Avoncroft Museum re-opens to visitors B
romsgrove’s popular open air tourist attraction Avoncroft Museum has reopened to visitors following the introduction of appropriate safety measures. Over the last few weeks, the independent charity has been hard at work to make the site ready and as safe as possible for visitors. Initially the museum will be re-opening its grounds on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays only and visitors will need to go to Avoncroft’s website to book tickets online in advance, as per most other attractions. The Covid-19 pandemic has not only deprived people of the opportunity to visit Avoncroft, England’s first open-air museum, but has also shattered their finances with no tickets being sold and popular events having to be cancelled. Nick Sturgess, acting deputy director, said: “We can’t wait to welcome visitors back to Avoncroft. We’ve really missed seeing people enjoy our grounds and buildings. From the messages of suppor t we have received, we know many people are keen to visit too. “However, we’ve not rushed into this and have developed a comprehensive re-opening plan to ensure our guests feel safe on-site. You will therefore see a few changes such as Perspex screens in the shop, a one-way system around the site and advanced booking online. “Once things are up and running, we hope to be able to quickly re-open the Tea Room for takeaway drinks and snacks as well as some of our larger historic buildings. Then we’ll look at phasing even more back in. Our main priority though is to keep you safe whilst still providing a great visitor experience.” Visitors will also be requested to wear face masks in the shop, but these will not be required when exploring the grounds. The 19-acre museum, which has a collection of more than 30 historic buildings from across the Midlands is also home to the National Collection of Telephone Kiosks. For more information about Avoncroft Museum and to book your tickets please visit www.avoncroft.org.uk or email collections@avoncroft.org.uk
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