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Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (36) local (25) history (22) garden (20) Walthamstow (14) interesting (14) nice (12) lovely (11) cafe (11) people (10)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Akber B. 1 year ago on Google • 8 reviews
    A charming and welcoming museum, hidden near Walthamstow central, covering 2 floors of an old building, it's a time capsule back to the early 1900s. You can see how local people lived; interestingly, you can compare it to how we Live Today. The accompanying gardens are lovely and very peaceful. Sitting in a particular corner of the garden you will find tranquilly. The staff are accommodating, and if you read the stories accompanying each item in the museum, it's a fascinating contrast of how people who lived in Walthamstow lived throughout the ages. I especially liked the pirate radio section of the museum showing how the local community used music to bring people together. There's also a DJ set up which allows you to hear the music and have the opportunity to listen to hip-hop tunes of the 80s that played in the local dance clubs—overall a wonderful place to visit with or without your kids.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Simon B. 1 year ago on Google • 256 reviews
    Really great space.history knowledge and love. Lovely ancient building and wild garden. Vestry house is a special place and guardian of Waltham forest history i
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chris S. 1 year ago on Google
    This has to be my most favourite place when visiting my family in Walthamstow. Such a cared for corner of E17. Thank you to the lovely gardener who tends the garden. To the people who rustle you up a smashing cuppa,lunch or snack and to the considerate museum folk who offer kind welcome even to a cheeky two year old grandchild. I love this place.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Katherine T. 1 year ago on Google • 90 reviews
    Lovely cafe among the flowers with museum to visit for free. Had a wander around and had all about transport including the first combustion engine car on show.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Philip J. 4 months ago on Google • 235 reviews
    Well I didn't expect this to be such a fantastic little museum! Loved it. Loved the history of the building, the original features, the creaky stair case, the history of the area and it's setting. The stuff on show was cool...a good mix. I imagine the gardens are beautful in the spring and summer. Afterwards I was told that the place is shutting on Dec 22nd for a year, maybe more, maybe forever because the council are wanting to "do it up" to encourage more visitors. I hope they don't ruin it and take away what makes it what it is...make sure you visit this place ASAP in order to see it as it is now!!!

  • 5/5 Kayum S. 4 years ago on Google
    I came across this place in a magazine advertising a easter egg hunt. I was not sure what to expect given the location and size but it turned out to be a pleasant visit. The museum itself is housed in the old workhouse (hence the name!) Spread over two floors and much larger inside than it appears to be from the outside. It also has a nice garden which took me by surprise.You could probably spend an hour here before moving on.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jose M. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent FREE little museum with local artefacts stretching from Roman to modern times. There's great coffee, an interesting shop and a wonderfully hidden garden. Highly recommend for an interesting and peaceful afternoon.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 o s. 2 months ago on Google • 197 reviews New
    Beautiful garden and the probably a nice museum. Unfortunately it is closed for refurbishment and won't be open until the 2026, but you are still welcome to view the beautiful garden and it's free to get in.

  • 5/5 Winsome Y. 3 years ago on Google • 67 reviews
    A restored small workhouse that is now a museum displaying a collection of artefacts from the Victorian era to 20th Century in Walthamstow. There are a lot of interesting history displayed in each room about the house, such as the workers living in the house who tended the garden and grew crops of 20 different strain of seeds. My favourite parts of the museum were the victorian living room and prison cell that were designed to immerse the visitor back in time. It’s great for kids as there’s activities for them in each room to get them exploring the displays in the room. The museum is free to the public and has a lot of different events throughout the year. The garden is so beautiful to visit and view the large historic building from the outside. What’s awesome is the free postcards that you can take home; there’s a range to choose from that are all scenic photographs of Walthamstow.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Emilia P. 10 months ago on Google • 43 reviews
    Amazing little museum with a beautiful garden. Little hidden gem in walthamstow is best for everyone, and the greatest thing is that it's completely free. You can get very yummy coffee in good price as well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Natia M (. 1 year ago on Google
    Mini free museum of a typical London work/social house for those who "worked for a stay".
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hamid M. 6 years ago on Google
    Awesome exhibition about J K Starley, born in Walthamstow and inventor of the modern bicycle
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Emma R. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice place to visit for a couple of hours. Beautiful garden in the summer.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rosalie Cecile H. 1 year ago on Google
    Super Museum with loads to see and discover together with gardens containing interesting plants and the new cafe which is perfect.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Katie A. 7 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Give the Darlings Pasta a miss Absolute chaos on Sunday. My friend and I waited an hour to be seated. When we were, they took our orders. We had a starter and waited about 45 minutes for this-some bread and a burrata style salad was brought to us. After an another hours wait for our mains, the table next to us said they’d gone in to chase and the waitress announced ‘there’s no pasta left’. We were there for over 3 hours!! At no point did any of the waitresses think To come out and let all the tables waiting know- so bizarre! When I asked then about the mains the waitress laughed. What the hell is going on!?! Shocking place. AVOID
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jackie W. 2 years ago on Google
    Very friendly service. Delicious sweet potato lunch Pretty setting. I will return for sure.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Andy C. 4 years ago on Google
    Got there 15 minutes before closing but was still very impressed by the exhibits I saw. Will definitely return with more time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Robert W. 4 years ago on Google
    Vestry House museum is Walthamstow's local museum tucked away in the historic heart of the borough next to St Mary's church. Outsiders maybe consider E17 just another rather scruffy London suburb, but if you take the trouble to look you'll discover that it actually has a lot of interesting history. Vestry House aims to give an overview of this. The museum itself is housed in the old workhouse (hence the name!) where the local vestry (forerunner of the local council) also met. It has a collection of local artefacts - its pride is the Bremer car, claimed to be one first automobiles, that was built by a local engineer. (E17 was once an important manufacturing centre.) It also mounts several temporary exhibitions - when I went it was an interesting display of artists' reactions to the Suffragette movement (2019 being the centenary of the Act that gave women the vote - you knew that of course, didn't you?)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bret S. 4 years ago on Google
    Really interesting story of the local area and workhouse. The lady who greeted us was fantastic, gave us loads of interesting information and told us about other local events that were on.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Byron D. 4 months ago on Google • 96 reviews
    Excellent permanent exhibition about the history of Walthamstow

