We have a range of exhibitions, drop-in activities and exciting events that take place in the museum and gardens.
Events
Enchanted Garden – Sat 30 May, 2026
The Fairy Queen has returned! Visit her in her grotto, meet her enchanted friends and find all the houses in our fairy trail. Plus, get hands-on with magical games, face painting and craft activities.
We are pleased to be partnering again with Plant Pots and Wellies, a local community initiative that provides horticultural therapy to both children and adults with additional needs.
Booking Required | £6 per child and £1 per adult (+booking fees) For all ages
The Essex Book Festival Returns – Sat 27 June, 2026
Timetable of Events
Syd Moore – Writing the Archive from 10.30am – 12.30pm
Join best-selling author Syd Moore for a special writing workshop using objects from Harlow Museum’s archives to inspire your work.
Family Storytelling & Games from 12 – 3pm
Gather round and listen to storyteller Dave Tonge, the Yarnsmith of Norwich, as he transports you back to long, long ago. Enjoy silly stories and mind mangling riddles, tall tales and dark legends. Bring a picnic and create your own stories, craft new characters and play fun-filled games. Free, drop-in, no booking required
Syd Moore – The Great Deception at 1.30pm
Enter a world of mystery, espionage and illusion with author Syd Moore as she discusses the second in her thrilling new series about Britain’s secret wartime history. The Great Deception explores deceiving occultists, age-old magic and a war-torn world.
Rebecca Leek – Ditty Bag on the Road at 3.30pm
Harlow-born writer Rebecca Leek will be hosting a showcase of poetry in the Museum’s Walled Gardens, inviting other poets to collaborate in a mixed session. Expect different voices, a celebration of words and fresh poems to enjoy.
Archaeology Fair – Sat 4 July, 2026
Save the Date!
Explore Harlow’s hidden history through interactive stands and expert displays. See incredible finds, including the Roman dodecahedron unearthed in Newhall.
Free | Drop in | For all ages
More information to be announced soon.
Community Fête – Sat 15 Aug, 2026
Save the Date!
With over 30 stalls featuring Harlow’s vibrant community groups, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. It will be a day filled with community spirit, live music and refreshments.
Free | Drop in | For all ages
More information to be announced soon.
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…
Wildlife Watch: Easter Holidays
All activities are FREE
Drop-in anytime between 10am -12pm and 1 – 3pm
Tues 31 March – Wildflower Seed Bombs
Get messy and craft your own seed bombs to take home. Explode your garden with colour and help our local bees.
Thurs 2 April – Bird Protectors
Create a bold bird-of-prey silhouette to hang in your window and protect small birds.
Sat 4 April – Easter Trail
Follow the trail around the Museum’s beautiful Walled Garden to claim a chocolatey prize.
Tues 7 April – Build a Bug Hotel
We are building a multi-storeyed bug hotel so that all small creatures can thrive in our gardens. Help build the structure and fill it with bug-friendly bedding.
Thurs 9 April – Make a Bird Feeder
Whip up a high-energy treat for our feathered friends using seeds, fat, and a simple pinecone.
Glorious Gardens: Half Term Fun
Tues 26 – Thurs 28 May
This Summer Half Term unleash your creativity. Sculpt clay insects, paint vibrant summer blooms and explore the Walled Gardens. Fun, hands-on art for everyone.
Bookable and drop-in sessions | For all ages
More information to be shared soon.
Exhibitions
Harlow Town FC: A Story of History and Community
Sat 25 Oct, 2025 – Sat 11 April, 2026
EXTENDED until Sat 11 April!
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