Quex House and Gardens, home of The Powell-Cotton Museum
A house and museum reflective of the diverse interests of John Powell Powell 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.
General Opening Times
The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House, and Gardens are open seasonally from Saturday 14 February to Friday 30 October 2026. Opening times vary depending on whether it is term time or school holidays.
Term Time Hours
During term time, the museum, house, and gardens are open:
- Friday to Sunday: 11am–4pm
- Bank Holidays (Monday): 11am–4pm
- Tuesday to Thursday: Closed
School Holiday Hours
During school holidays, the museum, house, and gardens are open:
- Wednesday to Sunday: 11am–4pm
- Bank Holidays (Monday): 11am–4pm
- Tuesday: Closed
Please note that opening times may vary on event days.
Guided Tours
Quex House Guided Tours are available on all general open days throughout the season. Tours run from 11am–4pm. Please note that the house tour will not be available on Saturday 2 May 2026 due to a private wedding.
Special Events and Activities
Throughout the season, the museum offers a range of special events and activities:
- Home Education Days – 21 May 2026, from £7
- Africa Day – 25 May 2026, from £7
- PCT100 Creators: Untold Stories – 27 May 2026 (during May half term), from £7
- Wellbeing in Quex Gardens – Available as part of garden programming
Group Visits
Self-guided group visits are available on all general open days during the season (14 February to 30 October 2026). Additional open days may be scheduled for school summer holidays and winter months.
Out-of-Season Opening
Additional open days may be scheduled outside the main season, including during school summer holidays and winter months. Please contact the venue for exact dates.
Historic House members, please show your membership card on arrival to take advantage of free entry. 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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