Kingston Museum
Free museum in Kingston upon Thames with galleries on local history and the world’s largest public collection on the photographer Eadweard Muybridge.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Kingston Museum was founded in 1904 and occupies a Grade II listed building next to Kingston Library, funded by the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie and designed by Alfred Cox. It is one of the early civic museums in England and is run by the local heritage service of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
The museum is closely tied to Eadweard Muybridge, the photography pioneer born in Kingston, who left his collection to the town in 1904. Today the collection holds more than 3,000 items, including lantern slides, glass plates, Animal Locomotion prints, projection equipment and most of the surviving glass discs. The original zoopraxiscope can only be seen here.
Three permanent displays tell the story of the area: Ancient Origins covers the district from prehistoric to Anglo-Saxon times, Town of Kings follows Kingston as a market town from the Middle Ages to the 1940s, and the Muybridge Gallery shows around 50 items in six themes. The museum also holds ceramics, art, photographs and maps, and runs talks, workshops and family activities.
Highlights
- Muybridge Gallery with the original zoopraxiscope
- Ancient Origins gallery
- Town of Kings gallery on the medieval market town
- Collections of ceramics, art, photographs and maps
Permanent exhibitions
- Muybridge Gallery – Around 50 items from the Muybridge Collection in six themes, including the original zoopraxiscope and discs.
- Ancient Origins – The story of the Kingston area from prehistory to the Anglo-Saxon period.
- Town of Kings – Kingston as a market town from the medieval period to the 1940s.
- Founded
- 1904
- Operated by
- Kingston Museum and Heritage Service (Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Level access into the building. The Muybridge Gallery is reached by platform lift or through Kingston Library. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor and a public toilet whose key is kept at the front desk. A bell by the main entrance can be used to call for help with the doors. Temporary displays have large-print captions.
Kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
Family tours, a Saturday family activity session, trails, workshops and school workshops are offered; see the museum’s What’s On page for current dates.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kingston station · 5-min walk
About 5 minutes on foot from Kingston station and 25 minutes from Surbiton station. Buses K1 and K4 to Fairfield South; 57, 131, 213 and K5 to Fairfield Bus Station; several routes to Eden Street.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
There is currently no car park at the museum. Contact the museum for alternatives.
Car access to the area is from Fairfield Road. Bicycle parking is available on site.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The shop accepts card payments only.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Family tours run at selected times. |
