RUSSELL-COTES ART GALLERY AND MUSEM

EAST CLIFF PROMENADE, BOURNEMOUTH

PRIVATE home of extensive travellers Sir Merton Russell-Cotes and his wife Lady Annie, this was one of the last Victorian manor houses ever built.

It was an extraordinary, extravagant birthday present from Sir Merton to his wife – lavish, splendid, and with a touch of fantasy.

They filled this exotic seaside villa with beautiful objects from their travels across the world, and lined the walls with a remarkable collection of British art, creating a unique atmosphere in a most dramatic setting.

The exhibition Animals in Art is currently on, which explores the dynamic between humankind and the animal world.

There is also a Victorian garden to enjoy, with a surviving stone grotto and fountain.

The gallery and museum are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.