Guildford Museum
What's on at Guildford Museum
Explore our local history from the age of prehistoric man to modern life and times. Discover more about famous people connected with Guildford and Surrey. Including garden designer Gertrude Jekyll and author Lewis Carroll. Enjoy our unique collection of needlework and toys. As well as free displays and exhibitions, we have a programme of events and activities for all ages.
We are open Wednesday to Saturdays 12noon to 4.30pm (last entry 4pm).
There are times when we're working hard to changeover our exhibitions, and this might mean that some spaces or displays may be closed. If you're visiting to see a specific display, you can call us on 01483 444751 to check that it's open.
Playtime!
Date: Saturday 29 March to November 2025
It's Playtime! at Guildford Museum! Enjoy our fun learning exhibition for all the family.
Explore our display of vintage toys and games from our museum collection and try out Playtime! for yourself and get hands-on with a selection of toys and games available during your visit.
To accompany our Playtime! exhibition we have a range of family fun activities planned. See below:
Second World War Discovery Day
Date: Friday 15 August 12pm until 2pm
To mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day join our special session where you can handle original objects from the Second World War. Tap out a message in Morse Code and listen to an air raid siren. Make a Union Jack themed brooch to take home.
Drop-in, suitable for everyone, 5+. Adults to accompany all children.
Into the Garden Craft and Storytime
Date: Thursday 21 August 10.30am until 11.15am
Inspired by the beautiful flower beds in the Castle Grounds make a lovely flower to take home. Enjoy stories about other beautiful gardens.
First come, first served, suitable for ages 2+. Adults to accompany all children.
Also at Guildford Library on Wednesday 13 August 10.30am until 11.15am
Playtime Fun! Dice and Board Games Family Fun
Date: Thursday 28 August 12pm until 2pm
Join in the fun making your own dice - will it have 6 sides or maybe 8 or even 20?! Learn some Roman style dice games and enjoy board games that need dice too.
Drop-in, suitable for ages 5+. Adults to accompany all children.
Heritage Open Days: Construction Toys Family Fun!
Date: Saturday 13 September from 10am until 1pm
Come along and have fun with a range of construction toys, from wooden blocks to plastic ones, suitable for different ages and abilities. What structures can you build? A castle, a church, or a house perhaps? We can't wait to see your creations!
Drop-in, suitable for ages 3+. Free, donations welcome.
Family Fun! Wheels of Time
Date: Ongoing
Join Roamin' Rex as he travels through time (and around Surrey)! Collect a badge from each participating museum, including ours. For more details, visit Surrey wheels of time. (opens new window)
The Longworth Discovery Lounge
Date: second Friday of the month from 12pm until 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)
Our Discovery Lounge is the place for history enthusiasts to explore our local history resources. We have books, maps, records, and digital files to use for research and history enquiries. A digital compendium, Guildford Inhabitants, is available to search and provides a snapshot of town centre inhabitants from the 1800s to present day. The compendium has been compiled by a local historian using census returns, trade directories, electoral registers, and newspapers. Our knowledgeable volunteers, coordinated by the Friends of Guildford Museum, are on hand to help with your queries.
The Longworth Discovery Lounge is a partnership between the Friends of Guildford Museum and Guildford Museum.
Named in memory of Andrew Longworth, former employee of Guildford Museum.
Soldiers of Surrey: A display from the Surrey Infantry Collection
Dates: available during opening hours
Free entry
June 6, 2024, is the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Surrey Infantry Collection display D-Day +80 commemorates this anniversary of the Normandy landings. Explore the role of Surrey men in the Allied D-Day landings through personal artifacts and technical objects.
Image courtesy of the Surrey Infantry Collection.
On the Trail of Guildford's History
Be a history detective! Search Guildford Museum, Quarry Street and Guildford Castle Grounds to find clues which tell us about the past.
Download the trail. (PDF, 1 MB) or pick up a copy from Guildford Museum.