Quex House and Gardens, home of The Powell-Cotton Museum
A house and museum reflective of the diverse interests of Percy Powell-Cotton and his family.
Quex Park, Birchington, Kent, CT7 0BH
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Easily accessible without car
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Facilities for children
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Free parking
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Good journey mark
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Picnic area
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Shop
A full accessibility guide can be accessed here.
The publicly accessible rooms of Quex House are home to some beautiful collections and stories of both heritage and modern-day use for visitors to discover.
There has been a manor house at Quex since 1449, at that time owned by John Quekes. The house we see today is located in a different area of the property and is a fairly modern renovation of the 1816 design by Thomas Hardwick (commissioned by John Powell). The Powell-Cottons continued renovations to make Quex House a comfortable family home.
Percy Powell-Cotton was the founder of the adjacent museum that visitors can enjoy today. The museum is notable for housing a world-renowned collection of taxidermy, displayed in unique dioramas. The collection also includes material culture objects from the African and Asian Continents and is undergoing a careful program of redisplay as we work with community partners to research and re-interpret each object.
Visitors can also view collections relating to the trips of two of Powell-Cottons daughters, Diana and Tony. Of particular note to local people is the story of Tony’s career as a coastal archaeologist, vitally tellingthe story of occupation along the coast at Minnis Bay since the broze age.
Quex Gardens offers visitors a relaxing moment in the heart of Quex Park. See the seasons change across the sweeping lawns, Victorian Walled Gardens, and woodland trail. Each visit brings new colours and scents, making the gardens worth returning to again and again.
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.
Opening Times
Season: Saturday 14 February until Friday 30 October 2026 (with the site remaining open through Sunday 1 November 2026)
General Opening Hours:
- During term time: Friday to Sunday and bank holidays, 11am–4pm
- During school holidays: Wednesday to Sunday, 11am–4pm
- Tuesdays: Closed
- Mondays: Open on bank holidays only, 11am–4pm
Opening times may vary on event days. Please check ahead if planning a visit around special events.
Facilities & Attractions
Powell-Cotton Museum is open during all general site opening times listed above.
Quex House is open for guided tours during general open days (Friday–Sunday and bank holidays in term time; Wednesday–Sunday in school holidays), 11am–4pm. Please note that the house is closed for weddings on Friday 3 July and Friday 31 July.
Quex Gardens follow the same opening schedule as the general site.
Garden Games including Jenga, boules, and croquet are available on open days during site opening hours.
Group Visits (self-guided) are available on general open days. Additional open days may be scheduled for school summer holidays and winter months.
Special Events & Activities
Field Guide – Future Edition (Art Exhibition) opens from 5 June 2026.
Home Education Days take place on 25 June 2026.
Family Hub Fridays run from 11am to 2pm. The first listed date is 26 June 2026, with the programme described as recurring on Fridays.
Historic House members, please show your membership card on arrival to take advantage of free entry. Please note that membership can only be accepted for standard admission on general open days.
If you would like to join any special events or activities, a small charge may apply.
Adult: £9
Concession: £8
Child (5-17 yrs): £7
Infant (0-4 yrs): Free
Historic Houses members: Free. Please present your membership card on arrival. May not be accepted on some special events, or a small additional activity charge may apply.
A full accessibility guide can be accessed here.
Getting here
Quex Park, Birchington, Kent, CT7 0BH
You can get to us by car, bus and train and taxi.
There are no buses passing Quex Park. The walk from Birchington village is level and there are no hills or slopes. The bus stop is 0.7 miles / 1.1 km from Powell-Cotton Museum, House and Gardens.
The nearest train station is Birchington-on-Sea. The train station is 1 miles / 1.6 km from Powell-Cotton Museum, House and Gardens.
You can get a taxi with Central Cars who offer an accessible taxi service. Please call in advance by calling (01843) 88 88 88. They have a wheelchair accessible vehicle on request.
Address: The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens, Quex Park, Birchington, Kent, CT7 0BH
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