Museums and Galleries

West Berkshire Museum

You can't miss it! The Museum stretches more than 100m along the Wharf in the historic heart of Newbury.

The Cloth Hall is a Grade I listed building constructed in 1626 as a cloth factory. The Granary is an C18th Grade II listed building which served the canal trade until the C20th. The two are linked by a 1934 building which today houses a further six galleries. The galleries are bursting at the seams with objects and information.

There are free activity sheets and trails for children, as well as holiday activities. It's fun for all ages and best of all, it's FREE!

The Balnave Gallery

The Balnave Art Gallery is based in Newbury, with an additional site in Swindon. They specialise in signed Limited Edition Prints, Silkscreens and Original Paintings from National and International artists including Neil Dawson and Rebecca Lardner.

They also sell beautiful glassware, sculptures and jewellery as well as an array of gifts and cards.

Highclere Castle Gardens

Set within a Capibility Brown inspired park, Highclere Castle's gardens are hidden from view. Gravel paths guide the visitor, past the tropical house housing citrus fruits, grapes and a eucalyptus grown from seed by the 7th Earl, to the Monk's Garden and beds planted with roses, scented geraniums, lavender and pinks and walls lined with espalier medlar, quince and fig trees.

Behind the towering yew hedge is the White Garden, added in 1987, where a gate in the wall brings you to the exquisite Secret Garden with its colourful curving herbaceous borders and serpentine paths designed by James Russell in the mid-1960s.