Buxton Museum & Art Gallery re-opens
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery opened to visitors in its temporary home on 15 October 2026, with an official opening celebration on 22 October.
At an opening ceremony held at its new temporary home on Kents Bank Road, Derbyshire County Council Councillor Rob Reaney cut the ribbon and officially declared the museum open.
The museum and art gallery now has its own dedicated building next to Buxton Library, providing space to showcase collections, host exhibitions and welcome visitors while work continues to find a permanent home for the attraction in the area.
Famous Buxton Bear Returns
Among the exhibits making a welcome return is the famous Buxton Bear, alongside a selection of artefacts and artworks from the museum’s extensive collections.
Speaking at the opening, Derbyshire County County Councillor Rob Reaney said:
“What pleasure it is to be here. Heritage is really important to me, I’m a real history fan.
The staff have worked tirelessly to make this happen. After moving from Peak Buildings (on Terrace Road), only a few artefacts had been on display next door at Buxton Library.
The famous Buxton Bear is back! While this space is only temporary, and while the work continues to find a new permanent home, I think it’s good news that we’re now able to show so many items that have been in storage. We’ve got a lot more items in storage, and it will be great to show so much more.
I hope you’ll come and see it for yourself, what’s an offer. The area’s rich heritage: Buxton is a fascinating town.
I’m so pleased everyone could all join us today in this temporary facility”.
As well as displays of artefacts and artwork, the new space will support a wider programme of events, educational activities, school visits and community engagement.
The museum’s gift shop has also made a welcome return, stocking a range of rocks, minerals, children’s novels, toys, postcards and local-interest books.
A New Chapter After Closure in 2023
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery closed at its former home in Peak Buildings on Terrace Road in 2023 following structural concerns with the building.
Before the temporary home opened, much of the collection was in storage, with a small number of artefacts displayed at Buxton Library.
The opening of the new temporary space has been made possible following a successful funding bid by Derbyshire County Council to Arts Council England.
A total of £72,000 was awarded through the Museum Renewal Fund, with a further £5,000 provided through the Museum Development Midlands/Arts Council England On Display! Collections Grant Scheme.
‘Ready to Greet Old and New Visitors’
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment Councillor Carol Wood said:
“We’re delighted to be re-opening Buxton Museum and Art Gallery in its new temporary space, which allows us to display a fascinating selection of the treasured artefacts and collections which have been in storage since the move from Peak Buildings.
“The famous Buxton Bear is once more presiding over the collections and ready to greet old and new visitors, and we’re all very much looking forward to showing off the new facility.”
The museum and art gallery remains free to visit, although visitors who wish to support the attraction can make a contribution using the donation box.
Councillor Wood added: “We’d like to thank everyone for their support and patience during this latest move and reassure them that this is not the end of the museum and art gallery’s story. This latest chapter demonstrates our continued commitment to preserving and sharing the area’s heritage while work progresses to secure a permanent home for the museum and art gallery in the longer term.’’
Opening Times
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery opening hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 10am–5pm
Saturday: 10am–2pm
For details of wheelchair access, accessible toilets and parking, contact the museum on 01629 533540.
For Buxton, the reopening marks the return of an important part of the town’s cultural and heritage offer — giving residents and visitors the chance to once again explore treasured objects, artworks and stories from the local collection while the search for a permanent home continues.
When did Buxton Museum move from its previous location and why?
The Derbyshire County Council-run museum and art gallery closed its Terrace Road site in 2023 following structural concerns with the building. Since then, staff have worked tirelessly to continue the service from Buxton Library on Kents Bank Road after completing the enormous task of relocating from their long-time home.
While the museum was closed, an interim service at Buxton Library offered events, displays and outreach activities.
Peak Buildings, former home of Buxton Museum and Art Gallery for 96 years, owned by Derbyshire County Council was sold at auction on 30th January 2025 with SDL Auctioneers and sold for £435,000.
The museum closed to the public in June 2023 as a precautionary measure as parts of the building were potentially identified as being unsafe. Although initially it was a temporary closure, a decision to permanently relocate the museum from Peak Buildings was announced in May 2024.
Derbyshire County Council has previously confirmed its determination to re-open Buxton Museum & Art Gallery in a new, central location as a cornerstone of the town’s regeneration – and is also committed to relocating Buxton Library into the town centre as part of a bold vision to support a vibrant, culture-led future for Buxton.
Buxton Museum & Art Gallery is widely recognised as a treasured local, regional and national asset, with collections that include archaeology, geology, social history and fine art. The museum described its collection as containing around 100,000 objects in 2024, including material relating to the local area.
Buxton Library, Kents Bank Road, Buxton, SK17 9HW
T: 01629 533540
The museum is now in a temporary building next to Buxton Library on Kents Bank Road. Find Buxton Library on Google Maps.
The next two photographs show displays at Buxton Library before the museum moved into its dedicated temporary building. The final photograph shows an exhibit in its former Peak Buildings home.
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