Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: school (18) museum (12) time (11) experience (11) children (9) Victorian (9) visit (9) staff (8) amazing (8) fantastic (7)
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  • 5/5 Betty K. 1 year ago on Google
    There is very very lovely place. Good worker working here. He explained everything about English school history and school management system. This school is the last school about English education system. Local people managed here and bought here saving money together. There has many things for children. My children spent very very good time
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Tanya T. 6 months ago on Google
    We love this place! I hadn’t been for a few years since my older children were little, but now my youngest is school age, I decided to take her along. We were immediately greeted by Bea, who gave us a super friendly welcome. She immediately took us across to the Headmaster’s house and gave us a brief introduction of the school history, outside yard and the scullery. She then handed us over to Max who was absolutely fantastic - friendly, knowledgeable and brilliant with my daughter. He kept her engaged through the whole tour - not easy to do with a 4 year old! She really enjoyed handling the different objects in the house and the museum, especially the writing materials in the school rooms. We then stayed to play in the play areas and had lunch at the cafe. Again, the staff were lovely, there was a good selection of vegetarian options (we don’t always find this when out) and very reasonably priced. We’ll definitely come back again as there is just so much to do. A great place to spend a few hours, thank you for a brilliant time.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ricky L. 3 years ago on Google
    I had a great time taking a fascinating walk through a part of British history. There are just so many wonderful artifacts, and great effort has been put into creating a visual experience that plants you right in the period that the room corresponds to (beginning in the early 19th century through to WWII). I really enjoyed the copious amounts of information to read and take in. There are also scanable QR codes that open up Youtube videos, with actors reading the information in character; if that's more your thing. There is an exhibit, once one has taken in all that the school has to offer, of famous persons connected with the local area. It was a treasure trove of fascinating items to look at. It features Dickens, Orwell, George Bernard Shaw, and two or three others that were equally interesting, if not as well known; Edward Bulwer-Lytton, in particular! The staff were really lovely. Each and every one of them. I had a fascinating conversation with a lady that voluntered, along with her Husband, he was the curator for the museum and she, a retired teacher, now dressed up and gave lessons in the Victorian Gallery classrom. What a treat that must be to see! I was the first visitor after re-opening post-Covid lockdown, so I didn't quite get the full experience, which is totally understandable, but I still thoroughly recommend a visit. Get lost in there for 3 hours and you won't regret learning all about Joseph Lancaster and his Monitorial School system. It's fantastic! Thank you to every one that contributes time and effort toward making this little bit of British history available to enjoy.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kathryn H. 2 years ago on Google
    Very interesting little museum. My partner enjoyed it as he has a fascination with schools and how they work. Staff that run the place are very friendly and knowledgable, and the shop has a selection of local merchandise and old classic children’s games. In the current circumstances it is advisable to book, but you can turn up, and it’s £6.50 for adults, not sure about children. Well worth a visit.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mirabela A. 2 years ago on Google
    It was amazing! Good lesson for children.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Daniel A M. 1 year ago on Google
    Situated in the small town of Hitchin the museums offers a nice experience about how the school system worked in the past. It's situated near the centre and you can park in one of the 3 car parks just a couple minutes walk (pay&display). The train station is 15 minutes walk. The museum is opposite of Asda. The staff is helpful, nice and give a very nice tour of the museum. They even offer a ''look back experience'' for children. You also have a small coffee shop and toilets. It brought back memories from my primary school years. It's really worth visiting with friends, family or school trips.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matt 1 year ago on Google
    A really interesting place, lots to see and learn.

  • 5/5 Leanna H. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful place! The staff were truly amazing :) We were taken on a tour around the headmasters home to start the experience off and the visuals, information and energy was a Great experience One of the treasures of Hitchin

  • 4/5 Susan B. 1 year ago on Google
    This was a very interesting place and the staff were very helpful. The cafe could do with a bit of improvement. Especially the cups and sauces. I am sure there are plenty of people that would donate China to the museum. The price for entry was very reasonable. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

  • 5/5 Chara C. 1 year ago on Google
    This is one of the best small museums I've visited. A fantastic place to learn about how schools worked in Victorian and Edwardian times. The people who run the museum were very helpful and shared a lot of information and stories about the school which made our visit even more enjoyable!

