Walthamstow's William Morris Gallery is quietly one of London's top museums. Just behind the gates of Lloyd Park, the gorgeous 18th-century manor house was the family home of the eponymous designer, novelist and socialist between 1848 and 1856. Today its halls house permanent displays of printed and woven fabrics, rugs and painted tiles by Morris and other members of the Arts and Crafts movement – as well as a spread of domestic objects, including the artist's own coffee cup.
The museum's scope goes beyond the work of Morris himself. Recent temporary exhibitions have explored Islamic art and the inspiration it had on his work, as well as a journey through 100 years of mingei (Japanese folk art). Last year, a show called Morris Mania: How Britain's greatest designer went viral revealed the scale of influence his designs have had on the world, from Nike and Dr Martens products to cameos in everything from Django Unchained to Peep Show.
Renovations Planned for Summer
Now, 130 years after Morris's death, Morris' former 'Stow digs are getting a glow-up. Renovations planned for this summer will touch-up the building, improve the visitor experience and also rejig the gallery's artifacts. The entire permanent collection is set to be rehung as part of the revamp, with new objects from the museum's archive coming to light to introduce fresh perspectives on Morris's life and legacy.
The changes are designed to bring more focus to women's history, South Asian and Islamic art and the intersection between design and politics and the environment.
Two-Phase Makeover
Changes to the exhibitions and displays form stage two of a wider makeover being undertaken at the gallery. The first phase, which upgraded the building's thermal insulation, mechanical cooling and ventilation systems, was completed in March 2025.
We should warn you that if you're planning a trip to the William Morris Gallery this summer, you should prepare for some areas of the building to be off limits. Parts of the gallery will be closing from Monday June 22 as work gets underway on the venue. The entire building, including Deeney's Café, which has its own separate entrance, will be closed from Monday July 27 to Friday August 7.
While Deeney's will reopen from August 8, the gallery itself will reopen in phases. While we don't know the exact dates that each phase of the work will be complete, we can tell you that the renovations are set to be finished ahead of the gallery's next major exhibition, Earthly Paradise, which opens on Saturday October 3.
