You are here > Home > Things to do > Dimbola Museum and Galleries & Tea Room

Dimbola Museum and Galleries & Tea Room

Museum

Terrace Lane
Freshwater Bay
Isle of Wight
PO40 9QE

Tel: +44 01983 756814

Outside view of Dimbola Museum and Galleries, Things to Do, Isle of Wight

Guide Prices

Ticket Type	Ticket Tariff
Adult Gift Aid	£7.60 per ticket
Adult Standard	£6.90 per ticket
Art Fund and JMCT Friends	Free
Child 11-17	£3.00 per ticket
Children 5-10	£1.75 per ticket
Concession Gift Aid	£7.00 per ticket
Concession Standard	£6.30 per ticket

Become a Friend of the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust and receive free entry to the Museum all year round. Visit our website for further information.

About

Museum showcasing Victorian photographer

Dimbola Museum and Galleries was home and workplace of the internationally acclaimed Victorian photographer Julia Margaret Cameron.

A pioneer of photography as a fine art, Julia Margaret Cameron (1815-1879) was a woman ahead of her time, renowned for her portraits of ‘famous men and fair women’, many of which were created at Dimbola. The house became of focal point for a crowd of bohemian artists, writers and poets, such as Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson, G.F. Watts and Lewis Carroll.

Visit Dimbola Museum and Galleries for:

Year round exhibits celebrating Julia’s life and work
Vintage cameras
Programme of changing exhibitions
Victorian dressing-up room
Isle of Wight Festival displays
FREE entry to the award-winning Tea Room and Museum Gift Shop

Lively programme of talks and events, check website for further information.

Coach parties and large groups welcome, please book in advance. Group and tour rates available.

Walks in welcome.

Dimbola Tea Room

Enjoy locally sourced, home cooked food and delicious cakes! Dimbola Tea Room is renowned for their high quality locally sourced food, tempting homemade cakes, delicious cream teas and traditional Sunday lunches. A great selection of wine, real Isle of Wight Ale, and much more is available.

Book Tickets

Facilities

Accessibility

Disabled persons toilet
Guide Dogs Permitted
Parking Areas for Disabled Visitors
Ramp/Level Access - Ground Floor is Accessible (Tearoom, Gift shop, Toilets), Upper Floors can be reached by stair lift. Please contact Dimbola for more accessibility information
Wheelchair user accessible - Wheelchair provided on upper floor

Attraction Facilities

Groups Accepted - We welcome prebooked coach parties and groups with an introductory talk. Please contact groups@dimbola.co.uk for further information or to make a booking.

Catering

Cafe
Catering for groups - *advance booking required please contact tearoom@dimbola.co.uk
Full liquor licence
On-Site cafe/restaurant
Outdoor eating area
Refreshments Available
Take away food
Vegetarians catered for

Children & Infants

Baby changing - in the disabled toilet
Family Friendly, Children Welcome
Highchair(s) available

Establishment Features

All weather attraction
Beach/Coast 5 min walking distance
Dogs Accepted
Dogs welcome
Garden / Grounds for visitors use
Gift shop
Groups by arrangement
Groups welcome
Guided tours by arrangement
LGBT Friendly
Licensed for alcohol
Live Music
Meeting rooms
Open all year round
Open New Year
Open on bank holidays
Special Opening for Groups by Arrangement

Parking & Transport

Free parking
Off-road parking
On Site Car Parking
On site parking
On site parking close by
Parking (free)

Payment Methods

Approx length of visit - 45 mins - 1 hours for the museum
Groups Accepted
Maestro
MasterCard
Special group rates
Visa

Provider Preferences

Countryside Setting
Indoor Attraction
No smoking
No Smoking Attraction
Village Location

Specialist Features

Educational Groups
Information Point

Tours and Demonstrations

Educational Visits Accepted
Guided Tours Available for Groups - Must be booked in advance

Travel & Trade

Wi-fi available

Map & Directions

Click here to view map

Road Directions

Find us in Freshwater Bay on Terrace Lane, just off Gate Lane. For SatNavs our postcode is: PO40 9QE
There is free parking available to visitors at the front of Dimbola. When full, there are two pay & display car park in Freshwater Bay (3 minutes walk).

