The William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow will reopen on October 3 2026 with a newly rehung collection, marking the first major shake-up of the space since its 2012 redevelopment. The east London institution has been closed all summer for light renovations and a rehang timed to coincide with 130 years since the designer's death.
New layout designed with Sam Jacob Studio
The new layout has been created in collaboration with Sam Jacob Studio. The gallery is housed in Water House, a Grade II-listed Georgian villa where a teenage Morris lived between 1848 and 1856. Today, it holds the world's most comprehensive collection of his work. The space has been a Time Out favourite since its 2012 redevelopment and won the Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2013.
The newly restored galleries will keep much-loved staples, including Morris's original textile and wallpaper designs. Early examples of his furniture will sit alongside new discoveries and recent acquisitions, all of which offer a new perspective on his life and legacy.
Community input and overlooked stories
Designed in consultation with local residents and community groups, the reimagined spaces are intended to feel more welcoming, accessible and homely, while placing greater emphasis on previously overlooked stories. Expect a spotlight on the women who drove the Arts & Crafts movement, like May Morris, his designer daughter who ran the firm's embroidery empire.
The rehang also unpacks the influence of South Asian and Islamic art on Morris's signature repeat patterns, and the continuing relevance of his ideas across design, politics and environmental thought.
Unseen items and future plans
Visitors will also get the chance to check out items that have been kept under wraps until now. Keep an eye out for Morris's original Hammersmith Socialist League banner on loan from Manchester, alongside his personal copy of One Thousand and One Nights, which heavily inspired his writing and love for Asian decorative arts.
The gallery is also planning ahead with a brand-new space called 'Morris Today', set to open in 2027 as a dedicated hub for contemporary artists to riff on his ideas. Local wood-turners, glass blowers, and furniture makers have even been tapped to build the new spaces, keeping Morris's obsession with sustainable craft alive.
The big reveal comes right alongside a major new exhibition, Earthly Paradise: Radical Living in the UK, tracking 200 years of British art and activism.
