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Guildford House is a remarkable Grade I listed town house in the heart of Guildford High Street. Built between 1660 and 1680 for wealthy London attorney and three-time Mayor of Guildford, John Childe, the house is one of the town's most important historic buildings.
Today, Guildford House is home to Guildford House Gallery, the Tourist Information Centre and the Brew House gift shop, offering visitors the opportunity to discover art, history and local crafts under one roof.
Guildford House Gallery
Set within the historic rooms of Guildford House, the gallery presents a changing programme of exhibitions throughout the year, showcasing contemporary art, craft, and works from the Borough Collection.
The gallery is also home to the annual Guildford House Open, one of the South East's leading open exhibitions. Delivered in partnership with Parker Harris (opens new window), the exhibition invites artists from across the UK to submit their work for selection by an expert panel. Around 100 artworks are chosen for display each year.
The winner of the Guildford House Open receives a £1,000 cash prize and the opportunity to stage a solo exhibition at Guildford House Gallery. Additional awards include the Printmaking Today Prize and the People's Choice Award.
See the selected works in the Guildford House Open 2026:
21 November 2026 to 27 February 2027
Free Admission Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am until 4.30pm (last entry 4pm)
Designed to showcase the wealth and status of its owner, Guildford House is an excellent example of a 17th-century town house, combining traditional timber-framed construction with fashionable classical features inspired by continental architecture.
The striking High Street frontage, with its tall pilasters and first-floor balcony, would have stood out among neighbouring buildings. Inside, many original features survive, including an elegant oak and elm staircase richly carved in the style of Grinling Gibbons, decorative wood panelling and impressive plasterwork ceilings.
The highlight of the house is the Powell Room, whose ornate ceiling is regarded as one of the finest examples of decorative plasterwork in southern England. The room was once known as the Sheriff's Parlour and was used by High Sheriffs during Guildford's Assize Courts before being renamed after Alderman Lawrence Powell following the building's restoration in 1959.
The house later became home to the Martyr family and remained a private residence until the mid-19th century, when it was converted for commercial use. Following extensive restoration by Guildford Borough Council in the 1950s, the building opened as Guildford's public art gallery in 1959.
Today, Guildford House preserves more than 350 years of local history. Since 1959 it has also been home to the Borough Collection, an important collection of artworks and objects with connections to Guildford, Surrey and beyond.
Image: Photograph in the museum collection of Guildford House, 1910. Unattributed.
