Group Visits
We welcome group visits of all ages. The Dock Museum is a special place as it's built into a former dry dock. The beautiful sandstone walls and scale of the dock are impressive features in their own right.
We have a large and varied museum looking at the history of Furness from the end of the Ice Age right up to the present day. We look at the fascinating story of the impact of the Vikings (including the Viking hoard) the remarkable growth of the town in the Victorian period and recreate a claustrophobic Anderson shelter in our Second World War gallery. Shipbuilding has been a major industry in Barrow for more than one hundred and fifty years and our superb ship models and displays look at this innovative and changing area. Our recently refurbished Ship Yard Town Gallery is a must visit with various interactive activities and our unique Submarine Experience for you to enjoy.
We also have a lively programme of temporary exhibitions to capture the visitor's attention.
Facilities
We hope to make your visit as enjoyable as possible. Our friendly staff can help before, during your visit and even after if you have some more questions.
The site is entirely accessible to all. We have a lift to access the floors, gender neutral toilet, a fully accessible toilet, a family changing room and a manual wheelchair available on request, free of charge.
We try to keep all age ranges interested and entertained. We have a range of quizzes for younger visitors (with prizes), interactive activities, a Submarine Experience and galleries that explore Barrow's fascinating history.
The Bridge café offers a tempting range of hot and cold meals and snacks, daily specials board, homemade cakes and speciality teas and coffee, vegan and vegetarian options are available.
We have free car parking (for a maximum of three hours, Electric charging point and designated accessible parking car parking close to the front of the Museum.
We have baby-change facilities.
We offer free to use WiFi.
Free App, please use your own App supplier and search for “The Dock Museum”.
Coach trips
Our meet and greet service for coach tours is always popular and we're happy to provide a short introduction to the Dock Museum. Longer tours of the museum are also available at a cost of £60 per group. Please contact us to arrange these.
A coach drop off and pick up point is available directly outside the Dock Museum.
Please phone ahead to let us know about your visit and to make arrangements.
Entry to the Dock Museum is free.
Please contact us to arrange your visit: Email dockdutymanager@barrowbc.gov.uk.
or call us on 01229 876400.
We are open Wednesday to Sunday from 11-4pm.