Palace House fit for a King in first stage to enhance visitor experience

06 Jul 2026

A major refresh has been carried out to a historic part of a Newmarket museum in the first stage of an exciting three-year project to enhance the experience for residents and visitors alike.

The historic Grade II* listed Palace House was once home to King Charles II. 

Now, part of the National Horseracing Museum (NHRM), it has undergone an extensive external renovation thanks to a £30,000 grant awarded by West Suffolk Council. 

The grant, paid using money allocated to the council from Government under the Rural England Prosperity Fund, has been used to both enhance the appearance and preserve the fabric of the building, an important heritage asset. The refurbishment ensures that the building will continue to provide a fitting setting for the nationally significant collections that are displayed there.

Today, Palace House is home to the British Sporting Art Society Collection, alongside loans from renowned institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate, and the Munnings Art Museum. The galleries tell the story of sporting art from the 17th century to the present day and feature the largest collection of works by George Stubbs on public display.

The renovation work marks the first step in an ambitious transformation project that will see Palace House reimagined as a Royal Palace experience, enhancing the visitor offer and attracting new audiences to the museum. Developments planned over the next three years, will bring to life the royal and racing heritage of the site through interactive interpretation, digitally recreated historical figures, and immersive, storytelling.

Councillor Ian Shipp, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture at West Suffolk Council, said: “This project had a strong fit to the government’s aims for the Rural England Prosperity Fund, so we were delighted to be able to support Palace House and the NHRM in this first step on its ambitious programme to create the Royal Palace experience. This historic building is an important part of our culture and heritage, but also a vital community asset. These renovation works will help protect and preserve the building so that it can continue to be enjoyed by thousands of local residents and visitors each year, and, in doing so, help the town to thrive.”

Tracey Harding, Chief Operating Officer of the National Horseracing Museum, said:  "We are extremely grateful to West Suffolk Council for awarding this grant, which has enabled us to undertake this extensive painting project. Now that the scaffolding has come down, Palace House is looking magnificent once again and is ready to welcome visitors throughout the summer as well as offering dining experiences both in the rooms and adjoining garden." 

Palace House can be visited as part of general admission to the National Horseracing Museum and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm during the summer season.
 

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