The Etches Collection
The Etches Collection
4.6
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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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
4.6
14 reviews
Excellent
9
Very good
5
Average
0
Poor
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Julia H
19 contributions
May 2024 • Family
An excellent little museum, although for young children (7 and 5) the dinosaurs were not that exciting. There was a lot to read which would have been of more interest to older children.
The action area with the colouring was great as it was a rainy day and gave them a good activity related to the exhibition. We spent over an hour there and really enjoyed our visit.
The best thing was the lucky dip bag of dinosaur bits. It was only ÂŁ1 and they were fascinated by the little teeth and other things. What an excellent idea and thanks to the lady who put them together.
The action area with the colouring was great as it was a rainy day and gave them a good activity related to the exhibition. We spent over an hour there and really enjoyed our visit.
The best thing was the lucky dip bag of dinosaur bits. It was only ÂŁ1 and they were fascinated by the little teeth and other things. What an excellent idea and thanks to the lady who put them together.
Written June 15, 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.
curiousandcuriouser
Gillingham, UK15 contributions
Oct 2019 • Friends
We travelled an hour and a half each way to specifically visit this museum and we were there for 40 mins max. The fossils there are beautiful and spectacular, but there is barely any there. When you compare it to other museums across the Jurassic Coast its a tad disappointing. As you can see from the photos, there is plenty of space. Maybe there are plans to add more fossils? It's such a big building, it's hard to understand how there's only one room. If you're in the area, definitely go as a pit stop but it's not a place to aim for.
Written October 19, 2019
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.
Jamie N
Lake District, UK84 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
At last - a lottery funded project that seems to make a lot of sense - a local museum highlighting local unique finds in a very smart way. it's a very well designed venue and suitable for grown ups or children with an active interest in fossils. There's a couple of interactive elements for the young, but the main focus I'd say, is on older visitors, which makes sense given the space available. i suspect the organised school visits are very good though.
The touch screens are over-blown and limited/boring - best to focus on the actual fossils which are superb. The films are a mixed bag - I'd send them back for a re-edit to give them more energy and interest.
On a quiet day, it'll fill an hour very nicely - I'd avoid it on busy days as it could get a bit claustrophobic. Combine it with a visit to the Wildlife Trust at Kimmeridge and/or studland walk to old harry rocks for a grand day out.
The touch screens are over-blown and limited/boring - best to focus on the actual fossils which are superb. The films are a mixed bag - I'd send them back for a re-edit to give them more energy and interest.
On a quiet day, it'll fill an hour very nicely - I'd avoid it on busy days as it could get a bit claustrophobic. Combine it with a visit to the Wildlife Trust at Kimmeridge and/or studland walk to old harry rocks for a grand day out.
Written July 27, 2017
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.
Regor4204
Romsey, UK405 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
We were in the area and had been recommended this collection as worthy of a visit.
The building is brand new, and very modern. Some really interesting fossils all found in the surrounding area, very well presented.
A little out of the way, but worth a visit especially if you have an interest in geology.
The building is brand new, and very modern. Some really interesting fossils all found in the surrounding area, very well presented.
A little out of the way, but worth a visit especially if you have an interest in geology.
Written June 25, 2019
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.
Richard W
Dorset, UK146 contributions
Jul 2018
This overwhelming exhibition sitting under one roof the quality of such you would expect not to find in a small village but in a city takes you back a little especially when you realise that all the collection has been done by one man.
Written March 19, 2019
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.
pamconiam
Bournemouth, UK78 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
Well worth a visit. We took the family with two grandchildren who love fossils and dinosaurs. It was very interesting and housed in a great new and spacious building. The staff were helpful and friendly particularly as we took a couple of fossils and asked for help in identifying them. The ticket price includes visits for the year which is really useful. A wonderful achievement Mr Etches. Thank you.
Written August 16, 2018
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.
Robert D
Canberra, Australia131 contributions
Sep 2017 • Couples
This is not a large museum but its contents and presentation are spectacular. The museum is now housed in a new building with some excellent complementary audio visual effects. Following a recent visit to another similar museum, Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond, Western Queensland, Australia, it was recommended that we should visit The Etches Collection as it presents the Northern Hemispheres equivalents of Southern Hemisphere marine fossils. The collection presents fossils in remarkably fine detail and is presented in the form of "themes". The museum also provides a range of activities for visiting children. Of course what you are looking at here are not replicas but the actual fossils themselves. The great thing about the collection is that it is presented almost at the place where the fossils were collected. This has the added benefit of bringing visitors to a small country village. There is a local pub directly across the road serving a good range of food. Make sure you have planned your route carefully as getting to Kimmeridge is a bit of a challenge which can be made a little more interesting by the need to possibly pass through a MOD firing range depending on your direction of travel. Make sure you check for possible road closures before heading out.
Written September 3, 2017
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.
Lynne J
Nottingham, England, United Kingdom15 contributions
Aug 2020
WOW! What an amazing find for our 7 year old dinosaur crazy Grandson! The staff were knowledgeable, the facilities first class and we even got to meet Steve Etches!!
Written August 27, 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.
Tony B
Daventry, UK319 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Excellent source of information on fossils. The ticket lasts a year so returns are possible. Unique collection of fossils
Written June 1, 2019
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.
jsellery
Wimborne Minster, UK11 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
What a fab place, lots of onformation on all levels, loved the big roof screens and seeing dinosaurs come to life. Lovely staff and a great building. Well worth a visit
Written February 9, 2019
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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