Destination Kimmeridge
KEY INFORMATION:-
We are in the village of Kimmeridge, eight miles south of Wareham in Dorset. Our museum is open every day from 10am until 5pm (last admissions 4.15pm) including all bank holidays apart from Chrismas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We are open over the New Year.
** Online booking is not required to visit the Museum. If the Museum car park is full (we only have room for 45 cars) we kindly ask you to NOT park down the main road through the village as this blocks access to emergency vehicles (coastguard, ambulances etc) as well as the very large tankers that frequently travel to and from Kimmeridge Bay as well as access to properties along this road. We recommend parking in the ‘quarry’ car park that is just before you drop down into the village and walking to the Museum through the footpath via the field at the back of the Church or parking in Kimmeridge Bay and using the footpath through the fields to walk up to the Museum. PLEASE NOTE: The Smedmore Estate charges a toll to be able to park at Kimmeridge Bay. **
Our ‘What3words’ location to the entrance to our car park is:- tarred.awoke.risen
Kimmeridge is sign posted from the A351 at Wareham. As you turn into the village, the museum building is on the right hand side, opposite Clavell's cafe and restaurant. PLEASE NOTE RE SAT NAVS!!! - Sat Nav systems may try and send you through the Lulworth Firing Ranges from the B3070 near Lulworth Castle to bring you in onto Grange Hill. This route is often closed so you will need to come in to us via the Wareham Bypass A351.
Kimmeridge is NOT accessible by public transport however there are taxis which run to the village from the nearest train station in Wareham. We do have a cycle rack for visitors coming by bicycle.
Its useful to know that Kimmeridge is close to Lulworth Army firing ranges and sometimes there can be road closures in the area. Visitors may need to take a detour via Corfe Castle or past Blue Pool to get to us. The link to check for any scheduled road closures is here .
Other key information
Our Ticket Price
The entrance fee includes 12 months complimentary admission to The Etches Collection and is valid for one year from the date shown on your till receipt (which must be retained for re-admission). You will be asked to sign and print your name on your till receipt. Tickets are not transferable including family/child tickets and are non-refundable. Proof of signature will be required in order to gain re-admission. Conditions and exclusion dates may apply. For our complaints policy, please click here, for our admissions policy, please see here.
The Etches Collection is a charity and exists due to the generous funding provided to enable the creation and build of the museum from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other trusts and donors. We are not funded or supported in any way by the government or other bodies when it comes to our day to day running and in order to maintain and sustain the fossil collection for future generations, we rely heavily on the income generated from our ticket sales, events and room hire. All of our revenue is reinvested back into the museum to enhance and grow the displays within the collection as well as conserve specimens for the long term future and to expand on the visitor experience for all of those that come and visit us at The Etches Collection. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in visiting us.
Dogs
We can only let service/assistance dogs into the museum.
The UK Equality Act of 2010 (EA) protects service dogs in the UK from unlawful discrimination when entering places where animals are prohibited. Business owners and service providers are required to accommodate individuals with disabilities as well as grant the service dog access to publicly accessible premises.
There is no official registration for assistance dogs granted by the UK government. However, most UK companies or premises recognise the service dog that has been trained and certified by one of the following organisations: Assistance Dogs International (ADI) and The International Guide Dog Foundation (IGDF).
They belong to Assistance Dog UK (ADUK) and cover many types of service dogs, including:
• Service dogs for autism
• Mobility assistance dogs
• Guide dogs for the blind
• Hearing dogs for deaf people
• Medical detection dogs
• Seizure alert/response dogs
We kindly ask that your service dog is wearing its identification tabard/lead to display to others that it is a working dog. In addition to this, please ensure that you have either one of the following:- Dog ID Card, Training Certificate, your Blue Badge, a doctors letter.
Refreshments
Our shop sells cold drinks and snacks. There are picnic areas near the museum or Clavell’s café and restaurant is opposite, which offers lunch, afternoon teas and evening meals. Our Museum is also part of the Refill Scheme which is an initiative to reduce plastic and we will gladly refill your water bottle for you for free.
Gift Aid
With your permission The Etches Collection can reclaim from the government 25p in every £1 spent on admission by using GiftAid - It costs you nothing but helps us a lot. Please refer to the GOV.UK website for further information on GIFTAID. Your details from Gift Aid will remain confidential and will never be disclosed to third parties, other than for the sole purpose of processing your donation.
Special Concessions
If you are a group, school, educational institution or university please contact us here or call 01929 270000 for discounted entrance tickets and details on a educational package to support your visit.
Accessibility & Disabled Visitors
Our modern building has step free access with a lift between the two levels. An accessible toilet is available on both levels. We have a detailed 'Access Statement' available, please click on the link for more details. Our disabled guests receive a FREE carers ticket for their carer on production of either:- disability living allowance or attendance allowance award letter, personal independance payment letter, current and valid blue badge or a letter from GP or consultant confirming need for a full time carer (all documents need to be dated within the last 12 months)
Car Parking
There is a free car park at the museum, including parking reserved for the disabled, but space is limited. If you plan on visiting Clavell's then you may use their car park. There is also parking at Kimmeridge Bay, which is a 15 minute walk away. Please be aware that the Smedmore Estate charge a £6 toll (contactless payments only) to use the car park down at Kimmeridge Bay.
We also have a designated parking space for a coach next to the museum which can be booked by prior arrangement, for groups which plan to arrive to the museum by more than one coach we can arrange for passes to enable parking down at Kimmeridge Bay (please see our 'Kimmeridge' section of the website to see how to book your coach pass from Dorset Country Council).
Due to high visitor numbers, we are experiencing difficult parking issues with a very limited number of spaces in our carpark. Drive carefully when coming to the museum and please be mindful and respectful that we share this beautiful place with our villagers as they go about their daily lives.
Please do not remove cones that are in place on the main road through the village; they are there to keep a clear path for emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and coastguards, that regularly go to and from the bay due to emergency situations. Careless parking could cause loss of life, should these vehicles get stuck.
If we all work together, everyone will have a positive, safe, and wonderful visitor experience. Thank you!
Wifi
Enjoy our free Wifi throughout the building.
Photography
Photography and videography is currently restricted in the Museum gallery spaces or of any of the exhibits. Any photographs or videography taken inside the Museum are for personal use only. Any photographs taken inside the Museum may not be used for commercial purposes without prior arrangement and may be subject to a licensing fee. Please contact us at info@theetchescollection.org for more details.