Harlow Museum

18/06/2026

We were delighted to host 125 Harlow school children from Jerounds, Tany’s Dell and Water Lane for Harlow Museum’s School History Fair!

It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to share what they’ve been learning about Harlow’s rich history, spanning from the Stone Age to World War Two.

The children took part in a variety of interactive activities including:
finding Anglo-Saxon artefacts, decoding Morse code messages, building a Beaker village from LEGO, assembling a Victorian chimney brush & trying out Victorian laundry.

Thank you to all the pupils and teachers who took part and made the day such a success!

13/06/2026

Happy World Gin Day! Did you know that we have our very own gin still?

Our huge copper still was once one of three. It was saved in 1997, from the demolition of the former Gilbey distillery, which once stood on Fourth Avenue, on the site which now houses Sainsbury's.

The remarkable building was designed so that the inner workings of the distillery could be seen through it's glass sides, 24hrs a day. Local residents often recall the scent of juniper and orange peel wafting through the air!

Make sure you check out this incredible structure in our Walled Gardens next time you visit us!

Harlow Museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, 9:30am - 3:30pm (last entry 3pm).
Entry is free of charge. Plenty of car parking and cycle racks are available at the rear of our gardens. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome in our gardens.

11/06/2026

Harlow Museum is delighted to present this engaging author talk as part of the Essex Book Festival.

Enter a world of mystery, espionage and illusion with Syd Moore as she discusses the second in her thrilling new series about Britain’s secret wartime history.

The Great Deception explores deceiving occultists, age-old magic and a war-torn world.

Book your tickets today!

Where? 🌍 Harlow Museum & Walled Gardens
When? 📆 Saturday 27th June 2026
What time? 🕙 1:30pm
How much? 💰Tickets are £10, £8 concessions
How do I book? 🎟 Via Essex Book Festival

03/06/2026

Happy World Bicycle Day!

Did you know that at Harlow Museum we have an amazing, world class collection of bicycles?

Explore the evolution of the cycle; learn how to mount a Penny Farthing; wonder at Edwardian lamps; delight in the ceramic Dunlop Models; count pedals; stare at spokes, chain rings and brake levers!

Find out how so many incredible machines came to be housed in Harlow, thanks to local legend, John Collins.

We're open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
9:30am-3:30pm (last entry 3pm)
We're free to visit, with plenty of cycle racks, or parking for cars at the rear.

31/05/2026

30/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who visited our Enchanted Garden today. It was great to see so many happy faces and what a glorious day for hunting fairy houses, meeting the Fairy Queen and all her magical friends!

A big shout out to the incredible team from who made so many beautiful houses, and to all the incredible volunteers who gave up their time to help us!

Please tag the Museum in any public pics you share of today. We hope to see you all again in the Walled Garden for our Community Fete, Saturday 15th August. Save the date!

28/05/2026

Throwback to 70 years ago, when the 6,000th house was occupied in the New Town.

This article, from Harlow Citizen, 27th May 1955, shows Mr and Mrs Britaine collecting the keys to their new home, at Parsonage Leys from Mr Duncan Sandys, Minister for Housing and Local Government.

In congratulating the Development Corporation Sandys said:

"I know how much has been due to the drive and energy and experience of your chairman and I am quite sure that it has been a team job because you don't achieve this except by the fine work and cooperation of all elements concerned. You are going ahead here in some ways more quickly than any other new town in the country."

He also praised the rate of building, calling the 2,000 houses a year "a fine achievement", and was pleased that some 20,000 people had been provided housing so far.

26/05/2026

Only four more sleeps until our Enchanted Garden…it’s not too late to get your ticket!

Book today: bit.ly/HMEnchantedGarden 🧚🍄🌿

For more information visit our website, event in partnership with

26/05/2026

A big thank you to all who came down to our Create with Clay sessions at the Museum today!

Don’t miss out on another fun filled day this half term at Harlow Museum, pop along on Thursday, 28th May to Paint the Garden.

Spend the morning or afternoon getting creative with paints and using the Walled Gardens as your inspiration.

Free, drop in sessions for all ages, 10am - 12pm and 1 - 3pm

23/05/2026

Our new display, "Pedals, Puzzles and Play" is up!

From Romans to Edwardians, wood to plastic, toys have been a part of all of our lives.

Come and see highlights from our collection and share your memories of playing in Harlow. Then why not take a stroll round our beautiful Walled Gardens?

⏰️ Open 9:30am - 3:30pm (last entry 3pm)

📆 Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday

💰 Free

🚗 🚲 Car and bicycle parking at the rear