  • 4/5 Fee S. 6 months ago on Google • 61 reviews
    Nice museum about Walthamstow history. Had no idea about the toy factories and the Bremer car. The gardens look lovely with a nice cafe but didn't visit.

  • 5/5 Mike H. 1 month ago on Google • 13 reviews New
    This is a great building, full of history. The garden is a peaceful and beautiful spot. There is also a very early car on display actually made in Walthamstow. Having said all that, the Museum is closing. I really wish them success in opening again this special place.

  • 5/5 Nelson Ferreira Art Classes Painting and D. 1 year ago on Google
    Wonderful little museum depicting the harsh life of times gone by. The true face of the empire, the appalling workhouses that kept the destitute like slaves. Workers there used to earn £1-2 daily in today's currency, for really harsh work. I guess people living in Regent Street and Grosvenor Square always needed their slaves.

  • 4/5 Syllaryn L. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice staff the children enjoyed session learning more about the past and how it use to be

  • 5/5 Stew Reviews (. 1 year ago on Google
    Excellent little local museum with lots of interesting local history and the Frederick Bremer car (first ICE car made in UK). Nice gardens and cafe too.

  • 5/5 Pal S. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) A location like an island in time. Everything seems enthralled and well kept in an immensity again. A house, an old settlement where poor people were brought to work, kept to the smallest detail. The museum and exhibits offer amazing details about life since then. Interior minigradina well marked and full of information. (Original) O locatie ca o insula in timp. Totul pare incremenit si bine pastrat intr o imensitate de nou. O casa , un vechi asezamant unde erau adusi oamenii saraci pentru a muncii, pastrata pana in cele mai mici detalii. Muzeul si exponatele ofera detalii uimitoare asupra vietii de atunci. Minigradina interioara bine marcata si plina de informatii.

  • 5/5 Danielle F. 1 year ago on Google
    Hidden gem in Walthamstw - nice cafe with great coffee, nice food and a lovely outdoor garden to sit and explore

  • 5/5 Jane C. 1 year ago on Google
    Great local resource.

  • 4/5 F C. 4 years ago on Google
    Brief but interesting

  • 3/5 Eileen W. 1 year ago on Google
    Museum is lovely. Less stars for the cafe. It's in a beautiful setting but felt rushed and unwelcome by staff who were keen to finish up 40 minutes before closing, and only offered take away cups. A real contrast to the friendliness of the museum.

  • 5/5 Janine S. 1 year ago on Google
    Great Manager and staff. Got more going on than you would expect for such a small venue. Get there for the Exhibition that's on now and support the place by enjoying the Cafes offerings.

  • 5/5 Linda B. 1 year ago on Google
    An historic building covering many aspects of the past. Interesting for young and old. Beautiful garden. This is a small but lovely place.

  • 5/5 Anna D. 1 year ago on Google
    A lovely museum for locals! It is small, but packs a lot of history about Waltham Forest, including a super cool rave room where you can test out your DJ-ing skills. There is also a nice cafe at the back of the museum with a sunny garden. Would recommend for a day out in Walthamstow!

  • 5/5 Albert Carter P. 4 years ago on Google
    Very sweet local museum with interesting exhibitions. Windrush photography exhibition was a particular recent highlight

  • 4/5 Paulette M. 3 years ago on Google
    Thanks to the people who shared their personal photo collection and their stories. It is worth another visit.

  • 5/5 Gibbs 4 years ago on Google
    Small museum all about the history of Walthamstow. Permanent and temporary exhibitions and events.

  • 4/5 Kim R. 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting. Found this place by accident and found it very informative. This is a small museum that needs recognition.

