Museums and history

Costume Museum visit

Government House (Lieutenant Governor of BC)distance not known

✓ Fits your group

A photograph of Government House on its Victoria estate (described from the image's file name and its use as the site's Open Graph image for Government House; the page publishes no alt text).

Cost

Price not published

Needs confirmation

Ages & size

Ages not published

Capacity not published

Duration

Length not published

May to August

Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

Book by

Not published

Web form · https://ltgov.bc.ca/tours/

Fieldy handles all communication and booking for you.

What it actually looks like

Photos from Government House (Lieutenant Governor of BC)'s website

Our note

Short season and weekdays only, and it closes at the end of August - by the time school starts it is shut for the year, so this is a spring or summer outing for a daycare rather than a September class trip. Nothing says whether groups can be accommodated or whether it costs anything, so ask.

What the children do

The Costume Museum is located in the Cary Castle Mews, by the lower parking lot, in a cluster of 19th century wooden service buildings that includes stables, a carriage house, a gaol, a root cellar, a wash house and a poultry house. With changing displays every year, it tells the story of Lieutenant Governors and the history of Victoria and British Columbia through fashion, showing some of more than 200 costumes from the 1860s to the 1970s along with vintage accessories, period artifacts and Government House memorabilia; the site says docents are on hand to explain the displays. For 2026 it opened on May 19 and closes on Friday August 28, open Tuesday to Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, with special closures on June 30 and July 1. No admission price and no group booking route are published for the museum.

Walk through the old stable buildings looking at gowns, accessories and objects from Government House, with docents there to answer questions.

Good to know

Open Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, from mid-May to the end of August only, beside the lower parking lot. Admission price, group booking, capacity and any facilities are not published.

Washrooms

Needs confirmation

Lunch space

If you would like refreshments, we invite you to visit the Cary Castle Mews Tea House located on the Government House grounds, open May through September.

Rain backup

Needs confirmation

Strollers

Needs confirmation

Wheelchair access

Public tours include stairs, walking, and standing in place. There is minimal seating available. There is no access to elevators but a ramp is available for wheelchairs, walkers, etc.

Bus parking

There is ample free parking in the Lower Lot (located at the Cary Castle Mews) and in front of Government House. Please note parking is no longer available near the Bandshell in order to protect the root systems of nearby trees.

Nearby park

Needs confirmation

Restrictions

Government House does not take bookings for space usage. Formal ceremonies, such as weddings or celebrations of life, are not permitted to take place on site.. Government House does not permit the importation and use of outside furniture; this includes barbeques and propane fire pits. The only exceptions are for portable/collapsible chairs that are not affixed to the ground or structure.. Bicycles are not permitted for riding on walking paths or lawns.. Any amplified sound and/or other noise that may disturb or impede the enjoyment of visiting patrons or neighbours is not permitted.. Dogs are welcome and must be on leash.. Highly poisonous death cap mushrooms may be found on the property. Use caution with children and pets, and please do not touch or pick any mushrooms on the grounds, for safety.. In accordance to Clean Air Bylaw No. 3962 it is prohibited to burn or vape any substances, including cannabis, on the public grounds of Government House.. No organization may sell tickets or access to a private group tour.

Details checked on 2026-09-03 against the venue’s own pages. Something wrong? , it takes one tap. · Venue page