Brighton Museum and Art Gallery is located in the Royal Pavilion garden, at the heart of the city’s cultural quarter. Its diverse collections bring together the arts and history to tell stories about the city and the world we live in.
This museum and gallery is home to a number of permanent displays as well as temporary exhibitions. You can also search the online archives here. The galleries cover a huge range of themes including fashion and style, 20th-century art and design, and fine art.
Explore the Rich History and Art at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
Your visit will take you through the Elaine Evans Archaeology collection where you will learn about Brighton throughout the prehistoric ice age, to the bronze age up until the Saxon era. Explore the lives of Brighton’s past residents through 3D reconstructions created from the scientific analyses of seven skeletal remains. You will learn about their age, health, deaths, food, tools, crafts, settlements and more. Brighton was an ancient fishing village and hosts a rich archaeological history with an abundance of material for tracing the lives of the past.
Journey into Ancient Egypt to see artefacts excavated by one of the UK’s most prominent Egyptologists. Particular focus is placed on the Egyptian afterlife and burial rituals with historical objects of importance such as a coffin, jars of food, protective amulets and carved figurines on show in this immersive display. Mummification wasn’t limited to humans – go and learn about the practice of mummifying animals including crocodiles!
Once you’ve had your history fix, head over to the three fine art galleries for more cultural bounty. These are home to pieces including The Raising of Lazarus by Jan Lievens and Swans at Play by Gaston La Touche.
Trace Brighton’s history through beautiful paintings, photographs and oral history recordings in the Images of Brighton gallery to see how the city has continually reinvented itself, and been forged into the trendy and popular leisure town of today. A highlight includes the works denoting sub-cultures of Brighton and how it became an LGBTQ+ capital of the world. If Quadrophenia is your thing, you will love the original Lambretta scooter on display!
Speaking of trendy – don’t miss the Fashion & Style gallery which hosts sumptuous pieces all the way from the 1500s until the present day! It perfectly captures the edgy and rebellious energy of Brighton’s fashion scene. Social and cultural shifts are examined through the lens of changing trends in dress. Highlights include eclectic treasures such as Sake Dean Mahomed’s wardrobe whilst he served as a courtier of George IV, a Queer Looks exhibition and a Victorian wedding dress.
Round off your visit with a perusal of Mr Willett’s Popular Pottery or the 20th Century Art & Design collection. You can also visit the displays of puppetry and masks in the Performance section, or immerse yourself in the World Stories gallery which presents cultures from across the globe through the eyes of young people.
The spotlight temporary exhibition currently in the gallery is Lee Miller: Dressed, which traces Miller’s life through her photographic work and personal wardrobe, much of which has never been publicly shown before. Other visiting exhibitions include work by Burne-Jones, Rembrandt, and more. Later this year, the 50th anniversary of Abba’s Eurovision win will be celebrated with photographs, films, memorabilia and personal accounts on display.
There are regular events for all ages that give visitors the chance to get involved, such as Paint the Sea. You can gather inspiration from the See the Sea exhibition and then paint your own picture in the Fine Art Gallery.
The museum is accessible for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility, including a lift and accessible toilet.
Opening times:
- April – September, 9.30 am – 5.45 pm (last admission 5 pm)
- October – March, 10 am – 5.15 pm (last admission 4.30 pm)
You can book in advance here or purchase entrance on the day and your ticket can be used as many times as you like within a year!
Address: Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1EE
