We have a range of exhibitions, drop-in activities and exciting events that take place in the museum and gardens.
Events
Harlow Poetry Open
The Harlow Poetry Open invites poets of all ages from across Harlow to submit their work for 2026.
Whether you’re new to poetry or an experienced writer, this free competition is your chance to share your voice. This year’s theme is Memory.
Entry is open to ages 7–10, 11–17, and 18+, and you may submit up to three original poems.
You can submit your poem online using the submission form, or in person at any Harlow Library or Harlow Museum. If the visual layout of your poem is important, we recommend submitting in person.
The deadline for entries is midnight on 1 March 2026. Shortlisted poets will be notified by 16 March 2026 and invited to a celebration event at Harlow Playhouse. Copyright remains with the poet, with shortlisted and winning poems published by Harlow Creates for one year.
Poetry Workshop for Adults
Saturday 14th February 10:30am – 12pm
For anyone aged 18+ who is interested in having a go at writing poetry or wants to improve their writing skills. No experience necessary. Imogen will lead you through a range of writing exercises and prompts to help you get some words on the page and perhaps prepare an entry for the Harlow Open Poetry Competition. A welcoming atmosphere and free to attend.
Poetry Workshop for Home-Educators
Tuesday 17th February 1 – 2pm
For any Home Educators aged 7+ who are interested in having a go at writing poetry or wants to improve their writing skills. No experience necessary. Imogen will lead you through a range of writing exercises and prompts to help you get some words on the page and perhaps prepare an entry for the Harlow Open Poetry Competition. A welcoming atmosphere and free to attend. Parents / Carers must remain throughout for under 14 year olds and are welcome to join in!
Please just book a ticket for participating children.
Activities
There’s always something happening at Harlow Museum! From seasonal workshops to special events, we have activities for all ages throughout the year. Keep an eye on this page for the latest updates, dates, and details so you don’t miss out…
Storytelling and Art – February Half Term at Harlow Museum
Join us this half term for storytelling and art sessions for all ages. On Tuesday 17 February, enjoy storytelling and painting, and on Thursday 19 February, try storytelling and collage. Hear fascinating stories – like the dodo that once lived near the museum – and bring them to life through your own artwork.
Free, drop in, for all ages.
Exhibitions
Harlow Town FC: A Story of History and Community
Sat 25 Oct, 2025 – Sat 7 Feb, 2026
Harlow Town Football Club is one of the oldest in the country – even predating Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. Founded in 1879 by local medical student Thomas Day, the club has been at the heart of Harlow’s sporting life for nearly 150 years. Over time, players and supporters have shaped the club’s story. In the 1920s, forward Dick Marshall set a long-standing record with 64 goals in a single season. The move into senior football in the 1930s allowed Harlow to compete in the FA Cup for the first time, and post-war the club continued to thrive, relocating from Mulberry Green to the town’s new Sportcentre in 1960. In 1979 – 80, Harlow reached the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, famously beating Leicester City in front of almost 10,000 fans. The club has experienced both successes and challenges since, and today, with strong youth teams and loyal supporters, Harlow Town FC remains at the heart of the town.
Bells of Harlow
Bells have a rich history and serve many purposes, such as sending messages and celebrating events. In our exhibition we are showcasing a range of bells and their Harlow connection.
Free, drop in, for all ages
Museum at Home
If you’ve enjoyed your visit to the museum why not download one of our free printable activity sheets you can do at home.
Make Your Own Pin Hole Camera
In the 16th century, some artists used a ‘camera obscura’ (Italian, meaning ‘dark room’) with a small opening, and later a lens which would project an image of the brightly lit outside scene into the camera. A pinhole camera uses this same principle on a much smaller scale, ask for a work sheet if you are interested in making one at home.
Download here
Binary Code Challenge
Decode a message written in Binary code, and even write your own coded message. Binary code is how computers use and transfer data. Invented in 1689 by Gottfried Leibniz, it is still essential to programming today.
Download here
Make Your Own Telephone
Make a simple telephone and communicate using vocal vibrations.
Download here
Be a Digital Camera
Did you know that digital photographs are made up of coloured pixels, and the colours that they are are coded in binary? Use binary code to colour the pixels in the image, what do you see when you have finished? could you make your own pixel image?
Download here
Make a Movie
Enjoy watching your own moving image by making a zoetrope, experiment with your own image ideas.
Download here