Barnet Museum
What Visitors Say
A wonderful little museum that details the history of Barnet and quite the history it is, too. Upon entry, you'll be greeted by a wonderful receptionist who gives you the rundown on the museum from top, middle and the bottom level and it's all interesting to see the many artefacts and curios on display that have played a part in the development or had an impact on Barnet itself. Be sure to follow the time line sheets dotted around the museum as many of them make for very significant reading on how the borough of Barnet came to be and the Royal connection that runs deep here. It's all free to see and you could easily spend an hour here reading, learning and perusing about all things Barnet so if you happen to be in this lovely part of London, be sure to give the museum a visit.
We had such a pleasent afternoon at Barnet Museum and Hilary and Michael were fantastic. Thank you so much in behalf of residents and staff at Elmstead House Care Home. We were delighted.
Although it is very small, it has lots of interesting exhibits and the staff is very helpful, polite and willing to explain and answer all the questions.
Brilliant Museum and very friendly staff. It was a joy to look around and find everything. Thank you for a lovely time. We will be back. It was very informative for adults and children
Lovely, lovely, lovely place where history is being preserved with love and care. This is a traditional museum, where adults and kids can find a lot of interesting items and find out about local history and historical residents of Barnet. Mike and his volunteers are the sweetest people, witty and kind. I was so impressed by the history of the place and the quantity of the items on display. Dolls collection downstairs is equally impressive. I enjoyed it much more than the new exhibition in the Young V&A, where they created a space only interesting for kids. Huge respect and thank you to everyone keeping this museum so precious!
Highlights
Battle of Barnet Gallery
One of the decisive battles of the Wars of the Roses (14 April 1471) unfolded just north of the town.Maps, reproduction weapons and local finds explain how fog, misalignment of lines and ‘friendly fire’ shaped the outcome for Edward IV and Warwick ‘the Kingmaker’.
Front rooms
Great North Road & Coaching Barnet
Barnet thrived as a staging post on the coach road to the North in the 18th–19th centuries.Inn signs, booking-office paperwork and coachman’s kit show how timetables, horse-changes and turnpikes powered long-distance travel before rail.
Main gallery run of cases
Costume & Domestic Life
Clothing, lace and household tools reveal class, work and fashion across centuries.From fine lace collars to workaday smocks, textiles double as social documents stitched in thread.
Upstairs rooms
Toys & Dolls Collection
Playthings mirror technology and taste—from bisque dolls to tinplate and plastics.Miniature kitchens, prams and games show how children rehearsed adult roles at home.
Lower level
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The museum occupies a historic townhouse near the medieval parish church of St John the Baptist, rooting the collection in the old town’s original street plan.
Interpretation of the Battle of Barnet emphasises the notorious fog that morning—misrecognition and lateral fire likely caused the Earl of Oxford’s men to be mistaken for enemies, swinging momentum to Edward IV.
Barnet’s coaching identity comes through in material culture: inn tokens, waybills and harness hardware survive because paper and leather were kept as business records and repair stock.
