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Groups

 
 

Exploring together

We welcome group visits to the American Museum & Gardens and are looking forward to helping you plan a special day. Group admission tickets give entry to the entire site, including the museum, exhibition, gardens, deli and gallery shop.

Benefits for groups

  • Discounted day tickets for groups of 10 or more

  • The group organiser and/or coach driver are entitled to free entry

  • Free all-day coach parking

  • Dedicated groups booking manager

  • Tours and activities just for you (booked in advance)

  • Suggested itineraries

Group day admission

Ticket type Group price
Adult £13.20
Child
(5–17 years)
£7

Please note the discounts we offer on our admission prices for individuals are not applicable to the group rate prices.

Activities for groups – please book in advance

  • Our tours explore the garden’s main components:

    • Our recently planted New American Garden.

    • The Mount Vernon Garden, a reconstruction of part of George Washington’s garden in Virginia, created when the museum opened in the 1960s.

    • The Arboretum, originally planted at Claverton in the 19th century.

    • The original Italianate Garden designed by a Victorian owner of Claverton Manor, hidden below the Mount Vernon garden.

    Garden tours tell the story of these stages in the evolution of our gardens. Tours last up to one hour with a maximum group size of 10 people. The tours are led by knowledgeable members of our volunteer teams. Tours are subject to availability and cost £5.50 per person, plus group admission, and must be booked in advance.

  • We are able to offer guided tours of the Museum collection outside of normal opening hours, subject to availability, and at a cost of £5.50 per person plus group admission. Tours last a little over 1 hour and are limited to a maximum of 10 people per tour, so larger groups will be divided into smaller tour groups with staggered start times. All tours must start before 10.45am or after 3pm and must be booked in advance.

  • The American Museum houses a world-famous collection of textiles, embroideries, weavings, prints, including a collection of over 200 historic quilts and rugs. If your group has a particular interest in cloth, then this specialised tour will be just the thing.

    Conducted by a knowledgeable member of our volunteer team, you will learn about a wide variety of pieces in our period rooms, including fabrics, construction and social history.

    The tour lasts approximately 1 hour. Maximum group size is 10 people, but larger groups can be accommodated in back to back tours.

    All tours are subject to availability, at a cost of £5.50 per person plus group admission, and must be booked in advance.

  • Before the Second World War American fine art followed European styles. We have good examples of such early American paintings in our period rooms. We also have an excellent collection of American folk art paintings made by decorative craftsmen turning their hands to portrait or landscape work. These artists were talented exponents of ‘limning’ taking likenesses quickly, making them cheap enough for ordinary people to afford. While this tradition originated in Europe, in the nineteenth century it was unique to America.

    Tours last up to one hour with a maximum group size of 10 people, though we can accommodate larger groups in back to back tours. The tours are led by knowledgeable members of our volunteer teams. Tours are subject to availability and cost £5.50 per person plus group admission, and must be booked in advance.

  • We also welcome groups who are blind or partially sighted. Specialised tours are arranged which last approximately 1½ hours. These include a dedicated guide and a selection of handling objects which enhance the descriptive tour. Wheelchairs can be accommodated. Maximum group size is 6 people, usually 3 blind or partially-sighted people and their helpers.

  • We are also able to offer our Curious about Quilts sessions for those interested in an opportunity to view up close some of our quilts not on display and learn more about the history of quilt making in America.

    These sessions can be booked during normal opening hours, are subject to availability, and at a cost of £5.50 per person plus group admission. Sessions last approximately 1 hour and are limited to a maximum of 15 people per session, although larger groups can be accommodated with multiple sessions (allowing for approximately 1 between sessions for reset). All Curious about Quilts sessions must be booked in advance.

Unable to visit us?

We offer a limited number a year of off-site talks where we can come to you. Off-site talks are subject to availability between March and September and should be within 15 miles of the American Museum & Gardens. For locations outside of 15 miles, we may be able to offer an online session if that is of interest. Please email groups@americanmuseum.org for more information.

Book your group

 

Gardens & estate

Sweeping lawns and vistas, and large garden vignettes that embrace the aesthetic of the American meadow, with a profusion of colour, texture and movement through the seasons

Museum & exhibitions

American stories, heritage, art and design, from Indigenous peoples to Shakers, with textiles, furniture and much more presented in historical rooms, as well as special, seasonal exhibitions