Somme Museum
ENTRY
from £6.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Newtownards
What it’s like
Guided tours through First World War trench recreations and D Day exhibitions, with hands-on sessions for groups.
A guided tour is the way in here, and it's built around walking through The Trenches, a physical recreation rather than just cabinets of medals. The tour runs about an hour, and the site says there's time afterwards to look round the rest of the exhibitions on the First World War and D Day at your own pace. It's a hands-on session by design, so it suits a group happy to stop, touch, and ask questions rather than march past display cases.
The catch is the calendar. For September and October it's open Tuesday to Thursday, plus a handful of Saturdays, and last entry is 3pm. That's a narrow window to work around. Booking is required too, which fits a museum built for school and group visits rather than casual drop-ins.
Prices sit around £6.50 for school groups up to £11 for an adult group ticket, with family tickets from £32 covering one adult and up to three children. Out of hours group rates need paying two weeks in advance, which is a fair bit of admin for a group trip but presumably keeps things running smoothly on the day.
The café's currently closed to walk-ins and only available for group catering if you arrange it beforehand. On the practical side there's on-site parking for around 30 cars plus coach space, wheelchairs available on request, and staff have had autism awareness training, which is a genuinely useful detail for a group with mixed needs.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 3pm
- Parking
- On-site parking for 30 cars, several bus and coaches, overflow available
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair available on request
- Opening hours listed are specifically for September and October 2026
- Group rates for out of hours visits must be paid two weeks in advance
- The café only opens for pre-arranged group catering, not casual visitors
- Autism awareness training has been given to staff, useful for groups with additional needs
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Adult group tickets are £11, children in a group £9, and school groups £6.50. Family tickets start at £32 for one adult and up to three children.
Do we need to book ahead?
Booking is required, and it's set up mainly for school and group visits. Out of hours group rates need paying two weeks in advance.
What are the opening hours?
For September and October it's Tuesday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm, plus a few Saturdays from 11am to 4pm. Last entry is 3pm.
What does the guided tour cover?
It lasts around an hour and takes in the main exhibitions, with time afterwards to explore the rest of the museum on your own.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The café is closed for general visitors right now. It can open for group catering if that's arranged beforehand.
Is there parking?
Yes, on-site parking for about 30 cars, with space for coaches and buses too.
Is the museum accessible?
There's a wheelchair available on request, an accessible toilet, and a hearing loop. Visually impaired visitors can arrange a special hands-on tour in advance.
Can we bring a school group?
The museum is set up for school and group bookings, with a specific school group rate of £6.50.
What do you actually see there?
Guided tours, a walk through The Trenches recreation, and interactive displays covering the First World War and D Day.
Are there any closures to know about?
Thursday 8th October is closed as an exception, so double check that date isn't the one you had planned.
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