MuseumsHistory and heritageFamily days out

Guildford Museum

Guildford, Guildford

Guildford High Street with the Guildhall clock

Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0

A free museum in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds, partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256. It covers Guildford and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to today, with a fine textile collection and changing exhibitions.

Highlights

Scullery Playroom for under 5s
Activity trail sheets for children
Textile collection spanning several centuries
Encore, an exhibition on Guildford's theatre stories, from 14 November

Good to know

Guide and assistance dogs only
Combine it with the free Castle Grounds next door
School groups sometimes visit; the museum can tell you when if you would rather avoid them

Getting there

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Guildford Museum, Castle Arch, Quarry Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3SXParking: No museum car park. Use Guildford town centre car parks; Castle car park is the nearest to the castle next door.

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Checked on 19 October 2026 against guildford.gov.uk, guildford.gov.uk, guildford.gov.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check

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Where: Castle Arch, Quarry Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3SX
Price: Free. Free.
Opening: Opening days and hours are not shown on the council's museum page, so check before you travel; festive hours are published as a PDF on the same page. Encore, a new exhibition on Guildford's theatre history, runs from 14 November 2026 to 17 April 2027.
Time needed: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours
Dogs: No dogs (assistance dogs usually welcome)
Parking: No museum car park. Use Guildford town centre car parks; Castle car park is the nearest to the castle next door.
Access: Entry is up steps, with a portable ramp available for wheelchair users and staff at the welcome desk. The one toilet is not large enough for a wheelchair; the nearest accessible and Changing Places toilets are at the Friary Centre, about five minutes away on a step-free route. Induction loop, large-print guides and a quiet room on request.

Visit the official website Directions

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What's on at Guildford Museum

Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0

14 Oct to 31 Oct

HalloweenGuildford

Spooktacular Trail at Guildford Museum

A free self-guided Halloween trail at Guildford Museum. Children pick up a sheet and use the clues to find ghosts hidden around the galleries.

FreeDirections

More things to do in Guildford

Nearby

Paths and flower beds in the Guildford Castle grounds

Photo: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0

CastlesGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford Castle and Grounds

The keep of the Norman castle stands on its mound in the middle of Guildford, surrounded by award-winning gardens that are free to wander. When the keep is open you can climb to the top of the tower for views across the town and the Surrey countryside.

FreeDirections

The entrance canopy of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0

Pantomime and theatreGuildford · under 1 km

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre

Guildford's main producing theatre, on the bank of the River Wey about seven minutes' walk from the station, staging drama, musicals, comedy and dance. Its family pantomime is one of the biggest Christmas outings in the town.

Prices vary by show. Pantomime tickets from £15, with babes in arms (under 2) free.Directions

Photo of Guildford: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0

Arts and cultureGuildford · under 1 km

Guildford House Gallery

A 17th-century Grade I listed town house on Guildford High Street, opposite Sainsbury's, now a free gallery with changing exhibitions. It is also home to the town's Tourist Information Centre and a craft shop.

FreeDirections