The Museum Inn

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Speak to us on +44 (0)20 8161 0100

Overview

Built by the father of modern archaeology, General Pitt-Rivers, this 17th-century tavern is the archetypal countryside inn. Surrounded by the rose gardens and postcard-perfect cottages of Farnham, the inn's thatched roof and cosy interior gives a traditional, homely feel. Therte are eight comfortable guest rooms and a self-contained cottage that can house up to 16 people.

A highlight is a cosy sitting room for the exclusive use of guests, which has comfy chairs, its own fireplace and an honesty bar. Inside the pub, there are plenty of snugs and intimate corners to settle with a relaxing drink. The restaurant serves award-winning British cuisine (we have 2 AA rosettes and an AA Breakfast Award) with a modern twist using fresh, local ingredients. Located in Cranborne Chase, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where there is a playground of ancient woodlands and chalk river valleys perfect for walking, cycling, riding, fishing and shooting.

Rooms from

Classic: £90
Feature: £110
With a view: £140
Cottage: £600


Good to know

  • Amex not accepted, Visa / Mastercard / Maestro all accepted

  • Parking available

  • £15 dog stay charge

Outdoor adventures
The Museum Inn is surrounded by ancient woodlands and chalk river valleys perfect for walking, cycling, riding, fishing and shooting.

Family favourite
Moles Cottage is a five-star self-contained cottage sleeping up to 16 people, ideal for large get-togethers and family gatherings.

Dog-friendly
Your four-legged friends are welcome on overnight stays in all the rooms, as well as in the bar and casual dining areas. Dog beds and bowls can also be provided.

Crown collection
Part of the original Epicurean Collection, you can earn and redeem Crowns here if you are one of our Crown members.

Rooms

There are eight beautifully appointed double en-suite rooms available - four in the pub and four in our converted stables. A favourite is the stately General's Room with its handsome darkwood four-poster bed and its own private balcony overlooking the garden.

For the ultimate in lux country comfort, Moles Cottage is a five-star self-contained cottage offering accommodation for up to 16 people, ideal for large get-togethers, extended family breaks and shooting parties. It has antique furnishings, a huge fireplace, a well-appointed kitchen, its own entrance, and a private patio and garden.

Restaurant & bar

Behind the bar you'll find delicious real ales, wines and spirits, but the true gems are on the menu, which changes with the season and includes daily specials. Making the most of Dorset's bounty from coast and countryside, The Museum Inn's two-rosette restaurant serves classic British dishes with a luxurious twist.

Meat is reared in a traditional way, poultry is free range, fish is fresh from the south coast, game is sourced from neighbouring estates and organic vegetables are sourced. And don't forget to leave room for pudding - think apple and cinnamon tarte tatin with iced apple parfait, citrus brûlée tart with berry compote, and locally sourced cheeses served with Dorset honey.

Private dining

The Shed (don't be fooled by the name) is an elegant dining room that can hold up to 34 guests (seated) or 60 guests (standing) for private functions. Featuring high wooden walls, sloped ceilings and book-lined shelves, it's a great space for parties, drinks receptions and business meetings. For a more intimate affair, The Hall can seat up to 14 for dinner. The Residents' Sitting Room is also available for use as a break-out space.

Experiences
Things to do

Situated in Cranborne Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which features rolling chalk grassland, ancient woodlands, chalk escarpments, downland hillsides and chalk river valleys, each with a distinct and recognisable character and dotted with historic villages, nationally important wildlife sites and quiet country lanes.

Looking for a place to go for a walk, then head to Win Green, the highest point in the Cranborne Chase, which offers panoramic views stretching all the way to the coast, or try Ashmore Wood, where trails wend their way through ancient semi-natural woodland, plantation conifers and hazel coppice. Two ancient hillforts - Badbury Rings and Hambledon Hill - are close by and worth the climb.

For something more sedate, visit The Larmer Tree Gardens, the first private gardens in the UK to be opened to the public, or take a drive down The Beech Avenue to admire this man-made arboreal wonder en route to Kingston Lacy, a grand country estate owned by the National Trust. The medieval cathedral city of Salisbury, with its magnificent 13th century cathedral, is a 30-minute drive away.

Getting here

Directions

Nearest train station: Salisbury or Tisbury
Taxi from station: 30min from both
Drive: 20min from Shaftesbury, 30min from Salisbury, 2hr 10min from London

Address

Farnham, Nr Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 8DE

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