St Albans Museum + Gallery

About the museum

St Albans Museum + Gallery traces its origins to the Hertfordshire County Museum, which was founded in 1898. The old museum building on Hatfield Road closed in September 2015 so that the former Town Hall in the city centre could be turned into a new museum and gallery, and the new museum opened in 2018.

The Town Hall is a Grade II* listed building in neo-Greek style, designed by George Smith and completed around 1830. After a new civic centre opened in the 1960s it was largely unused for decades. The restoration was led by John McAslan + Partners with support from Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. It kept the Georgian Assembly Room, the octagonal courtroom and the Victorian cells, and added glazed links on the first floor with rooftop views, a hand-excavated basement gallery, a learning studio, a shop and a café.

The museum shows only a fraction of the older county collection, and much of it remains in storage. Its permanent display tells the history of the city, while the programme includes touring shows, local displays and art exhibitions, and the collection can also be seen through the Objects on Demand scheme.

Highlights

• Free admission
• Permanent display on the history of St Albans
• Restored Georgian Assembly Room and courtroom
• Victorian cells and a basement gallery
• Courtroom Café and museum shop
• Changing exhibitions and art installations

Permanent exhibition

• The City That Went Uphill – A timeline of the history of St Albans, shown in the restored Assembly Room of the Town Hall.

Founded

1898

Operated by

St Albans Museums

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

General admission is free. Some special events may be charged separately.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

A lift serves all areas except the historic Cells. The courtroom has a priority seating area for wheelchair users, and exhibition text is available in large print. There are two accessible toilets on the ground floor and one on the first floor. A Changing Places toilet with a bench and hoist is in the Bricket Road car park next to the Alban Arena. Assistance dogs and guide dogs are welcome. Accessible parking is shown on a map on the museum website, and visitors can tell the museum their access needs in advance through the WelcoMe platform.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities

Families can dress up as characters from the city’s history, handle real objects with a member of staff and use printed and seasonal trails. Explorer buckets are provided for the youngest visitors. There is buggy parking, and the accessible toilets have baby changing facilities. Workshops and activities for children run throughout the year.

Getting there & parking

Coaches can drop off directly outside the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Courtroom Café serves coffee, pastries and hot and cold lunches, and offers children’s packed lunch boxes. The museum shop sells gifts inspired by the city, the collections and the exhibitions.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Georgian Assembly Room and other historic spaces can be hired for weddings, celebrations, corporate events and parties.

Plan your visit