Harrow Museum

Nice local history museum. Restaurant and ample free parking .many playing fields around the Manor and a moat. Ducks . Many interesting walking /running, newly developed paths. Children's activity / play area with swings etc I Enjoyed the visit with a overseas friend.

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Lovely place for some real peace. However when watching the ducks in the river I had the sad opportunity to see a rat biting a duck and then they had a little fight only to see it ending up with the rat swimming back to the land. How is this possible? The ducks seem a bit ill to be honest they couldn’t even eat when some other person was trying to feed them after witnessing the fight.

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This wasn't actually on my to-do list, but I needed something to do on a cloudy cold Saturday, so I chose it. I like visiting parks, especially if they have a museum or other establishments to explore. This one is very historical, dating from early 1300s. It also has a moat/pond surrounding it, which I didn't even realise as Google Maps do not show any waterways here. Its a free museum, first of all, and you get an introduction as soon as you enter the small barn before you even get to the museum entrance. This tells you that you'd be looking at the history of Harrow and Headstone area since Roman times and even before. But it's not like those museum which have an ample information on all the details. Rather, the beginning goes through prehistoric times briefly and the Roman Britain, along with artefacts / relics. For me, I like to read all the information while studying the relics. The museum/manor is set in two floors with a guided map to tell you which rooms to visit next (or just follow the signs on the wall). Ground floor has a special exhibition room, when I visited (March 2026) it was on Buddhism. I liked how each part was on different eras and had their own theme, e.g. Elizabethan, Stuart, Victorian. However, I wish the way you explored the house could have been done chronologically, as you go back and forth in time when entering each part. There are some interactive displays, either a screen with information, anecdotes and something for the kids. Or audio you can listen to by just pressing a button, or a hologramic feature that automatically places once you enter a room. Overall it had a lot on the history of Harrow and surrounding areas, with of course references to wider London and the whole world (such as the Mayflower journey or the Titanic being mentioned on a side print in the timeline mentioned). Some of the rooms have windows, so you can see out of the manor and the park, though it was cloudy today so not quite a great lot to see. There is a quiet room with some books about the history of Harrow, some of them are pictorial so you get the see black and white photos from the past. There is an outdoor area within the museum grounds which I'm sure must be lovely during the summer. It was a bit cold indoors though despite all windows being closed, that was my only gripe about it. Some of the interactive screens didn't work, such as the map on the WWII room. But I would recommend this place despite not even living in Harrow.

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Nice little museum showing the history of Harrow. You can find out a lot about local history with good displays. The maps showing how Harrow looked in the past is interesting especially if you try to find where your house is. Inside you will feel colder then outside if you're visiting during cold days. The staff are nice. Next to the manor is a nice playground for kids, a park with fields to play different ball games, have a picnic, run around and play with your dogs. The cafe opposite of the car park offers snacks, coffee, tea just good the warm up after spending time in the cold. The car park is free which is very good considering many parking is paid only. There's space between cars and disabled parking space.

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It is marvelous that Headstone Manor has survived so long having been originally built about 1310 AD & gradually surrounded to sit in what is now suburbia. Not only is there the museum to see inside the Manor House but also one can experience a short film show & read about the area dating from past times in the nearby Small Barn. This sits near to the bridge which spans the moat encircling the Manor House & it's garden . Also outside the moat is the hugely impressive Great Barn dating from 500 years ago. I can remember attending Celidhs there some 50 years ago but now it is not generally open except on the odd special occasion or so . It is for hire only, often hosting wedding parties. Nearby is the Granary , generally used as a school learning centre. Apart from exploring the actual structure of The Manor House which has evolved over the centuries , there are permanent exhibits & several different exhibitions staged throughout the year plus workshops & talks. Pleasant gardens & the moat is well filled with water & supports a variety of waterfowl. The excellent Moat Cafe is nearby with seating inside & outside. Drinks & snacks available. Excellent , clean toilet in both the cafe & the museum.

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