The home of Kingston’s history.
Discover your history and expand your horizons in a place where Kingston’s past and present meets. With a wide range of displays, activities and events, as well as a few surprises, we guarantee there will ever something for you in our programme this year.
Kingston Museum, built in 1904 as a result of contributions from Andrew Carnegie, has three permanent galleries Ancient Origins, Town of Kings and Eadweard Muybridge We also have a beautiful Art Gallery which houses our temporary exhibitions.
The Kingston History Centre at the Guildhall is home to the archives and local history collections for researchers of all levels, no matter their local interests.
Explore
The museum has a rich and varied collection. As well as showcasing the unique history of the borough, it houses the internationally important Eadweard Muybridge photography collection.
Take part
We have a wide ranging and action packed programme, with something to interest everyone. You will find on offer a large lecture programme, workshops, school holiday activities and many other special events throughout the year. We work closely with schools, colleges and community groups and support curriculum learning. Local community groups are welcome to use our Community Case for their displays, so contact the Museum to book.
If you want to actively support us, we offer a number of opportunities for volunteers, who are an invaluable part of the team. Tasks include welcoming the public, gallery invigilation, answering enquiries, researching local and family history enquiries, cataloguing and developing finding aids as well as working on specific projects such as new exhibitions. Our volunteers’ dedication, support and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated, and we recognise them through support and benefits such as a discount in the Museum shop. Please visit our website, or contact kingston.museum@kingston.gov.uk if you are interested.
The Kingston Museum Shop
The shop at Kingston Museum is a treasure trove for everyone with unique and Kingston specific products only available here. You will find books on the local area, stationery and souvenirs inspired by the museum’s collections, children’s toys and beautiful work by local crafts people.
Kingston Museum
Opening Hours: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Fully accessible, please contact us for more details.
Free admission
Kingston History Centre
Come and research local and family history at the History Centre. Here you can discover:
- The Borough’s Archives
- Local books
- Directories
- Newspapers
- Maps and photographs
- Oral History Transcripts and tapes
- Database of Victorian sources
- Ancestry UK, the free public library edition