William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow reopens with a fresh look at its collection

Walthamstow's most famous son is back in the spotlight. The William Morris Gallery reopened on 3 October 2026 with a newly rehung collection, the first major change to its displays since the gallery's redevelopment in 2012.

The gallery closed over the summer for light renovations and the rehang, which was timed to mark 130 years since Morris's death and designed with Sam Jacob Studio. It is housed in Water House, a Grade II listed Georgian villa where Morris lived as a teenager from 1848 to 1856, and it holds the world's most significant collection of his work.

Visitors will still find the much loved staples, including Morris's original textile and wallpaper designs and early furniture, now displayed alongside new discoveries and recent acquisitions. New displays shine a light on the women of the Arts and Crafts movement, among them Morris's daughter May Morris, and on the influence of South Asian and Islamic art on his famous patterns.

There are some rare treats too. Morris's original Hammersmith Socialist League banner, on loan from Manchester, is on show, as is his personal copy of One Thousand and One Nights, reflecting his life as a designer, craftsman, writer, social activist and conservationist.

The reopening was paired with a major new exhibition, Earthly Paradise: Radical Living in the UK, which traces 200 years of British art and activism. It includes objects from Plas Newydd in Llangollen, photography from Nubia Way and the film Tomorrow is Built Today, and it will tour to Tŷ Pawb, Dovecot Studios and Blackwell with support from the Art Fund.

Looking further ahead, the gallery plans to open Morris Today in 2027, a dedicated space for contemporary artists responding to Morris's ideas.

The gallery won Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2013, and it remains a favourite day out in east London. It sits in Lloyd Park, and its ground floor café, Deeney's, looks out over the gardens. The gallery is owned and run by Waltham Forest Council, and admission is free.

The William Morris Gallery is in Lloyd Park, Forest Road, E17 4PP, and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. For exhibitions and events, visit wmgallery.org.uk.