Business Details
Explore St Albans' Rich History & Culture
St Albans Museums is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich historical and cultural heritage of St Albans. Our institutions include St Albans Museum + Gallery, Verulamium Museum, and significant Roman heritage sites such as the Hypocaust and Sopwell Ruins. We offer a dynamic programme of exhibitions, from ancient Roman artefacts to contemporary art installations, alongside educational workshops for schools and families. Our venues provide unique spaces for community engagement, hosting events ranging from history talks to weddings. With free general admission at St Albans Museum + Gallery and accessible programming for all ages, we strive to make history and culture inclusive and engaging. Our collections, amassed since the 1890s, are complemented by community-led initiatives like oral history projects and volunteer opportunities.We collaborate with local groups to ensure our exhibitions reflect diverse perspectives, from Black history research to South Asian heritage. As a Heritage Lottery-funded organisation, we combine historical preservation with modern innovation, offering digital resources like St Albans on Demand for virtual exploration of our collections. Our team is committed to making every visit both educational and memorable, whether through hands-on artefact handling or guided tours of Roman mosaics. By bridging the past and present, we aim to inspire future generations to connect with their local history.
Services
Museum Exhibitions
Educational Workshops
Venue Hire
Family Activities
Community Projects
Online Collections
History Talks
Volunteering Opportunities
Artefact Handling
Digital Resources
Highlights and features
- We offer free general admission at St Albans Museum + Gallery
- Our venues host unique Roman heritage sites and contemporary art installations
- We provide educational programmes for schools and families
- We collaborate with communities on inclusive history projects
- Our team manages heritage sites dating back to the 1890s
Associations and certifications
- Heritage Lottery Fund
Services
Museum Exhibitions
Our museums showcase permanent and temporary exhibitions spanning Roman Britain to contemporary art. Visitors explore archaeological finds at Verulamium Museum or modern installations at St Albans Museum + Gallery. Exhibitions like 'Worlds Connected' highlight cultural links between St Albans and the Islamic World, while the Hypocaust site preserves Roman engineering marvels.
Educational Programmes
We deliver curriculum-linked workshops for Key Stages 2-5, including artefact handling and Roman life studies. Teachers can book sessions on topics like Victorian justice or the Peasants' Revolt. Financial assistance is available for school transport, ensuring accessible learning about local history through hands-on experiences and guided site visits.
Venue Hire
Historic venues like St Albans Museum + Gallery and Verulamium Museum host weddings, corporate events, and Christmas parties. The Clock Tower and Roman mosaics provide unique backdrops for celebrations. Clients benefit from our expertise in managing over 2,000 years of history while creating memorable occasions in protected heritage sites.
Community Projects
Our initiatives include Black History research groups, South Asian oral histories, and the 'Communities in Residence' programme. Volunteers contribute to digitisation projects like Verulamium Park's archaeological records. The Portable Antiquities Scheme records public finds, while our blog and online exhibitions make local history accessible to all interested in St Albans' 2,000-year story.
Digital Resources
St Albans on Demand offers virtual exploration of museum collections, while pay-to-view history talks document past exhibitions. Online-only exhibitions and digitised archives allow remote access to our 1890s-established collections. These resources complement physical visits by providing 24/7 access to Roman artefacts, art installations, and community history projects.
Questions
Which museums are managed by St Albans Museums?
We manage St Albans Museum + Gallery, Verulamium Museum, the Roman Hypocaust, Sopwell Ruins, and the Clock Tower. Each site focuses on different aspects of local history from Roman Britain to modern art.
Are there family-friendly activities available?
Yes, we offer family workshops, handling sessions with historical objects, and themed activities during school holidays. The museums provide interactive experiences suitable for children aged 3-16 across our exhibition spaces.
How can I access the museum collections online?
Our St Albans on Demand platform allows virtual exploration of artefacts. We also provide digitised archives, online exhibitions, and pay-to-view history talks through our website for remote access to collections.
What community projects do you offer?
We run Black History research groups, South Asian oral history collections, and the 'Communities in Residence' programme. Volunteers can participate in archaeological digitisation projects or contribute to exhibition development through collaborative initiatives.
Can I hire museum spaces for events?
Yes, St Albans Museum + Gallery and Verulamium Museum host weddings, corporate functions, and Christmas parties. Our venues combine historic settings with modern facilities, offering unique spaces for up to 200 guests.
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Reviews (6)
Derek Williams
Jan 24, 2022
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This museum is centred on the amazingly well preserved/refurbished Victorian courthouse. The courtroom is amazing and doubles as the caf interior seating eating area with the opportunity to sit in the judges chair or stand in the dock from which access to the holding cells and audio info units. From here you can progress back to the stairs and lift that offers access to be the rest of the museum and exhibition rooms that are also available for private event hire.
Edward Hulme
Dec 26, 2021
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We visited the exhibition of fibre art by Anna Ray. It was striking, highly original, and very well worth a visit. The courtroom cafe is also good. Why not combine them?
Terence Potts
Dec 12, 2021
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Found myself sheltering from the rain in this ex courthouse now museum situated in the town centre and pleased I did. There are very interesting historic interests of not only of the town's Roman heritage but also the characters and industries that built the town. Should you visit, take time to visit the cafe set in the old court room and the cells basement - very authentic!
Win Task
Nov 27, 2021
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Such a nice place. An art gallery n museum together at one place. Museum is downstairs n art gallery is upstairs. Cool art exhibitions as well as great historic stuff in museum. Great location right in the middle of city. Shopping centre, cafes, pubs around. Worth to visit. Even now a days just beautiful with Xmas vibes.
Nyla Fatima
Nov 15, 2021
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The museum and art gallery are fascinating. It makes for a really nice day out. The cafe setting is great - it is one of the old courtrooms. The service was good and staff were very friendly. I would recommend a visit! The only thing we couldn't see was the underground prison cells. I think it would have been lovely to see.
Mick O'Reilly
Oct 19, 2021
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We were only having coffee today but we have been many times before. Having a drink in the old court is great. My history group have been to several of the exhibitions at the museum and this has become a great asset to St Albans history lovers
