Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum is a spectacular cliff-top Victorian villa housing exceptional art collections within breathtaking period interiors overlooking Bournemouth Bay. This extraordinary building, completed in 1901, features lavish architectural details including ornate plasterwork, stained glass, carved wood, and diverse room styles from Japanese to Moorish. The house itself is a work of art. Collections include Victorian paintings, Pre-Raphaelite works, sculpture, Japanese art, worldwide artifacts collected during the Russell-Cotes’ travels, and contemporary exhibitions. Highlights include works by Rossetti, Burne-Jones, and Edwin Long’s dramatic ‘Alma-Tadema’ paintings. The museum tells the fascinating story of Merton and Annie Russell-Cotes, successful Victorian entrepreneurs who gifted their house and collections to Bournemouth. Period room settings showcase Victorian taste and cosmopolitan collecting. The stunning sea view from the balcony inspired the house’s design. Regular temporary exhibitions bring contemporary art. Free entry makes exceptional collections accessible. Absolute gem combining Victorian architecture, art, and social history.