I visited Museum of Croydon for the first time yesterday. I attended the Portrait Drawing sessions on Level 1 It was a huge disappoint when ten minutes into the Session, a security guard was called in to remove a barely teenage girl from the room. She was actively engaged in drawing and doing nothing wrong. He shouted at her loudly while the volunteer and staff just stood there watching. He told her that she shouldn't be there, and that she 'should be with her mother'. There are so many issues with this- humiliating and yelling at a child in front of other people, and then telling her where she 'should' be. It was vile, and deeply uncomfortable. When the issue was raised with staff there, all they said was that Under 18's aren't allowed to attend and be in 'our space' - well then why was she allowed in the first place? and how is it THEIR 'space'? Nowhere on the flyer does is say that the sessions are for Adults only. Their incompetence is astounding, and frankly vile. How can they treat children in Croydon like this? The building itself is absolutely beautiful, and the warm welcome I received from the coffee shop staff was really lovely, as was their coffee and overall helpfulness. It's a shame the experience at Portrait Drawing was so awful, but it's enough that I won't be returning to those sessions again.

I recently visited the Museum of Croydon, and it was a wonderful experience. It is a very nice place to visit, especially if you are interested in history. The museum has an impressive collection of historical items, and I was particularly fascinated by the ancient bows on display. The craftsmanship and detail of these old weapons are truly remarkable and give a glimpse into the past. The museum is well-organized, informative, and enjoyable for visitors of all ages. It’s a great place to learn about local history and explore unique artifacts. I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Croydon if you are in the area — it’s both educational and inspiring!

Visited Museum of Croydon early November 2025 during the Meccano exhibition here. It is a local museum featuring the history of Croydon. Definitely recommended.

The museum is free and situated inside the clock tower building - same entrance as the borough library. Parts of it (Riesco gallery etc) open at 11am instead of 10am (the special exhibition). The special exhibition now talks about the history of industry in Croydon and it’s informative and interesting. You probably finish it all in an hour. For parking, Q-park is recommended which is just 6-7 minutes walk away.

'FORGE: Industries of Croydon'. New exhibition about the history of industry in the borough is now open. Family activities available and some amazing archive and contemporary photography on display. Plus the bubble car is back!