BROADWAY MUSEUM FIELD GUIDE
Inside a 17th‑Century Cotswold House: Broadway Museum & Art Gallery
A compact cultural stop in Broadway that unlocks local fossils, the Story of Wool and a Cabinet of Curiosities—this guide helps you plan a focused hour in the village museum.
Inside a 17th‑Century Cotswold House: Broadway Museum & Art Gallery.
Housed in one of Broadway’s few open 17th‑century buildings, Broadway Museum & Art Gallery presents a layered local history: displays range from locally found fossils to a narrative of the village’s wool years, an extraordinary Cabinet of Curiosities and exhibits on coaching and the arrival of steam. Run by local trustees, staff and volunteers with support from H.W. Keil and the Ashmolean Museum, the museum is an ideal short cultural stop during a visit to The Cotswolds.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
A rare 17th‑century house open to the public
The museum occupies a seventeenth‑century house that has been extended and adapted over the centuries but retains many original features—one of the few such buildings in Broadway open to visitors.
Cabinet of Curiosities and local finds
Among the displays is an incredible Cabinet of Curiosities alongside locally found fossils and other objects that trace the region’s natural and cultural history.
Wool, coaching and the artists’ colony
Exhibits tell Broadway’s Story of Wool and the impact of coaching and steam on the village; the museum also traces the late‑19th‑century arrival of American artists and the later H.W. Keil collection.
What the day feels like
A compact, room‑by‑room cultural walk
Expect a short, interpretive walk through rooms that layer natural history, local industry and social change: fossil cases and wool displays give way to curios and period furniture, with interpretation that connects Broadway’s village story to wider patterns of travel and collecting.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this visit suits — and who should plan ahead.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Bring a camera for great pictures of the historic rooms and displays.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long will a typical visit take?
Plan about one hour for a focused visit.
Where do I meet or enter the museum?
The meeting point and entry is Broadway Museum & Art Gallery.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
The Grade II* listed building is not currently accessible to wheelchair users; the museum does provide one disabled parking space opposite the building and a fully accessible toilet, and staff will assist visitors as they can.
What exhibits will I see?
Displays include locally found fossils, the Story of Wool, a Cabinet of Curiosities, exhibits on coach travel and steam, and selected pieces from the H.W. Keil collection, plus a small museum shop.
Can I take photographs?
Visitors are encouraged to bring a camera for great pictures.
Who runs the museum?
The museum is run by a small team of local trustees, staff and volunteers with past support and curatorial input from H.W. Keil and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.