About the Museum

The award winning British Empire & Commonwealth Museum is the first major institution in the United Kingdom to present the 500-year history and legacy of Britain's overseas empire. The Museum opened in 2002.

It is housed inside Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 19th century railway station at Temple Meads, Bristol, the world's first purpose-built passenger railway terminus and an integral link using Brunel's railway and ships to connect the heart of the empire, London, with Britain's overseas colonies and America.

The Museum is based in Bristol, not only because of Brunel's splendid building, which also can be hired for private events, but also because of the city's historic connection with empire through voyages of exploration, trade (including in slaves), piracy, shipbuilding and the railways. Bristol today is a culturally diverse community, symbolically reflective of Britain's colonial past.

As well as sixteen permanent galleries, the Museum offers a changing series of special exhibitions, events for families, lectures and seminars. There is a full education programme, suitable for all ages and key stages from pre-school to adult learners. A rapidly growing commercial archive uniquely illustrates Britain's colonial past through film, photographs, objects, documents and sound recordings.

The Museum is a registered charity (1097205) and independent of Government.