Do I need to pre-book?

You don’t need to pre-book. Tickets are available on the day.

Is the museum accessible?

Yes. We believe that access to Shire Hall should be easy for everyone, so we’ve made sure that we’re able to accommodate all our visitors in exploring our building and its fascinating history.

For more information about access at Shire Hall, please click here

Is the museum child friendly?

Yes, Shire Hall is a fun day out for all of the family. Families can explore our digital interactives, quizzes and games, as well as discover many more surprises when you come!

There are also lots of fun family activities and events throughout the year.

For more information about our activities for families, please click here

Do I need to buy a museum ticket to visit the café or shop?

Our café and shop are free to enter, you don’t need a museum ticket to visit them.

What are the opening times for Shire Hall?

We’re open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Saturday.

What museum guides do you offer?

Audio guides are available for all of our visitors. We also interactive iPad guides for families, which feature quizzes and games related to the museum.

Visitors using our multimedia guides will be required to leave a debit or credit card, which is locked in our card safe and returned at the end of the visit.

We also offer:

Descriptive audio guide- a visually-descriptive audio guide, on headsets with raised buttons, for visually impaired visitors.

Large print guides- Large print versions of both our paper and digital interpretation are available

Tactile books- Braille books of tactile images, produced by the RNIB, are in the museum for visually impaired visitors

Do you offer group visits?
Yes, groups of 10+ can enjoy a discounted rate of £6 per person.

Booking is essential for group visits, please contact Anne Brown for more information or to book: anne.brown@shirehalldorset.org or 01305 261849

What happens if I’ve booked a ticket but I can no longer visit on that day?

Tickets to Shire Hall are an annual pass, which means you can come back as many times as you want within the year. So, if you’ve booked online and you’re no longer able to visit on the day you planned then you can just visit us another day, no need to rebook!

Do you have any break out spaces?

Yes, if you or a member of your party require a break out space please find a member of staff and they will be able to show you to a quiet area.

Do you have volunteers working at Shire Hall?

Yes, our volunteers are an integral part of the Shire Hall team. We’re always looking for more volunteers, so if you’d like more information about how you could volunteer at Shire Hall please click here.

What COVID-19 precautions do you have in place?

The safety of our visitors, volunteers, staff and wider community remains our main priority. As such, we have put additional safety measures in place, whilst ensuring that everyone still gets the most out of their visit to Shire Hall.

Our additional measures include an enhanced cleaning schedule, regular hand-sanitising stations and a one-way system throughout the museum.

Do I need to wear a face covering around the museum?

In response to latest Government guidance, face coverings are compulsory in shops and on public transport from Tuesday 30th November. As such, all visitors will be required to wear a face covering whilst in Shire Hall’s shop, unless exempt.

Whilst face coverings are not compulsory in the Museum and Cafe, we would strongly encourage our visitors to continue wearing a face covering.

Is there a one-way system?

Yes, there is a one-way system throughout the museum that is clearly marked.

Are you doing track and trace?

Visitors can scan in using the NHS track and trace app.

What happens if I’ve booked a ticket but I can no longer come because I’m self-isolating?

Tickets to Shire Hall are an annual pass, which means you can come back as many times as you want within the year. So, if you’ve booked online and you’re no longer able to visit on the day you planned then you can just visit us another day, no need to rebook!