Watts Gallery
WHERE
Guildford
What it’s like
Gardens, art trails and a Victorian gallery to wander round, with under 16s getting in free.
This one's built around wandering rather than ticking things off a list. There are trails through the grounds to follow, gardens to potter about in, and the Watts Tots programme if you've got younger children who need something more structured than "look at the paintings nicely". It suits a slower pace of visit, the sort where you let a six-year-old lead the way for a bit rather than marching room to room.
Under 16s get in free, which takes the sting out of it if you're bringing more than one child, though adult entry isn't listed here so it is worth having that in mind before you commit to a full day. The gallery and Limnerslease house are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 5pm with last entry at 4.30pm, and the Visitor Centre and both cafés keep slightly longer hours from 10am. Watts Café and the Canvas Room Café both do hot and cold drinks, cakes and homemade food, so there's a proper stop built in if the trails have worn everyone out.
The Watts Cemetery Chapel is a five to ten minute walk from the main gallery and it is free to see as part of your visit. Unlike the gallery itself, the chapel is open every day of the week. Do bear in mind it can occasionally close for private services.
It is closed over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, so do not plan a festive visit around it. Beyond that it runs as a fairly steady Tuesday to Sunday operation, which makes it easy to slot into a weekend or a half term day without much forward planning.
Need to know
- Best for
- Good for younger children with the Watts Tots sessions and garden trails
- Last entry
- 4:30pm
- Food
- Two cafés (Watts Café and Canvas Room Café) serving hot and cold drinks, cakes, snacks and homemade food
- Worth knowing
- Under 16s can visit the whole site for free
- Under 16s visit free, which helps if you've got more than one child in tow
- The chapel is a five to ten minute walk from the gallery and opens daily, unlike the main site
- Chapel visits can occasionally be disrupted by private services
- Last entry to the gallery and Limnerslease is 4.30pm even though it closes at 5pm
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Under 16s go in free. Adult pricing is not covered here.
What are the opening hours?
The gallery and Limnerslease are open Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 5pm, with last entry at 4.30pm. The Visitor Centre and cafés open a bit earlier, from 10am.
Is the Watts Cemetery Chapel open on Mondays?
Yes, the chapel is open daily from 10am to 5pm, even when the main gallery is closed. It can occasionally close for private services though.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There are two cafés on site, Watts Café and the Canvas Room Café, both doing hot and cold drinks, cakes and homemade food.
Is it open over Christmas?
It closes for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
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