Bath Abbey Discovery Museum Exhibition

Client

Bath Abbey

Role

Heritage bid writing, interpretation planning, exhibition management, lead interpretation design consultancy, exhibition design, visitor experience, content development, graphic design, and on-site wayfinding.

Location

Bath, Somerset, UK

Project

ABG has partnered with Bath Abbey for many years, including early support with heritage bid planning that helped secure a major Heritage Fund award of £13.7million.

The Discovery Museum is Bath Abbey’s interactive heritage centre, designed to bring the Abbey’s history to life. After the successful funding bid, ABG Design was appointed lead interpretation design consultancy and central delivery partner. We led interpretation planning, content development, exhibition design, and exhibition management, coordinating more than 22 specialist suppliers.

Our approach

The Abbey needed an interpretation space that could welcome first-time audiences, deepen understanding for returning visitors, and connect the Discovery Centre to the Abbey and the wider city. Our approach combined rigorous interpretation planning with a clear narrative, strong sense of place, and a flexible exhibition framework that can evolve over time.

Working closely with the Abbey team, we defined key themes, audiences, and learning outcomes, shaping these into a layered interpretive structure. The visitor experience balances moments of reflection with playful encounters, while immersive interactives invite exploration through spiritual, social, cultural, and economic lenses.

Solution

ABG Design delivered an exhibition in the Heritage Centre that brings the Abbey’s story to life through integrated exhibition design, interpretation design, and storytelling. Visitors discover Bath Abbey’s role in the city over the last millennium, from its people and rituals to its architecture and ongoing impact on civic life.

Alongside the exhibition, we also created a full suite of signage and interpretation design across the Abbey. New signage improves orientation, strengthens the visitor journey, and links arrival points to the Discovery Museum and beyond. The result is a revitalised visitor offer that supports increased ticket sales and a clearer, more engaging understanding of Bath Abbey’s heritage.