Hackney Museum is changing


Hackney Museum is currently closed for refurbishment.
It will reopen in 2027.

Thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hackney Museum is going through a significant redesign of its permanent galleries and spaces. This redevelopment project will use Hackney Museum’s unique historical collections to highlight how the local area has been shaped by 300,000 years of migration and settlement.

December 2025

This month, we hit a major milestone in our redevelopment journey: Hackney Museum closed after 23 years. We will reopen in early 2027 after the refurbishment of our permanent galleries and community spaces. 

Despite the museum being closed, museum staff are busy leading engagement and outreach activities across the borough. We have begun working with a brilliant artist and seven different community groups from all over Hackney to begin planning the design of an exciting new artwork that’s going to go into the new museum! 

Thanks to funding from the Pilgrim Trust, we have our portrait of 18th century nurseryman and gardener, George Loddiges, for conservation. He will be back with us in 6 months time with a new lining and touched up details, ready to go on permanent display in the new museum.

With the festive season upon us, our team will be taking a well earned break at the end of the month. We will be ready and rested for many exciting projects kicking off in 2026.

Our artist, Sion leading a workshop with the African Community School
Preparing the George Loddiges for transportation to the conservator
Past updates
November 2025

We are planning for the closure of Hackney Museum at the end of this month and developing a plan for all the items currently on display. Staff have been auditing the permanent exhibition galleries in preparation for the deinstallation. Most of the objects have been on display since 2002 so need to be rested.

We have also been meeting with lots of community partners across the borough and planning projects and workshops with them. Some of these projects will create new things to display in the new museum.

We have also been finding out more about our 1000 year old Anglo Saxon log boat, discovered in Springfield Park, Clapton. Watch this short video to find out more about it.