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 11 April 2026
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:
Playtime Fun! Moving Pictures
Date: Wednesday 28 May, 12.30pm until 2.30pm
Before films and video games, there were optical toys. Make your own moving image thaumatrope, like the one in our Playtime! exhibition, and play with a zoetrope, another old optical toy.
Drop-in, suitable for ages 5+.
Playtime Fun! Giant Games Family Fun
Date: Wednesday 30 July and Friday 8 August 12pm until 3pm
Have fun with our oversized and large games including skittles, hoop-la and Snakes and Ladders.
Drop-in, suitable for ages 5+. Adults to accompany all children.
Playtime Fun! Tangrams Family Fun
Date: Wednesday 13 August 12pm until 2pm
Make your own colourful tangram. Then see if you can solve the puzzle putting it back together or try to make shapes of animals with the pieces.
Drop-in, suitable for ages 5+. Adults to accompany all children.
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.
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)
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.