Tunbridge Wells

Term time

Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 9.30pm

Friday 8.30am - 4pm

Outside term time

Monday - Friday 9am - 4.30pm

• Library Services
• Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery
• Tourist Information
• A cafe is available in The Amelia
• Exhibitions
• The high street is 1-minute walk from the centre and Royal Victoria Place (shopping centre) is approximately 3-minutes walk from the centre
• Accessible toilets are available on the ground floor
• A wheelchair ramp is available to access the building
• An accessible lift is available in the building

If you have accessibility requirements, please speak to a member of our Customer Relations team. You can contact us here ahead of your visit to our centre.

On foot: Once you've arrived at the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells, The Amelia Scott is fully accessible from all entrances and the Welcome Hall is most easily accessed from the main entrance on Civic Way.

Cycle: There are cycle racks located near the building.

Train: Tunbridge Wells station is a 10 minute up-hill walk to The Amelia Scott or one stop on the bus.

Bus: Most of the bus services for Royal Tunbridge Wells town centre stop right outside The Amelia Scott at the Tunbridge Wells War Memorial or by Royal Victoria Place shopping centre. For further details and timetables for buses visit https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/

Car: If you are travelling by car, The Amelia Scott is a short walk from Crescent Road car park which is well-signposted.

The building is named after Amelia Scott, a social reformer and campaigner for women's suffrage. She lived and worked in Tunbridge Wells. Much of Amelia's social activism focused on the needs of the young, working class women and mothers. She was an official of Tunbridge Wells' non-militant women's suffrage society.

As a Poor Law Guardian, Amelia inspected the workhouse at Pembury. She raised awareness to the needs of new mothers, as well as those of workhouse inmates.

During the First World War, Amelia and her sister Louisa, became members of the committee set up to welcome and assist Belgian refugees. The King of Belgium awarded Amelia the Order of the Golden Palm for her work.

In 1919, Amelia Scott and Susan Power became the first women elected to the borough council of Tunbridge Wells. Amelia campaigned for the recruitment of women police and for better housing. She also appealed for the provision of services such as a museum and library.

Amelia retired in 1930 but continued her work in the community. She oversaw a local soup kitchen opened to help the unemployed population. She remained the Chair of the hospital committee at Pembury. Amelia wrote 'Passing of the Great Dread'. This focused on the transformation of the old workhouse into a modern hospital.

The Amelia is an integrated service facility housing a range of arts heritage, culture and well-being services. Once open, the new Amelia will bring together Kent Adult Education, the Tunbridge Wells Museum and Art Gallery, Kent Library Services, the Council's Gateway Services and tourist information.

• To champion unique collections and enhanced programming to become recognised as a centre for high quality cultural experiences
• To actively pursue best and innovative practice in provision of specialist combined services
• To create exceptional visitor experiences based on a commitment to outstanding customer service
• To become a sustainable cultural entity