Gilbert White & The Oates Collections are opening the museum on the 1st August, four months after closing.

We have announced that we will be opening the house from the 1st August. The grounds opened on the 4th July and since then we have welcomed back many visitors. Judith Bowles Co-Director of the museum said ‘The timing wasn’t right in July to open the house as well as the grounds, but we have been spending the last couple of weeks putting together preparations so that visitors can visit the museum safely.’

The house, like the gardens will not have a pre-booking system instead numbers to the house will be capped so that only 20 people can be inside the house at any one time. Visitors will be given a numbered ticket and may have to wait a little while before they get to look around the house.

There will be hand-sanitizer at the entrance and exit of the house and will be instructed not to touch anything around the house other than banisters, doors and toilet facilities. There will be a one way system around the house, that will be signposted and suggested by a handout guide, visitors are also encouraged to let the previous party leave a room before you enter it to avoid congestion. Some of the smaller rooms where it is impossible to social distance will be cordoned off, but you will be able to see inside each room. Face coverings will be encouraged but will only be mandatory in the museum shop.

Visitors will be able to visit Gilbert White’s garden after their visit around the house, and see the new bench recently unveiled by Alan Titchmarsh in honour of Gilbert White’s 300th birthday. Visitors will then be able to have refreshments at the site’s new garden café ‘The Potting Shed.’

For more information regarding your visit please visit the museum website where there is a FAQ page about visiting the museum and gardens during the pandemic.