The Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne has been awarded over £77,000 from the Heritage, Tourism and Culture Fund, a joint UK and Welsh Government initiative. The funding will help ensure this important cultural attraction continues to offer a high-quality visitor experience while protecting its collection for the future.

Dylan Thomas’s last family home has been open to the public for over 50 years. This investment will support a major refresh of the top-floor exhibition space, including a dedicated gallery for temporary exhibitions and updated interpretation featuring multisensory exhibits and touchscreens.

A new digital experience will also allow people anywhere in the world to explore a 360-degree view of Dylan Thomas’s home. And the collection itself will benefit too, with specialist museum-quality display cases, sun blinds and conservation framing helping to protect it for generations to come.

The Dylan Thomas Boathouse (and Writing Shed) was the last home of Wales's most famous poet
The Dylan Thomas Boathouse (and Writing Shed) was the last home of Wales's most famous poet (Gareth Davies Photography)

The museum is committed to becoming more accessible and welcoming to families. The revamped top floor will invite visitors of all ages to experience the world of Thomas’s imagination, his characters and poetic imagery. This includes the popular children’s activity nook, sensory bags, and storytime area.

The investment follows extensive planning by CofGâr, Carmarthenshire County Council’s museums and arts service, to develop a long-term vision for the Boathouse. CofGâr has managed the museum since 2023.

To allow the work to be completed safely and efficiently, the Dylan Thomas Boathouse will temporarily close during November and December 2026. The timing has been chosen to minimise disruption to visitors.

Dylan’s Writing Shed is the first part of the property you’ll see if walking along the Wales Coastal Path from Laugharne.
Dylan’s Writing Shed is the first part of the property you’ll see if walking along the Wales Coastal Path from Laugharne. (Gareth Davies Photography)

Carmarthenshire County Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, Cllr Hazel Evans, said: "This is one of Wales’s most iconic cultural sites and a place of international significance. This funding will help us increase people’s enjoyment of the Dylan Thomas Boathouse while respecting the character of the poet’s former home and its place in the unique community of Laugharne.

“We believe it’s important for people of all ages to connect with Dylan Thomas, his work and the people and places that inspired him. These improvements will help ensure that this place remains exciting, welcoming and thriving for future generations."

The Boathouse (and Writing Shed) was the last home of Wales's most famous poet, Dylan Thomas, who lived here with his family for four years between 1949 and 1953.

Situated along the Wales Coastal Path, a short distance from Laugharne town centre, this was the place where Dylan completed some of his most famous works. Dan Y Wenallt (Under Milk Wood) may have been inspired by Laugharne and its colourful characters.

Dylan’s Writing Shed is the first part of the property you’ll see if walking along the Wales Coastal Path from Laugharne.
Dylan’s Writing Shed is the first part of the property you’ll see if walking along the Wales Coastal Path from Laugharne. (Gareth Davies Photography)

Dylan’s Writing Shed is the first part of the property you’ll see if walking along the Wales Coastal Path from Laugharne. Many visitors mistake this for the Boathouse! The Shed was built to house Laugharne’s first motor car, well before Dylan’s time.

The Boathouse is leased to Carmarthenshire County Council under a 999-year peppercorn rent from Laugharne Corporation. Built in the early 1800s, the Boathouse was managed by the Council’s Arts Service from 1988, until joining the CofGâr family in 2023.