Our Ticket Price

The entrance fee includes 12 months complimentary admission to The Etches Collection and is valid for one year from the date shown on your till receipt (which must be retained for re-admission).  You will be asked to sign and print your name on your till receipt.  Tickets are not transferable including family/child tickets and are non-refundable.  Proof of signature will be required in order to gain re-admission.  Conditions and exclusion dates may apply. For our complaints policy, please click here, for our admissions policy, please see here.

The Etches Collection is a charity and exists due to the generous funding provided to enable the creation and build of the museum from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other trusts and donors.  We are not funded or supported in any way by the government or other bodies when it comes to our day to day running and in order to maintain and sustain the fossil collection for future generations,  we rely heavily on the income generated from our ticket sales, events and room hire.  All of our revenue is reinvested back into the museum to enhance and grow the displays within the collection as well as conserve specimens for the long term future and to expand on the visitor experience for all of those that come and visit us at The Etches Collection.  We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in visiting us. 

Dogs

We can only let service/assistance dogs into the museum.

The UK Equality Act of 2010 (EA) protects service dogs in the UK from unlawful discrimination when entering places where animals are prohibited. Business owners and service providers are required to accommodate individuals with disabilities as well as grant the service dog access to publicly accessible premises.

There is no official registration for assistance dogs granted by the UK government. However, most UK companies or premises recognise the service dog that has been trained and certified by one of the following organisations: Assistance Dogs International (ADI)  and The International Guide Dog Foundation (IGDF).

They belong to Assistance Dog UK (ADUK) and cover many types of service dogs, including:

• Service dogs for autism 

• Mobility assistance dogs 

• Guide dogs for the blind 

• Hearing dogs for deaf people 

• Medical detection dogs 

• Seizure alert/response dogs 

We kindly ask that your service dog is wearing its identification tabard/lead to display to others that it is a working dog. In addition to this, please ensure that you have either one of the following:- Dog ID Card, Training Certificate, your Blue Badge, a doctors letter.

Refreshments

Our shop sells hot drinks and snacks.  There are picnic areas by the museum or Clavell’s café and restaurant is opposite, which offers lunch, afternoon teas and evening meals. 

Gift Aid

With your permission The Etches Collection can reclaim from the government 25p in every £1 spent on admission by using GiftAid - It costs you nothing but helps us a lot.  Please refer to the GOV.UK website for further information on GIFTAID.  Your details from Gift Aid will remain confidential and will never be disclosed to third parties, other than for the sole purpose of processing your donation.

Special Concessions

If you are a group, school, educational institution or university please contact us here or call 01929 270000 for discounted entrance tickets and details on a educational package to support your visit.  

Accessibility & Disabled Visitors

Our modern building has step free access with a lift between the two levels.  An accessible toilet is available on both levels. We have a detailed 'Access Statement' available, please click on the link for more details. Our disabled guests receive a FREE carers ticket for their carer on production of either:- disability living allowance or attendance allowance award letter, personal independance payment letter, current and valid blue badge or a letter from GP or consultant confirming need for a full time carer (all documents need to be dated within the last 12 months)

Car Parking

There is a free car park at the museum, including parking reserved for the disabled, but space is limited.  If you plan on visiting Clavell's then you may use their car park.  There is also parking at Kimmeridge Bay, which is a 15 minute walk away. Please be aware that the Smedmore Estate charge a £6 toll (contactless payments only) to use the car park down at Kimmeridge Bay. 

We also have a designated parking space for a coach next to the museum which can be booked by prior arrangement, for groups which plan to arrive to the museum by more than one coach we can arrange for passes to enable parking down at Kimmeridge Bay (please see our 'Kimmeridge' section of the website to see how to book your coach pass from Dorset Country Council).

Due to high visitor numbers, we are experiencing difficult parking issues with a very limited number of spaces in our carpark. Drive carefully when coming to the museum and please be mindful and respectful that we share this beautiful place with our villagers as they go about their daily lives.

Please do not remove cones that are in place on the main road through the village; they are there to keep a clear path for emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and coastguards, that regularly go to and from the bay due to emergency situations. Careless parking could cause loss of life, should these vehicles get stuck.

If we all work together, everyone will have a positive, safe, and wonderful visitor experience. Thank you!

Wifi

Enjoy our free Wifi throughout the building.

Photography

We currently do not allow photography in the Museum gallery spaces or of any of the exhibits.  Where we do allow any photography, photographs taken inside the Museum are for personal use only. Any photographs taken inside the Museum may not be used for commercial purposes without prior arrangement and may be subject to a licensing fee. Please contact us at info@theetchescollection.org for more details.