Wimbledon Museum

About the museum

Wimbledon Museum is the local history museum of the Wimbledon Society. It was founded in 1916 by local people who wanted to conserve Wimbledon's heritage, and it has since been restored and redesigned for the twenty-first century. The museum is run entirely by volunteers and entry is free.

The collections cover the history of Wimbledon from about 500,000 years ago to the present. They include watercolours, prints, maps, books, photographs, archaeology, ephemera, natural history, objects and manuscripts, together with items such as suffragette artefacts, old toys and Wimbledon FC memorabilia.

The museum is housed in a Victorian building at 22 Ridgway, on the corner of Lingfield Road, next to the Norman Plastow Gallery, which shows photographic and other exhibitions. A children's corner and a sensory trail make the museum suitable for families, and outside opening hours visits can be arranged for research, identification of objects or donations.

Highlights

• Wimbledon's story from the Stone Age to the present day
• Suffragette artefacts and old toys
• Sensory trail with numbered bags to explore by touch, smell and sound
• Children's corner and family workshops
• Free entry

Permanent exhibition

• Wimbledon's history – Displays on the history of Wimbledon from about 500,000 years ago to the present, with a sensory trail for families.

Founded

1916

Operated by

The Wimbledon Society

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free entry. The museum is run entirely by volunteers.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

The museum is on the first floor, reached by a flight of stairs with a handrail on each side. The museum is small and has places to sit. Visits outside opening hours can be arranged for people who want to take their time on the stairs or prefer a quieter setting. A video tour and a virtual tour are available on the website, and the sensory trail is designed to be accessible to all.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Families of all ages are welcome. The children's corner has drawing materials, picture books, self-guided activities and a Wimbledon map playmat. The Sensory Trail lets visitors explore objects through touch, smell, sound and sight using any of the numbered bags, in any order. Family workshops run throughout the year.

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

Evening visits for groups can be arranged through the Village Hall Trust, with a drinks reception in the Lingfield Room; no more than 20 people can be in the museum at once.

Plan your visit