We're excited to announce Vestry House Museum is set to reopen in Autumn/Winter 2026 following a major refurbishment.
Our local history museum, which tells the story of Waltham Forest and the people that have made it what it is today, is housed in buildings dating back to 1730. It started life as a workhouse and was later used as a police station, an armoury, a building merchants then a private home and features a tranquil award-winning garden.
The museum will have new co-curated displays made with the local community, including partners GB Carnival and Red Light Busking, alongside historic objects including the UK’s first petrol car. New permanent exhibition spaces will showcase cultural heritage stories and artefacts from the museum's vast collection, some of which have never been shown before, which highlight our borough's long history as a hub of design, creativity and innovation.
Environmental sustainability has been at the heart of the redevelopment, alongside crucial accessibility improvements to the building and garden, which has included relocating the Waltham Forest Archives to a more accessible location in Chingford. The architectural approach brings the building’s history into the spotlight, balanced with an environmentally conscious reuse of materials across the architecture and interior design.
Vestry House Museum will reopen as a welcoming heritage destination and community garden, where visitors can find a place to rest, work and discover the rich stories of Waltham Forest and its people.
Concept visual of Vestry House Museum, courtesy of 3D exhibition designers GuM Studio.
Cllr Rosalind Doré, Cabinet Member for Libraries, Culture, Sports and Leisure, said: “Vestry House Museum is a treasured part of our borough’s artistic and cultural landscape and the revitalised building will be a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy. It’s reopening later this year after an ambitious reimagining of the space and approach to the museum collections, continues our dedication to supporting and investing in culture, and making it inclusive and accessible to everyone.”
Cllr Ahsan Khan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration, said: “Waltham Forest is a vibrant place that continues to grow and be a renowned destination for arts, culture and heritage in London. The Vestry House Museum project is a big part of the borough’s development and we’re proud to be reopening the Grade II listed building as a more environmentally sustainable space for future generations, where it will join a network of incredible venues across the borough.”
To be the first to receive project updates, reopening news and to find out more about the new museum displays and the collaborative work between local historians, communities and the council, sign-up to the Vestry House Museum newsletter and follow us on social media.