Redbridge Museum

Redbridge Museum is the local history museum of the London Borough of Redbridge, located in Ilford in east London. It tells the story of the area from prehistoric times to the present day. Admission is free and no advance booking is needed. It is a good stop for anyone who wants to understand how farmland and villages grew into today's diverse outer-London borough.

Where is the museum?

The museum is on the second floor of Redbridge Central Library on Clements Road in Ilford. That makes it easy to combine a visit with the library and the nearby shopping centre. Ilford sits on a main rail corridor heading east out of the capital, so the area is well connected to central London by train and the Underground.

What will I see in the permanent displays?

The main gallery, opened in 2024 after a major redevelopment, tells the story in chronological order. The earlier displays were replaced entirely. The narrative begins with the prehistoric mammal fauna found in Ilford's brickearth, the same deposits that later supplied clay for local brickmaking, and runs through to the modern borough.

Several sections stand out:

• All Sky and Turnips looks at nineteenth-century farming life, when the district was still rural.
• The March of Bricks and Mortar covers 1900 to 1939, the era of rapid house building. It includes a re-created Edwardian front room from the Cranbrook estate.
• Moving Stories covers 1940 to the present and shows how successive waves of migration shaped the community of Redbridge.
• Time Zone is a multimedia presentation on historic sites in Wanstead, Woodford and Ilford.

Who is it for?

The museum works well for families with children, since the displays are approachable and built around everyday objects. It also suits readers of London history who want to look beyond the centre, and anyone curious about the city's multicultural past. Most visitors spend between one and two hours, depending on how closely they read the labels.

Planning your visit

Entry is free. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, during the day on weekdays, and it closes earlier on Saturdays. Check the current opening hours and the programme of temporary exhibitions on the museum or library website before you go, as schedules can change. A lift in the building helps visitors with pushchairs or limited mobility reach the second floor.

Frequently asked questions

Is Redbridge Museum free? Yes. Admission is free.

Where exactly is it? On the second floor of Redbridge Central Library, Clements Road, Ilford.

When did the new gallery open? The main chronological gallery opened in 2024 after redevelopment.

Is it suitable for children? Yes. The re-created interiors and multimedia presentations are easy to follow for younger visitors.

How long should I allow? One to two hours is usually enough.

Are there temporary exhibitions? The museum stages them from time to time, so check the current programme before your visit.