Cowper & Newton Museum
Orchard Side, Market Place, Olney, Buckinghamshire, MK46 4AJ
Facilities
-
Accessible loos
-
Facilities for children
-
No parking
-
Picnic area
-
Shop
The House has limited access for wheelchair users but the Viper Barn & Courtyard are accessible. Three rooms in Cowper’s house (Orchard Side) are accessible via two or three steps, thereafter the museum is over 3 floors and 6 flights of stairs. A portfolio of photographs of the exhibits in the upper rooms is available & videos about the museum are available to watch in the Reception area & Viper Barn.
Some paths in the gardens are narrow or uneven underfoot.
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and medical detection dogs are allowed in the museum and gardens. No other dogs are permitted inside the building or beyond the Courtyard.
The Cowper & Newton Museum on the Market Place in Olney, was home to William Cowper. Together with John Newton, ex-slave trader, curate and author of Amazing Grace, they wrote the famous Olney Hymns.
Relive Georgian life in Olney – The Home of Amazing Grace. Historic townhouse, tranquil gardens and some of the greatest stories of the era.
Welcome to Orchard Side house, which from 1768 to 1786 was the home of William Cowper, renowned 18th century poet. Walk back in time through rooms featuring numerous personal artefacts and belongings. Discover William’s comic sense of humour, the highs and lows in his life and his love of gardening and animals – especially his pet hares.
Discover how his friend John Newton’s life and personal experience inspired him to write the world’s most famous hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ here in Olney. Find out about his time as a slave ship captain, as a captive himself; how he became curate of the parish church, his involvement in the abolition of slavery and his spiritual influence on William Wilberforce.
Visit the Museum Gardens of the eighteenth-century poet, William Cowper, a passionate gardener living at a time when seeds and plants were arriving from North America. From his letters and poems, many of which were written here at Orchard Side, we know many of the plants he grew. He said of himself:
‘Gardening was of all employments that in which I succeeded best.’
Our ‘Lacemakers’ Room tells the story of the lacemakers of Olney and surrounding villages with storyboards and displays of exquisite lace and lacemaking equipment from our extensive collection.
The Three Hares Gallery is located on the top floor of the Museum building and holds monthly exhibitions. Past exhibitions have included artists who work in watercolours, acrylics, oils, pastels, drawings, prints, photography, ceramics, woodcraft and textiles, including felt, patchwork and tapestries.
We have a shop and one toilet. For all upcoming events and gallery exhibitions, please refer to our website. Children’s trails with a small prize, available to purchase from the shop.
Olney – a day out destination, is a quiet market town and a short drive from the heart of Milton Keynes, once a centre of lace-making and more recently the boot and shoe industry. It is a thriving, bustling community with plenty to offer visitors and best known for its annual Pancake Race established 1445.
Emberton Park offering river and lakeside walks, canoeing, fishing and many other activities, with nearby Olney River Meadow walks and a longer walk to Clifton Reynes can also be enjoyed in your day trip.
Please refer to our ‘Visit Us’ page on our website and scroll down to ‘Getting Here’ for directions and parking.
Important information: opening info is generated by artificial intelligence; check specific attraction details before travelling.
The indicator above will show ‘open’ when the public have any kind of access to any part of this property. That could be the park, a shop, or a special event, and may not reflect regular admission times to the main attraction. Always consult the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling to check that the attraction you are interested in is open.
The Cowper & Newton Museum, located in Olney, Buckinghamshire, offers a variety of attractions and events for visitors. Below is a detailed summary of the opening times, admission prices, and special events:
Opening Hours
The museum is open from Tuesday, 3rd March 2026 to Friday, 18th December 2026, with the following schedule:
- Days: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Hours: 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM (last entry at 3:30 PM)
Admission Prices
- Museum and Gardens: £12.00 per adult (includes an annual pass for unlimited visits for a year)
- Gardens only: £4.00 per adult
- Children (16 years and under): Free (must be accompanied by an adult)
- Students (25 years and under with valid ID): Free
Special Events
- National Lottery Open Week: 7th to 14th March 2026, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Museum Guided Tour at the Home of William Cowper: 14th March 2026, 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM
- Guided Tour – The Transatlantic Slave Trade: 25th March 2026, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
- The Swan Inn and Bistro Quiz Night: 30th March 2026, 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Group Visits
Group visits are available for groups of 10 or more paying visitors. Admission prices for groups are:
- Museum and Gardens: £10.00 per adult
- Gardens only: £3.50 per adult
- Tour guide fee: £30.00
- Group organizer: Free
- Children (16 years and under): Free (must be accompanied by an adult)
Prepayment is requested for group visits, and additional services such as refreshments can be arranged.
Accessibility
The museum and gardens have limited accessibility for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. The shop, courtyard, and Viper Barn are accessible, but some paths in the gardens are narrow and uneven.
Additional Information
Visitors can enjoy the museum's shop, which offers unique giftware and souvenirs. The museum also hosts various educational programs and talks on topics related to William Cowper, John Newton, and 18th-century history.
For more details or to book tickets, visitors can contact the museum directly.
Tours can be of the museum, gardens and Olney town. Please book your tour in advance. Tours subject to tour guide availability. Our tours can be tailored to meet your requirements. Please contact the House Manager on [email protected] for more information.
A booked Group of 10 or more paying visitors:
Group visits are very popular so please ensure you book in good time to avoid disappointment.
For school visits please go to our ‘School Visits’ page on our website.
For visits to St Peter & St Paul Church contact the church directly.
Group bookings for 10 people and over:
Museum and Gardens Adults: £9 pp (No concessions)
Gardens only Adult: £4 pp
Tour Guide fee: £30.00
Group organiser admission: Free
Children under 16 years accompanied by an adult: Free
For all other rates please contact our House Manager
To make your provisional booking, please contact our House Manager on 01234 711516 or by email to [email protected]
You can also download a group booking form from our website.
The House has limited access for wheelchair users but the Viper Barn & Courtyard are accessible. Three rooms in Cowper’s house (Orchard Side) are accessible via two or three steps, thereafter the museum is over 3 floors and 6 flights of stairs. A portfolio of photographs of the exhibits in the upper rooms is available & videos about the museum are available to watch in the Reception area & Viper Barn.
Some paths in the gardens are narrow or uneven underfoot.
Guide dogs, hearing dogs and medical detection dogs are allowed in the museum and gardens. No other dogs are permitted inside the building or beyond the Courtyard.
Getting here
Orchard Side, Market Place, Olney, Buckinghamshire, MK46 4AJ
Please refer to our website, and click the page ‘Visit Us’ for information on ‘Getting here’ (scroll down to the bottom).
Other Houses Nearby
Chenies Manor House
Chenies, Buckinghamshire, WD3 6ER
Stonor Park
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 6HF
Dorney Court
Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6QP