Quex House and Gardens, Home to the Powell-Cotton Museum

Open Friday-Saturday 11am - 4pm - check website for festive events and Open Days 

This year, the Powell-Cotton Trust celebrates 100 years of caring for the buildings, landscapes, and world-renowned collections that make this place unique. Join in the celebratory events and activities throughout this special year, including collection talks, exhibitions, hands-on crafts, music and art events, garden activities and more... One hundred years ago, a charity was formed to run the Powell-Cotton Museum in Birchington, on the East Kent coast, and care for its already-vast collections. Now, the Powell-Cotton Trust unveils the first of the celebratory centenary events planned for 2026 at its home in the heart of Quex Park.

Quex House and Gardens and the Powell-Cotton Museum encompass ever-changing, award-winning gardens, world-renowned natural history collections in breathtaking historic dioramas, cultural objects of Africa and Asia and the publicly accessible rooms of the Georgian manor house and home of the Powell-Cotton family. The whole Powell-Cotton Trust venue is now open for new family events, displays, exhibitions, talks and trails. In the Museum, a new Welcome Space introduces visitors to the history of how and why the Museum was founded, highlighting the people involved and how it was shaped and developed across the century. This is complemented with more stories about the history of Quex House and the even older Quex Garden.

From July: The art and artefacts of the Zulu people of Southern Africa, the latest instalment of a reinterpretation of the internationally renowned collections of artefacts connected to Africa. Galleries which previously included captions and text panels reflecting only the interests, experiences, knowledge and perspectives of the Museum's founder, Victorian explorer and hunter, Percy Powell-Cotton (1866-1940), are being revitalised with fresh interpretation highlighting the objects themselves, their significance and the lives, cultures and beliefs of communities whose histories and traditions are centuries old.

PCT100: Past & Present , a year-long creative project in which local schools, community groups, visitors and artists will collaborate to produce 100 pieces of artwork inspired by the Museum. Funded by Arts Council England.

Quex House and Gardens and the Powell-Cotton Museum offer an exciting, fun and interactive day out for all, where you can discover history, nature and an extraordinary museum all in one unforgettable visit.

The Powell-Cotton Museum is one of the Kent's most distinctive museums, featuring incredible natural history displays of animals from the African and Asian continents in world-famous dioramas. There are also fascinating displays of world-culture objects as well as local archaeology.

Ticket price includes a tour of the Grade II listed Quex House (House open for guided tours only; times announced on the day), formerly home to the Powell-Cotton family. The interior of the house is uniquely decorated with ornamental furniture, art and a beautiful library. Quex Gardens are set in seven acres and feature sweeping lawns, herbaceous borders, exotic trees, a woodland walk, and a historic walled kitchen garden.

Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens. The Gift Shop stocks delicious ice cream, cold drinks, and a selection of gifts. The family-run Felicity's Café , located at the front of the museum, offers delicious breakfasts, afternoon tea and lunch. All their cakes are freshly baked on site. Indoor and outdoor seating available, but pre-booking is advised.

Your Ticket includes: 

Free guided tours inside the Museum and Quex House*

Entrance to the Museum, Quex House and Gardens

Free hire of backpack buddies for young visitors Free hire of SEND backpacks for visitors with additional needs *

Please note that entrance to Quex House will be by guided tour only. Tour times will be published on the day. Please email enquiries@powell-cottonmuseum.org to check if tours will be available on the day you plan to visit. 

A programme of special activities and events throughout the year (please note these may incur a higher admission charge).