  • 2/5 Sangotti S. 3 years ago on Google
    Glad the exhibition was there but it was under helming. Hardly anything there.

  • 5/5 linda b. 11 months ago on Google
    Visited the Lee Amos exhibition and particularly liked the portraits. Access for a wheelchair is awkward but doable on the ground floor. You need a P.A. or a pal to help negotiate heavy doors, tight corners. Had coffee and croissant in the garden at Darlings. Very nice experience - good coffee, top notch pastries and staff very friendly. The spring garden looked lovely. A very nice start to the weekend.

  • 2/5 Alexander D. 10 months ago on Google
    Weird rules cafe with tasty deserts and nice garden. I came there for an hour to eat lunch and answer my emails on the laptop. They told me that they don't allow laptops. Who cares, if I'm sitting one hour with my laptop or chatting with a friend or looking in my phone. It's totally my business: I order food and generate revenue for the cafe. If you don't like that people sit for a while with a laptop, just limit time as many cafes in London do.

  • 5/5 Clare M. 10 months ago on Google
    The spring flowers are looking amazing and new cafe Darlings does fab coffee, cakes and pastries. It's such a great place for kids to explore when the sun is out

  • 4/5 Sharon R. 3 years ago on Google
    Went for Windrush exhibition. Very interesting and enjoyable

  • 3/5 Rakiya C. 3 years ago on Google
    Quaint! Many parts were closed due to social distancing guidelines but the Here We Are exhibition was touching.

  • 5/5 Eva M. 8 months ago on Google
    What a great little local museum. A fantastic day out for adults and children, local or tourists. I would plan half a day to check out the museum and garden. Don't forget to check out the fabulous café.

  • 5/5 Eloise M. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved the black local history msm, kids loved it and took lots of photos for their project!!!!

  • 5/5 ALINA B. 4 years ago on Google
    A lovely little museum that is really worth visiting!

  • 4/5 Sadie L. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful example of preserved London history. Run by volunteers. Thank you.

  • 5/5 Janisk H. 3 years ago on Google
    It was a great experience. A really interesting exhibition about people from the Windrush generation living locally. And the staff were lovely. We'd recommend it highly

  • 3/5 许北方 4 years ago on Google
    History

  • 5/5 katy n. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Quiet beautiful place. If you like history do not miss it. The beautiful garden (Original) Lugar tranquilo bello. Si te gusta la historia no te lo pierdas. El jardín el precioso

  • 5/5 Anthony L. 4 years ago on Google
    Great little museum well worth a visit

  • 4/5 Gill N. 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting little Walthamstow museum

  • 5/5 David C. 4 years ago on Google
    Free entry nice insight on Walthamstow history

  • 5/5 Edmund A. 4 years ago on Google
    I have been twice since four years ago.

  • 5/5 Valerie S. 4 years ago on Google
    Very interesting

  • 5/5 Jacqui C. 4 years ago on Google
    Has archives to do research. Bremer motor car and community room and gardens.

  • 4/5 Amos M. 4 years ago on Google
    I visited during Art Night 2019, when the museum had work by local artists and musicians on display. I'm only rating it with 4 stars as some areas were closed off after 9pm, but I will return to see Vestry House in the daytime.

  • 5/5 David C. 4 years ago on Google
    Brilliant place in a beautiful setting, highly recommended

  • 5/5 Nigel P. 4 years ago on Google
    Peace and tranquillity can be found in the back gardens.

  • 5/5 Natalie M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great to take the kids and we love their seasonal events for Halloween and apple day - lucky to have it local in e17

  • 4/5 Eva B. 4 years ago on Google
    Lovely place, nice people..

  • 5/5 Lord_Choice 4 years ago on Google
    Nice place

  • 5/5 David S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great local history museum

  • 4/5 Jaise Saly J. 4 years ago on Google
    Good

  • 5/5 Doğal I. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) Fantastic (Original) Harika

  • 5/5 Laura E. 4 years ago on Google
    A hidden gem

  • 5/5 Janet A. 4 years ago on Google
    Great local history museum

  • 4/5 Karin E. 2 years ago on Google
    A lovely gem to understand more of this area full of history and anecdotes

  • 4/5 pete r. 2 years ago on Google
    Interesting local and social history. Small but the space is used well

  • 5/5 Lari R. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice pics of local history

  • 4/5 Laimons G. 2 years ago on Google
    A great little local museum with a delightful cafe. We'll worth a visit when you look around Walthamstow Village.

  • 5/5 Sandra M. 4 years ago on Google
    Beautiful place

  • 5/5 Jacy C. 2 years ago on Google
    It is a very nice place. This is one treasure trove hidden in the village. I could spend all day in there. The topic of history of caribbean residence of coming to waltham forest was very in formative. There is lots of historical things to see.

  • 5/5 Steve H. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place and they have lots of great information for everyone 👍 😀 👏 👌


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Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom

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