are the evening sessions of the ale festivals, Halloween evening and Christmas weekends, for which pre booking is needed.
Open from March to the end of October, seven days a week during Sussex school holidays and on Bank Holidays, otherwise Wednesday to Sunday. Located right next to Amberley railway station, with direct trains from London Victoria, Bognor Regis and Portsmouth (but do check nationalrail.co.uk before you travel) and they have a large, free carpark.
Please see the website for a full list of events and opening dates and times. You can also find out the days they are planning on having steam trains running, group booking prices and details of courses that the attraction runs.
More information on www.amberleymuseum.co.uk
