Art Fund Museum of the Year

WELCOME TO

The Box Plymouth

Plymouth’s award-winning museum, art gallery and archive. Where art, people and stories come to life.

WELCOME TO

The Box Plymouth

Plymouth’s award-winning museum, art gallery and archive. Where art, people and stories come to life

Free admission. Open 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday

Plan Your Visit

Food and Drink

The Box Shop

Award-winning and free for all

We are proud to have won Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026! The Devon Muddy Awards have voted us Best Arts, Culture and Theatre venue (2025) and Best Family Attraction (2024), and we received a Special Commendation in the 2022 European Museum of the Year Awards.

Entry is free, and you can usually walk straight in. You’ll only need to book ahead for our current and upcoming exhibitions, Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour, The Way We Live and Grenfell: by Steve McQueen, or to reserve a space in the Cottonian Research Room.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

Seasonal highlights at The Box Plymouth

Exhibitions

Grenfell by Steve McQueen

24 October 2026

- 24 January 2027

Exhibitions

The Way We Live

24 October 2026

- 21 February 2027

Exhibitions

Bayeux, Battles and Making History

13 February 2027

- 11 April 2027

Annual review 2025/26

Our annual review 2025/26 tells the story of a brilliant year of artistic excellence, community engagement and so much more.

Annual review 2025/26

Our annual review 2025/26 tells the story of a brilliant year of artistic excellence, community engagement and so much more.

Permanent galleries

At The Box all year round

Port of Plymouth

Explore collections that reveal an epic tale of Plymouth and the sea.

100 Journeys

Momentous and notorious voyages that began here in Plymouth.

Mammoth

Discover the beauty and diversity of nature all around you.

Figureheads

See 14 impressive ship’s figureheads in a unique suspended display.

Active Archives

A space where you can discover gems and insights from archive collections.

Cottonian Room

A quiet research area for you to access the varied collections.

Media Lab

Technologies, processes and people that have shaped our film and photographic heritage.

Sign up to our newsletter

Be the first to know about upcoming exhibitions and events, news and access exclusive content by signing up to our newsletter.

Sign up to our newsletter

Be the first to know about upcoming exhibitions and events, news and access exclusive content by signing up to our newsletter.

Tours, talks, activities and special events

Families

Family Fun: Imagine the Future

27 October 2026

- 29 October 2026

Families Special Talks and Tours

Halloween: Creepy Creatures of the Deep

30 October 2026

Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026

We’re beyond thrilled to have been named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026!

Being shortlisted alongside some of the country’s leading museums makes winning this prestigious award all the more fulfilling, and we’re so pleased to be recognised for our ambitious programme and commitment to telling Plymouth’s stories.

Beyond The Box

Smeaton's
Tower

Elizabethan House

Mayflower Museum

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 2383 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Pikachu 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Its was an amazing art gallery. There were interactive things to do and lots of informative videos. How else would I have known that plymouth was where they boarded for d-day! The staff/volunteers were really nice to us and we overall enjoyed our stay.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   jonathan smith 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Excellent few hours looking around well worth it
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   ken dyer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very well done
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Laura Holdstock 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A lovely place to visit, we attended the Beryl Cook exhibition. We booked the tickets on line, which was easy. Everyone was friendly and my mum enjoyed a cup of coffee and a cake whilst I set out on the statue trail. It would have been helpful to have a map of where they all were as I am not familiar with Plymouth but with the help of some lovely locals and Google maps I did manage to find them.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   zsazsa felker 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. RUN to go see the comprehensive, well-annotated exhibit of local artist Beryl Cook's delightful paintings that celebrate life, especially the life of middle aged women. It is on through the end of May, 2026
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Stephanie Steevenson 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What a fabulous place. Combined Archives, museum and gallery. We were there specifically for the marvelous Beryl Cook exhibition - extremely good! The ship's figureheads in the entrance hall, all restored to their previous splendour, were the icing on the cake.