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 (and the newly discovered 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 years and our superb ship models and displays look at this innovative and changing area.

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 and during your visit (even after if you have some more questions!).

  • The site is entirely accessible for those with pushchairs or in a wheelchair. We also have a lift to access the floors, gender neutral toilet, a toilet for disabled visitors and a manual wheelchair available.
  • We try to keep all age ranges interested and entertained. We have a range of quizzes for younger visitors (with prizes), a film show and galleries that explore Barrow's fascinating history. For a list of our temporary exhibitions 
  • The Bridge café offers a tempting range of hot and cold meals and snacks, daily specials board, homemade cakes and speciality teas and coffees.
  • We have free car parking (for a maximum of three hours) and designated car parking for our disabled visitors.
  • We have baby-change facilities.
  • Free WiFi
Gift Shop

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 but have to be booked ahead of your visit.

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.

All group visits to the Dock Museum are free.

Please contact us to arrange your visit:

dockmuseum@barrowbc.gov.uk  

01229 876400

We are open Wednesday to Sunday from 11-4pm.  Last admission is at 3.30pm.