Discover what events are on across our heritage buildings.
Ongoing events
People Watching by Rebecca Holton
Date: Saturday 4 July until Saturday 3 October 2026 Time: During opening hours Admission: Free Location: Guildford House Gallery
Winner of the 2025 Guildford House Open, award-winning artist Rebecca Holton presents 'People Watching', a solo exhibition featuring 25 original works. Through keen observation and a distinctive artistic style, Rebecca captures the small, often overlooked moments of everyday life. Her paintings explore chance encounters, familiar routines, and the people who pass through our shared spaces, encouraging viewers to pause and consider the stories unfolding around us.
Gertrude Jekyll in Surrey: Artist. Gardener. Collector
Date: Saturday 25 April - Saturday 24 October 2026 Time: During opening hours Location: Guildford Museum
Visit our exhibition to discover more about the remarkable life of Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932). Gertrude Jekyll was famous for her writing, garden designs, being an artist, craftswoman, photographer, and a collector! She lived most of her life in Surrey and adored its countryside and rural ways of life, creating a collection of objects from rural cottage life.
Family Fun! Wheels of Time
Date: Ongoing Time: During opening hours Location: Guildford Museum
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 every month Time: 12:00pm-4:00pm (last entry 3:30pm) Location: Guildford Museum
Our Discovery Lounge is the place for history enthusiasts to explore our local history resources. We have many resources to use for research and enquiries. Guildford Inhabitants: our digital compendium is available to search and provides snapshots of town centre inhabitants from the 1800s to present day. We have knowledgeable volunteers, 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.
September
Heritage Open Days 2026
Date: 11 September - 20 September Time: Various Location: Throughout Guildford Borough
Explore hidden treasures on your doorstep. Enjoy free entry to historic sites, vintage bus rides, medieval displays, and guided tours as part of England's largest festival of history and culture.
Have you come across an interesting archaeological object while out walking or using a metal detector? Bring your find to our Finds Identification Sessions, and find out more about it. Our Surrey Finds Liaison Officer, Simon Maslin will take a look.
October
Schoolgirl Stitches: A hundred years of teaching needlework
Date: Friday 2 October Time: 2pm-4pm Admission: Free Location:Guildford Museum
Discover how needlework was taught to generations of schoolgirls and pick up a needle yourself in this free workshop which is part of the Guildford Festival of the Arts (opens new window). Lead by Amy stone, the workshop will combine original research with hands-on stitching inspired by objects from the museum's own collection.
This event is aimed at adults and is not suitable for children. Young adults are welcome, but we ask that all those under the age of 18 are accompanied by an adult.
Coffee Time Talk: Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, My Life in its History
Date: Thursday 8 October Time: 10.30am to 12pm Admission: Suggested donation £3 Location: Guildford Guildhall
With 2026 marking 400 years since the opening of Chilworth Gunpowder Mills, we're delighted to host Colin Rumary who be sharing his experience of living on the Chilworth estate from 1955 to 1963 in one of the converted buildings.
Refreshments from 10:30am, talk starts at 11am. Prebooking required, suggested donation of £3.
Date: Friday 23 October Time: 12pm to 2pm Admission: £2.50 per child Location: Guildford Museum
Look ahead to the joys of spring and plant a pot of bulbs to take home with you. Attendees to this event will also be able to make a decorative marker to remember what has been planted.
No booking required. Suitable for children ages 5+, with adults to accompany all children.
Creative Collages
Date: Tuesday 27 October Time: 10am to 12pm Admission: Free, donations welcome Location: Guildford House Gallery
Create a piece of art to take home with you using the technique of collage. Take inspiration from the Zero3 Textiles exhibition in Guildford House Gallery and craft your own piece using the variety of materials provided including fabric, ribbons, buttons, and other items to get creative with.
No booking required. Suitable for children ages 5+, with adults to accompany all children.
