Prices
Free entry
About us
The Box is Plymouth's major award-winning museum, art gallery and archive – located just a short walk from the main city centre.
Come and see a series of galleries that showcase the city’s incredible collections with thousands of natural history specimens, a full-size replica woolly mammoth, wonderful works of art, amazing archive film and photography, and fascinating documents, maps and plans.
Buy a gift or souvenir in the great onsite shop which is packed full of locally sourced products. Enjoy a delicious bite to eat, a drink or a snack from The Box Kitchen & Bar restaurant or The Little Box cade.
If you’re interested in discovering more about Plymouth’s history or your own family history, you can book and use The Box’s research facilities.
An exciting events programme which includes family-friendly activities, free storytelling sessions, talks and live music is also on offer throughout the year.
Entry to The Box is free and there is no need to book. Opening hours are 10am-5pm Tuesday to Sunday and Bank Holidays. See online for opening hours for The Little Box and The Box Kitchen & Bar.
All The Box’s exhibitions are free with no need to book in advance, and there’s a brilliant variety of artists, art forms and historical insights on display for you to enjoy throughout the year.
Autumn/Winter 2023
Current exhibitions highlight beautiful Dutch Flowers paintings from The National Gallery, London (until 7 January 2024), Yinka Shonibare CBE RA's thought-provoking End of Empire sculpture (until 23 June 2024), and a major new multi-screen film commission, John Akomfrah: Arcadia (30 November 2023-2 June 2024). With beautiful visuals and a haunting soundtrack, Arcadia (running time approximately 50 minutes) reflects on the formation of the ‘New World’ and the many forces that are always in play, regardless of human ambition
Throughout the year you can see a wonderful presentation of paintings, sculpture, ceramics and textiles from The Box’s permanent art collection called People and Place: Art Collection Showcase (until January 2024) and a famous portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, on loan to Plymouth from The Woburn Abbey Collection (until 7 January 2024).
Talks, family activities, live music and special events are on offer throughout the year. Family-friendly drop-in sessions will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer holidays.