Wardown House, Museum & Gallery

About the museum

The first house on the site was called Bramingham Shott. In the 1870s the solicitor Frank Chapman-Scargill took over the estate and rebuilt much of the house in 1879. It was later bought by Benjamin John Harfield Forder, who renamed it Wardown. Luton Council bought the house and its park in 1904, and during the First World War the building served as a hospital.

Luton Museum moved into the house in 1931, and it has been the home of the town's museum collections since then. The museum is now run by the Culture Trust Luton on behalf of the borough council, and it is known as Wardown House, Museum & Gallery, having earlier been called Wardown Park Museum. The building is Grade II listed and stands in a public park.

Part of the house is arranged to recreate a well-off Victorian household, with each room telling its own story. The museum's collections have long focused on the traditional crafts of Bedfordshire, especially lace making and the hat making that made Luton famous, along with a gallery on the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, archaeology and local life.

Highlights

• Period rooms recreating a Victorian household
• Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Gallery with Victoria Cross medal groups
• Collections of Luton hats and Bedfordshire lace
• The Dining Room café overlooking Wardown Park
• Free entry and a 360-degree virtual tour online

Permanent exhibitions

• Victorian house rooms – Rooms of the house furnished to show the life of a well-off Victorian household, each telling its own story.
• Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Gallery – The history of the regiment from 1688, with medals, uniforms, photographs, an audio-visual display and Victoria Cross medal groups.

Founded

1930

Operated by

Culture Trust Luton

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free; the trust says shop income helps keep the museum open without admission charges. Some events and workshops may be ticketed.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

A lift serves the ground and first floors and fully accessible toilets are on the ground floor. A virtual access tour on the website helps visitors plan their visit.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

The house has a breastfeeding room with a chair and baby changing table. Family events and half-term activities are run through the year.

Getting there & parking

About 1 mile from Luton railway station.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Dining Room is a small café (about 25 seats) overlooking Wardown Park, serving light lunches, coffee and cake, and afternoon tea can be pre-booked. The gift shop sells Victorian-style and modern gifts.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The Culture Trust hires its venues for celebrations, conferences and meetings, and performances and rehearsals; enquiries to the box office on 01582 878100.

Plan your visit