Harris Museum and Art Gallery
The Harris Museum and Art Gallery is an important regional museum which holds exciting collections including fine art, decorative art, costume and textiles, history and photography. Many of the collections are of regional, national and international significance.
The fine art collection includes the largest collection of work by the Devis family of painters and a contemporary photography collection which is considered to be one of the finest in the country. The decorative art collection includes the Mrs French Perfume Bottle Collection, which is the largest in the country and one of the most important in the world, and an important collection of mid-20th century fashion dresses by the famous Horrockses Fashions label.
Highlights of the history collections include the Poulton Elk, part of the Cuerdale Hoard and the famous Yard Works model which shows the extent of Horrockses Cotton Manufacturers' operations in 1913. The Harris also holds an important photography collection featuring images of Preston from 1850 and a collection of prints of the Crimea by Roger Fenton. Many of the artefacts in the museum were donated by the people of Preston and relate to local life, events and businesses making us ideally placed to tell the story of Preston.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
Opening HoursMuseum and Art Gallery
Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm except Tuesday 11.00am – 5.00pm
Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays
Please note that Museum will be closed Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.
Admission Free
Museum Office
Monday – Friday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Museum Shop
Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm
Saturday 9.30am – 3.30pm
Rotunda Café
Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm
Gallery Closures
Every attempt is made to keep all of the galleries open, but some rooms may be closed from time to time for maintenance or exhibition changeovers. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Admission is free.
ACCESS
If you need to park close to us you’ll find Blue Badge parking available in Jacson Street. There is a ramp at the museum entrance and you can borrow a wheelchair from us if you need to – just ask a Museum Assistant for help.
A lift to all floors (except the Egyptian Balcony) is available. An audio visual guide to the Egyptian Balcony is accessible on the second floor. Audio guides are available upon request at the Shop or the museum office.
How to get Here by Car:
Follow M6 to Junction 31 (signposted Preston)
Follow signs for A59 Preston
Continue up a steep hill (Brockholes Brow)
At small roundabout carry straight on towards city centre (New Hall Lane)
Continue until you reach a T-junction at traffic lights (opposite Sainsbury's Homebase) and turn right.
Carry straight on through a Pelican crossing and another major set of traffic lights.
Get in the left hand lane and turn left for Bus Station car park down Percy Street. The entrance to the car park is up a ramp about 3/4 of the way down this road. You are close to the ramp entrance when you see the ramp going over the road in front you.
If you miss the left turn onto Percy Street there is another one for the same car park at the next set of traffic lights (by the Holiday Inn).
Turn left at the lights and second left up the ramp into car park.
Car park is pay and display.
From car park on foot:
Follow signs to Guild Hall/City Centre.
You will go down an escalator (or use lift)
At the bottom of the escalator turn 180 degrees and proceed through the Guild Hall shopping arcade (past a news kiosk under the escalator).
When you reach the Guild Hall exit, you will see the back of the Harris Museum directly in front of you. There are entrances on the right and left hand sides of the building on Harris Street and Jacson Street. When inside, you will find the Museum Office on the first floor. A lift is available.
How to Get here from the railway Station
There are regular trains to Preston from London, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, East Lancashire and Lancaster etc.
The Harris is a ten minute walk from the station.
Leave the station at the main exit (next to ticket office) and walk up the concourse.
Turn right onto Fishergate.
Carry on straight ahead, crossing Butler Street on your right at the traffic lights.
Continue straight along Fishergate past the shops (Woolworth’s, HMV, M&S etc.) until you reach Boots on the right hand side.
Turn left on to the Market Square and the Harris is straight opposite you.
Address :
Harris Museum and Art Gallery
Market Square
Preston
Lancashire
PR1 2PP