The Commandery in Worcester will welcome back visitors from Tuesday May 18.

The museum, a Grade I listed building, is home to exhibitions about key periods in the city's history, including the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

The city council said that changes have been made to ensure that visitors feel safe and welcome, including one-way routes, extra cleaning, hand sanitising stations and cashless payments.

To celebrate the reopening, a brand-new touring exhibition ‘British Wildlife Photography Awards Retrospective Exhibition’ will take place in the gardens from May 18 to Thursday June 17.

It is a chance to get up close and personal with all creatures great and small through a series of stunning, award-winning photographs. Exhibition entry is included with a Commandery entry ticket or season pass.

The Commandery also has enclosed gardens and the popular café Commandery Coffee, with canal-side seating.

Commandery manager Rachel Robinson said: “We are really pleased to be able to re-open and lucky to have lots of space both inside and outside The Commandery.

"We know that many people have missed visiting heritage attractions and we have missed doing what we do best – telling fantastic stories and entertaining people.

"We hope that being able to visit the beautiful buildings and grounds again will blow away the cobwebs this spring!”

The Commandery is situated in the heart of Worcester, just three minutes’ walk from Worcester Cathedral, and has 1,000 years of stories to tell from the city’s dramatic history.

From its origins as a monastic hospital in the medieval era, to becoming the Royalist Headquarters during the Battle of Worcester in 1651, to visits by the future US Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, visitors can uncover centuries of stories through interactive exhibitions and one-of-a-kind objects.

As restrictions are eased further, The Commandery is planning a series of unique events including living history experiences, holiday activities, murder mystery evenings and more.

To find out what’s coming up visit museumsworcestershire.org.uk

Those who pay Council Tax to Worcester City Council can sign up for a special Worcester residents' year-long ticket for just £5.50 (please bring a Council Tax bill as proof of residency).