Public Transport Directions

The Southern Vectis Needles Breezer (Oct-Mar) and No. 12 stop near Dimbola, as does the FYT bus.
The Southern Vectis No. 7 also stops at Freshwater Co-op, (15 mins walk).

www.islandbuses.info
www.fytbus.org.uk

TripAdvisor

Access Information

PARKING

Designated parking provided for guests with disabilities

Designated parking within about 50 metres of main entrance

Parking provided for visitors

parking on site

Ramp on route from parking area to entrance

Route from the parking area to the nearest public entrance is:

with a ramp

ATTRACTION ENTRANCE

Handrail by ramp

Level access, ramp or lift from entrance to reception

Ramp to main entrance

There are steps to the main entrance

There is a ramp to the main entrance

ACCESS TO PUBLIC AREAS (Displays, exhibits, rides etc)

Level access, ramp or lift to a public toilet

Level access, ramp or lift to dining area

CAFETERIA / RESTAURANT

Level access (i.e. no steps or thresholds) or access by a ramp or lift to the:

cafeteria

GENERAL

Non-smoking policy throughout the attraction

There is an audible alarm system

This information is self-assessed; therefore we accept no liability for its accuracy. Please contact the venue for further information.

Awards

Visit Isle of Wight Award - Wight Gift Card Venue 2020

Opening Times

Open New Year

Season (15 Dec 2025 - 21 Dec 2025)
Day	Times
Monday	Closed
Tuesday	Open
Wednesday	Open
Thursday	Open
Friday	Open
Saturday	Open
Sunday	Open

Season (22 Dec 2025 - 25 Dec 2025)
Day	Times
Monday	Closed
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	Closed

Season (26 Dec 2025 - 4 Jan 2026)
Day	Times
Monday	10:00	15:00
Tuesday	10:00	15:00
Wednesday	10:00	15:00
Thursday	10:00	15:00
Friday	10:00	15:00
Saturday	10:00	15:00
Sunday	10:00	15:00
Bank Holiday	10:00	15:00

Season (5 Jan 2026 - 22 Jan 2026)
Day	Times
Monday	Closed
Tuesday	Closed
Wednesday	Closed
Thursday	Closed
Friday	Closed
Saturday	Closed
Sunday	Closed
Bank Holiday	Closed

* Last entry/last orders 30 minutes before closing.

What's Nearby

Freshwater Bay

Freshwater Bay is one of the most picturesque beaches in West Wight and lies just to the…

0.31 miles away
Totland Bay

Totland Bay is a picturesque sandy beach, ideal for swimming, with clear turquoise waters…

1.43 miles away
Tapnell Farm Park

Surrounded by amazing countryside and sea views, this all-weather attraction has a wide…

2.02 miles away

Isle of Wight Aqua Park

The Isle of Wight’s only outdoor floating Aqua Park is at Tapnell Farm.

2.02 miles away
Needles Pleasure Cruises

Enjoy a leisurely or high-speed cruise to see the Needles Rocks and Lighthouse from the…

2.21 miles away
The Needles Landmark Attraction

Set in an Isle of Wight National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural…

2.21 miles away
Alum Bay Beach

The crystal clear waters are a favourite for local swimmers and perfect for the children…

2.35 miles away
Compton Bay

One of the Isle of Wight’s best kept secrets is Compton Beach. Located in West Wight,…

2.37 miles away
Yarmouth Castle

A Tudor Castle in a beautiful seaside town of Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight

2.46 miles away
West Wight Alpacas and Llamas

'Discover this hidden gem nestled in the tranquil countryside of the West Wight…

2.88 miles away
Brook Beach

Brook Beach can be found on the unspoiled south west coast of the Isle of Wight, and is a…

3 miles away
Isle of Wight Pearl

‘Beautiful pearls, lovely café with homemade food and sea views, pick-a-pearl…

4.82 miles away
Carisbrooke Castle

Visit Carisbrooke Castle and enjoy over 800 years of history!

8.91 miles away
Southern Vectis - Days Out and Open Tops

Days out and open tops Whether you are lucky enough to live on our island or you’re here…

9.87 miles away
Gurnard Beach

Gurnard Beach is a quaint traditional, pebble and shingle beach, within walking distance…

10.24 miles away
Cowes Beach

Cowes Beach is a short pebble and shell covered beach to the west of the town front or…

11.18 miles away