Hackney Museum

About the museum

Hackney Museum describes itself as the community history museum for the London Borough of Hackney. It was established in 1986 and took over collections that had been held by several council departments. A second museum opened in 2002 in the Technology and Learning Centre at 1 Reading Lane, which is where it is based today.

Its permanent displays tell the story of migration and settlement in Hackney over the past 2,000 years. The collection holds more than 8,500 objects, artworks, images and oral history recordings, and it can be searched online.

The museum runs a programme for schools with learning resources and handling collections in “suitcase” form, and it invites local people to take part through volunteering and an advisory panel. The building is currently closed for refurbishment and is due to reopen in 2027.

Highlights

• Permanent displays on migration and settlement in Hackney over 2,000 years
• Collection of more than 8,500 objects, artworks, images and oral histories
• Schools programme with handling “suitcase” resources
• Online collection search

Permanent exhibition

• Migration and settlement in Hackney – Permanent displays on the people who have come to live in Hackney over the past 2,000 years; not on view while the museum is closed.

Founded

1986

Operated by

London Borough of Hackney

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry was free before the closure according to listings; the museum’s own page does not state admission.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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