  • 5/5 Ara A. 1 year ago on Google
    Very knowledgeable and welcoming staff, great place for traveling into past and learn about monitorial schools which may be also a very good example of how to encourage students to help each other with learning.

  • 5/5 Emma C. 9 months ago on Google
    Absolutely fantastic museum - I took our Beaver colony here and we had the best time - the curators made it such a fun and informative experience. There is so much to see with all the different classrooms as well as the Headmaster's House. Well worth a visit.

  • 5/5 Christine R. 11 months ago on Google
    We turned up on a day that tours were not usually given but the deputy curator, Max, kindly took us around as we had come a long way away. With great enthusiasm and knowledge we were guided round this unique group of buildings. It was part history lesson as to the origins of the education system and part reminiscence as to our own experience as we are in our mid seventies. The wealth of detail in the refurbished rooms and careful attention to detail is very atmospheric, enlightening and surprising. Max was good at listening to questions, observations and opinions as well as telling the story. A worthwhile and unique day out with plenty of food for thought. A small shop and cafe complete the experience.

  • 5/5 Theodora D. 10 months ago on Google
    Great museum, highly recommend the Victorian Childhood experience. They also do fantastic crafts and events during school holidays. The play cafe is usually open (even when the museum is closed), with an outdoor area for the summer.

  • 5/5 L C. 8 months ago on Google
    Great time. Staff so friendly and helpful. The kids loved being punished with dunce hat.

  • 5/5 Stuart 9 months ago on Google
    I had an amazing night investigating this amazing and beautiful building big thanks to the volunteers that work there for letting us do ghost hunting I will 100% be back

  • 5/5 Pamela M. 5 months ago on Google
    Went as a helper with a school group. It was excellent. Very factual and interesting. The children loved it. Especially experiencing a Victorian classroom and PE lesson. Staff very pleasant.

  • 5/5 Georgina C. 1 year ago on Google
    Brilliant experience at the Victorian day. Activities to do and we got to experience a real Victorian lesson, write with slate and ink. Highly recommend a visit at anytime.

  • 4/5 Fraz C. 5 years ago on Google
    Wow, what a fantastic trip back in time. Both the school and the WWII trench reconstruction are worth a visit. The staff and volunteers were spellbinders!

  • 5/5 Daniel K. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place for a visit. Our kids enjoyed seeing how people went to school in history. Had a great tour as well. Staff were super nice and accommodating .

  • 5/5 Janice M. 2 years ago on Google
    What a gem of a place. My grandchildren and I have been to many events over the years. Maypole dancing, Xmas, Halloween and Easter events, dressing up as Victorian school children and scrubbing clothes before putting them through the mangle. Staff and volunteers are amazing.

  • 5/5 Iain Black Mr Bs P. 2 years ago on Google
    Personally for me i love this place. Just takes you back in time. They have fantastic events and activities for all ages. Worth checking out and visiting.

  • 5/5 Elena Varela F. 2 years ago on Google
    Fascinating museum, learned a lot about education in Britain in the Victorian era. Run by volunteers who delight telling you all about the museum. A must visit if you are in Hitchin

  • 5/5 Sandra L. 2 years ago on Google
    Had a lovely time here with our Friendship group who all had a good time. Enjoyed the Victorian lesson and all the guides were so friendly and made us feel welcome. This day out held many memories of when we were all at school. Would recommend a visit even just to learn about how schooling has evolved over time.

  • 5/5 Sam H. 4 years ago on Google
    Done a ghost hunt there from early evening to Midnight! Absolutely amazing, absolutely terrifying!

  • 4/5 virginia w. 2 years ago on Google
    As a teacher it was very interesting and told the story the beginnings of education in Britian.

  • 5/5 Leslie C. 2 years ago on Google
    An undiscovered gem. Wow what an amazing place. Stumbled across it while wandering around Hitchin. Spent a lovely couple of hours here. Friendly and very informative staff kept us entertained

  • 5/5 daniela m. 2 years ago on Google
    This is seriously amazing. Super interesting place with great explanations and knowledgeable and lovely people. Highly recommend even if you need to drive all the way from London!


Call +44 1462 420144 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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