A Forest of Dean attraction suitable for visitors of all ages! Indoor and outdoor exhibits including five galleries which tell the unique history and heritage of the Forest of Dean. We have a waterwheel, beam engine, playground, Gruffalo trail and a craft hut. We have free parking and a Coffee Shop, which is open everyday! Due to the nature of some of our historical exhibits, we cannot allow dogs into the museum or grounds but they are welcome in the coffee shop, either inside or out on the balcony, and in the gift shop.
Such a lovely surprise in the heart of the Forest of Dean. A lovely cafe overlooking the pond. We had delicious breakfast sandwiches with good sized portions and very affordable. Paid for the Gruffalo Trail and were not disappointed! Reading the story as you go along and ending in a fantastic park for kids of all ages and sizes. Learning about free mines and forestry in the UK along with some other terrific period tools and stories. A great way to spend an afternoon!
A really lovely place to visit. We occasionally visit from Portishead as the drive across is rather nice and our dog loves to walk in the woods here. A (dog!) friendly cafe and easy, free parking. The Heritage Centre itself is great and a treasure trove of local history, but we usually take a relaxing walk across the road to the beautiful lakes and extensive grounds that run up into the Forest of Dean. A local gem.
When I was a child this place was a scrap yard. The transformation is stunning and the details of the information is brilliant. This is a must visit if you're visiting the forest of dean and you are from here like me a wonderful way to connect with your heritage.
We spent nearly two and a half hours here and we were pleasantly surprised by how much there was to see. The children loved the Gruffalo trail and the craft hut, and there was lots elsewhere in the galleries to keep them interested too. A lovely mix of things to see both indoors and outside, and learning about the history of the Forest of Dean in particular was fascinating. The setting is stunning but easy to get to and the staff were very welcoming. We would definitely recommend this as a great place to visit.
A great place to learn more about the Forest of Dean, for all ages. The museum has 2 floors showcasing a wide variety of exhibits with some being interactive. There are also several outdoor areas part of the centre, including a play park and Gruffalo trail for children and a charcoal making area. There is a good cafe and shop at the centre too.
I visited this afternoon with my 8 year old son. We both loved it, particularly the Gruffalo trail. The setting is very peaceful. Despite it being a Sunday in early Spring, so some tourists around, the lakeside setting felt very tranquil and relaxing, and birdsong was the main sound to be heard. We had delicious ice creams & brownie at the cafe, which we enjoyed on the sunny patio overlooking the lake and forest. The coffee was good too - all very reasonably priced. I thought the cafe was much better than those at Mallards Pike or Beechenhurst. There is a really interesting collection of exhibits from the Dean's history, with explanations of how things worked that made it interesting and enjoyable. The building itself is seeped in the Forest of Dean's unique character. I haven't visited for several years but have vowed to return more often now. We moved to the Forest of Dean 25 years ago, so we know the area pretty well. This is one place that I would wholeheartedly recommend. Educational, enjoyable, and a very pleasant place to visit.
On-site services
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Restaurant
Toilets
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
Family friendly
Good for kids
Kid-friendly activities
Free parking lot
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Such a lovely surprise in the heart of the Forest of Dean. A lovely cafe overlooking the pond. We had delicious breakfast sandwiches with good sized portions and very affordable. Paid for the Gruffalo Trail and were not disappointed! Reading the story as you go along and ending in a fantastic park for kids of all ages and sizes. Learning about free mines and forestry in the UK along with some other terrific period tools and stories. A great way to spend an afternoon!
A really lovely place to visit. We occasionally visit from Portishead as the drive across is rather nice and our dog loves to walk in the woods here. A (dog!) friendly cafe and easy, free parking. The Heritage Centre itself is great and a treasure trove of local history, but we usually take a relaxing walk across the road to the beautiful lakes and extensive grounds that run up into the Forest of Dean. A local gem.
When I was a child this place was a scrap yard. The transformation is stunning and the details of the information is brilliant. This is a must visit if you're visiting the forest of dean and you are from here like me a wonderful way to connect with your heritage.
We spent nearly two and a half hours here and we were pleasantly surprised by how much there was to see. The children loved the Gruffalo trail and the craft hut, and there was lots elsewhere in the galleries to keep them interested too. A lovely mix of things to see both indoors and outside, and learning about the history of the Forest of Dean in particular was fascinating. The setting is stunning but easy to get to and the staff were very welcoming. We would definitely recommend this as a great place to visit.
A great place to learn more about the Forest of Dean, for all ages. The museum has 2 floors showcasing a wide variety of exhibits with some being interactive. There are also several outdoor areas part of the centre, including a play park and Gruffalo trail for children and a charcoal making area. There is a good cafe and shop at the centre too.
I visited this afternoon with my 8 year old son. We both loved it, particularly the Gruffalo trail. The setting is very peaceful. Despite it being a Sunday in early Spring, so some tourists around, the lakeside setting felt very tranquil and relaxing, and birdsong was the main sound to be heard. We had delicious ice creams & brownie at the cafe, which we enjoyed on the sunny patio overlooking the lake and forest. The coffee was good too - all very reasonably priced. I thought the cafe was much better than those at Mallards Pike or Beechenhurst. There is a really interesting collection of exhibits from the Dean's history, with explanations of how things worked that made it interesting and enjoyable. The building itself is seeped in the Forest of Dean's unique character. I haven't visited for several years but have vowed to return more often now. We moved to the Forest of Dean 25 years ago, so we know the area pretty well. This is one place that I would wholeheartedly recommend. Educational, enjoyable, and a very pleasant place to visit.
