Gainsborough’s House
46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2EU
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Cafe / restaurant
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Easily accessible without car
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Facilities for children
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Shop
Gainsborough’s House is the childhood home of Thomas Gainsborough RA (1727–88). The museum re-opened in 2022 after a transformational refurbishment; introducing 3 new exhibition spaces to accompany the original Grade I listed building. The site is now home to the largest gallery in Suffolk. The permanent collection of Gainsborough’s work is accompanied by rooms dedicated to Constable, Cedric Morris, and silk.
A gift shop, café and garden are also part of the museum experience. Other features include Camera Obscura, Print Workshop and Landscape Studio with panoramic views over Gainsborough’s Sudbury.
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.
Gainsborough’s House in Sudbury, Suffolk, is open daily from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The last entry to the Galleries and Historic House is at 3:30 PM. The shop operates from 10:30 AM to 4:45 PM daily, except for Tuesday, March 31, when it will be closed for an annual stocktake. The Watering Place Café is open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, offering a variety of locally sourced and freshly prepared food and beverages. The Print Workshop is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday.
Admission prices for the museum are as follows:
- Adult with Gift Aid: £16.50
- Adult without Gift Aid: £15.00
- Students (17–25 with ID): Free
- 18 and under: Free
- Members of Gainsborough’s House: Free
- National Art Pass: Free entry, £5 extra for temporary exhibitions
- Museums Association: Free entry with valid ID
- International Council of Museums: Free entry with valid ID
- Historic Houses: Free entry with valid ID
- CPRE Members: 10% off entry with valid ID
- National Rail Days Out Guide: 30% off entry with a valid train ticket
Only one discount can be applied at a time. Tickets can be purchased online or at the main reception. Online tickets are valid for a single entry within one year of purchase.
The Camera Obscura is available every Thursday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and is included in the admission price. Additional sessions can be arranged by contacting the museum.
Gainsborough’s House also hosts a variety of exhibitions and events, including art classes, workshops, and lectures. Notable upcoming events include:
- Helaine Blumenfeld: Tree of Life: May 3, 2025 - October 11, 2026
- Love & Landscape: Stanley Spencer in Suffolk: November 15, 2025 - March 29, 2026
- Humphrey Ocean: Home: November 15, 2025 - March 22, 2026
- Hannah Brown: Song for Autumn: November 15, 2025 - March 22, 2026
The museum features a historic garden, open to all visitors free of charge, and a crinkle-crankle wall that supports a variety of plants. The garden is maintained by volunteers and offers a peaceful retreat for visitors.
Getting here
46 Gainsborough Street, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2EU
Gainsborough’s House is situated in the centre of Sudbury, Suffolk on Gainsborough Street, at the bottom of Market Hill. The cafe and shop are on Weavers Lane which are adjacent to the front of the House. The entrance can be found in our new gallery space which is also situated on Weavers Lane just past our Print Workshop.
Main entrance on Weavers Lane, What3Words: ///sheepish.logo.spotty
By Train
Sudbury, Suffolk railway station is a connecting line from Marks Tey on the Liverpool St to Norwich line. The trains run every hour and the station is half a mile from Gainsborough’s House. A 10-minute walk along Station Road, Friars Street and into Gainsborough Street will bring you to the House.
By Car
There are three public car parks a short walk away – North Street has 199 spaces and, directed from the A131 one-way system, has free Pay & Display parking for 3 hours. For all-day parking, both the Kingfisher Leisure Centre and Sudbury Railway Station have plenty of Pay & Display parking spaces and are £3 for 24 hours or free for 2 hours. Market Hill, in the centre of the town, has one-hour free parking. See Sudbury Council — Parking for details. For information about accessibility parking, please contact us before your arrival.
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