Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Preston's free museum and art gallery is temporarily closed until 2024 for The Harris - Your Place Project, as the building is restored and reimagined. However, the Library remains open.

Library and IT Opening Times

The Harris library and IT services are still open. The library is currently located in Preston Guild Hall, Lancaster Road, PR1 1HT on the bottom floor of the arcade.

Monday - 9am-5pm
Tuesday - 9am-5pm
Wednesday - 9am-5pm
Thursday - 9am-5pm
Friday - 9am-5pm
Saturday - 9am-5pm
Sunday - Closed

Free entry

The Harris Your Place Project

The Harris has been granted £16 million for the Harris Your Place project which will allow for the Grade I listed building to be refurbished. The aim of this project is to protect the building and the architecture for future generations, improving the services for everyone and increasing accessibility.

The Harris Your Place project responds to the feedback from the local communities and when the Harris re-opens, the aim is to attract an additional 100,000 visitors on top of the 350,000 visitors that already visit, creating a quality visitor attraction for Preston and Lancashire. The Harris is currently operating from other local spaces including the Guild Hall and more.

Find out more about the Harris Your Place Project by visiting The Harris - Harris Your Place.

Harris Events

The Harris is still operating from local community spaces and hosting exciting events in Preston. Keep up to date on the Harris social media and The Harris - What's On page, or on Eventbrite - The Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library for more information about upcoming events.

Harris Updates

Keep up to date with the Harris social media for important updates including Harris Your Place project, news, job opportunities, events and exciting insights to the fascinating collection items.

Discover the Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library in the heart of Preston

The Harris is a treasure trove of fantastic art and fascinating objects. You can explore the remarkable Harris collections of fine art, costume and textiles, ceramics and glass and history online by visiting The Harris - Collections.

The Harris for kids

The Harris have multiple activities and events for families and children, which you can find out about at The Harris - What's On page.

Children under 5 years old and their carers

Pop down to the Harris library for a freeThe Harris - Baby Bounce & Rhyme session. Sharing songs and rhymes is a fun way for babies and toddlers to develop their language skills. Taking place in the Harris Library every Tuesday at 10:30AM, at the temporary 'home from home', Preston Guild Hall.

The Harris for you

Want to delve deeper into history or uncover the stories behind the artworks?

There's something for everyone, whether you just want to find out about key events and people that have shaped our city (and some of the treasures found in the area) or if you have a specialist interest in a specific artist or historical period. Visit the The Harris for information about collections and explore our expert videos.