The Red Lodge Museum

The Red Lodge Museum

The Red Lodge Museum
4.5
Monday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
Closed
Saturday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
What secrets lie behind the bright red door? Step inside the TARDIS and experience more than 400 years of history in the museum where you feel you have left the modern world behind. From 'royal party house' of the 16th Century to Victorian reform school for girls, see how the lodge has changed over time.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles204 reviews
Excellent
128
Very good
64
Average
9
Poor
3
Terrible
0

Wendy E
Bristol, UK104 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
I stepped through the door at The Red Lodge Museum, and after I had journeyed through the building, I felt as if I had walked through four centuries of history.

The edifice is grey stone, rather than black and white timber, and inside awaited a small treasure trove of historical interest and delight, as well as a grizzly bit. The large staircase wall was lined with family portraits, which provide snapshots of past times - including one of Robert Yeomans, a prominent Royalist MP, who was beheaded during the Civil War in the 17th century.

The Great Oak Room reflected the building's Elizabethan origins, with wonderful dark panelling and intricate carvings, furniture which was typical of the age and a magnificent portrait of the then monarch, Elizabeth I.

Next door, one of the two places I found breathtaking, was the Old Lodge with its Elizabethan bedroom, complete with an exquisite four poster bed and Elizabethan style drapings and counterpane.

The reception room and parlour proved a light, bright, breath of Georgian fresh air, with colourful and stylish furniture, and even the Victorians got a look-in with an interesting exhibition of possessions and photographs owned by, and associated with, Mary Carpenter, who, jointly with Lady Byron, founded a Reformatory School here in 1854.

The other stunning feature was the Elizabethan Knot Garden. Sadly, this version was created in 1983 and not Tudor times, but it is nonetheless small, precise and beautiful, and boasts an impressive variety of plants and flowers in the surrounding borders.

Needless to say, I left with a flourish by spending too much money in the shop. It's free to get in to the museum, but donations are welcome. Highly recommended.

Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hollydayBristol
bristol33 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
a house full of history with connections relevant to us today.
a must visit location for everyone. better than any tv or book about the period. this is living history preserved for us to enjoy.
the guides in the house are so knowledgable a joy to listen to them
Written March 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Explorer
437 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 • Friends
Recently reopened and well worth a visit. It is self guided but the room attendant is really chatty and full of knowledge. This is oldest house in Bristol and has amazing wood panelling.
It is worth noting it is not open everyday & there is no need to book - see website.
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Madgebrand
Bristol, UK54 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
What a lovely little surprise this was! It’s a beautiful historic house hidden in amongst other buildings which you can easily miss but is a must! The decoration dates back to Tudor times and is amazing. Loved our trip here
Written August 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DavidDickenson
Cardiff, UK535 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2024 • Friends
History in the heart of the city!
Exquisite Tudor wooden panelling and carvings, fireplaces, engravings and interesting furniture.
We visited close to Halloween so some rooms had ‘ghosts’of previous residents bringing the history to life.
Very well done, interesting and great fun😃
Written November 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Midlands Wanderer 13
Stratford-upon-Avon, UK41 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2015 • Couples
The remnants of a formerly much grander Tudor mansion, the Red Lodge is a fascinating small visitor attraction right in the centre of Bristol. Be prepared for a very interesting history behind the building! The guides are knowledgeable and not too intrusive and the museum is free. Opening times are a little restricted but it is run by the city council so this is understandable.
Written July 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Janet S
Gravesend9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2014 • Couples
The Tudor rooms in the Red Lodge are beautifully preserved; plaster ceiling and oak panelling are outstanding. The staff are helpful and keen to promote this jewel in the middle of Bristol. Make time to visit.
Written May 15, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Phil J
Lancaster, UK32 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Friends
The surviving Tudor rooms in this house (and it's a miracle they did survive) are covered with stunning examples of intricate oak and stone carving. The staff were helpful and knowledgeable.

But how on earth was the monstrous multi-storey car park allowed to ruin the views from the back windows?
Written July 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gee231205x
Gillingham, UK761 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2014 • Solo
This is such a beautiful little historic house tucked away in the city. As it is closed for a large part of the year it somewhere that seems somewhat forgotten about. However inside the wooden panels and the decoration is stunning and worth visiting especially for those who are interested in Tudor history as the house has over 400 years worth of history from the Elizabethan to Victorian periods. The staff seem to be very friendly and helpful and are happy to answer questions and point out other things which may be of interest to visitors. The small garden is closed off to the public due to health and safety apparently but you can get a good view from the windows and if the garden gate is open then you are able to walk around part of it. A couple of the rooms are quite grand and you are given a little bit of information on these on a A4 guide. Worth a visit but there could be more information available to visitors.
Written May 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PORTISHEAD20
Portishead, UK29 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2014 • Couples
Looking at all the other reviews, I'm clearly in a minority here but I feel that the City Council undervalues what is a beautiful and historically interesting property, makes no serious attempt to promote it nor to put it into context. Its interior is sparse and lacking in the sort of items that would have been present and those that are there have little or no information provided. If you want to learn about the Red Lodge read Wikipedia before you go because you will find much more on that website than when you visit.
As examiners say, compare and contrast this with the Georgian House - if the City Council can do it for one then they can do it for the other.
It may seem churlish to criticise when admission is free but I would much rather be paying for something better presented. The Mary Carpenter exhibition in one of the upper rooms is lamentable. As for the knot garden, a charming sun trap close to the heart of the city centre that is well maintained by volunteers, it is closed for, as an embarrassed member of staff told us, 'health & safety reasons' and they appeared as mystified about why as we did.
Talking with the staff there, they clearly feel undervalued with all their suggestions for improvements apparently ignored so that their enthusiasm is undermined.
Our view is that families with children will get virtually nothing from the Red Lodge.
Sorry but this could be so much better than it currently is.
Written April 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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The Red Lodge Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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