Description
Dr Jenner's House is a historic home and museum located in the charming town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire. It is one of the best things to do with kids in Gloucestershire, offering a unique look into the life of Edward Jenner, the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine. Families can explore the very rooms where Jenner worked and wander through an acre of peaceful gardens that once served as the site for the world's first vaccination clinic.
Prices start from £6.50 for a child's annual pass, with adult tickets priced at £10.00. All standard tickets now function as Annual Passes, meaning your family can return as many times as you like during the open season at no extra cost. Children under five years old can enter the museum and gardens for free.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that blends history with a bit of outdoor exploration, this museum is a fantastic choice. The site encourages children to think like scientists as they discover how one man's curiosity in a small rural house eventually changed the world.
Features
- Paid
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
What makes Dr Jenner's House unique? This museum isn't just about old furniture; it's the actual birthplace of modern immunology.
- The Temple of Vaccinia: You can visit the rustic, thatched summerhouse where Jenner famously vaccinated local people for free.
- Scientific Legacy: It tells the story of how Jenner’s observations of milkmaids and cowpox led to the eradication of a global disease.
- Historic Setting: The Grade II listed house and its Physic Garden remain remarkably similar to how they appeared when Jenner lived there in the early 1800s.
Top Highlights for Families
- The Temple of Vaccinia: This small thatched hut in the garden is where history was made. Kids love seeing the humble spot where Jenner treated the local community, and it provides a great talking point about how medicine used to work.
- The Physic Garden: A sensory experience for the whole family, this garden contains the types of herbs and plants Jenner would have used as a country doctor. It’s a great space for children to explore different scents and learn about natural remedies.
- The Discovery Exhibits: The museum uses interactive displays to walk visitors through the discovery of vaccination. It’s designed to be accessible, showing how Jenner used simple science to solve a massive problem.
11.29 miles
