Worthing Museum and Art Gallery

A great place to learn about the history and culture of Worthing, the museum is home to a wide variety of exhibits, including archaeology, costume, fine art, and social history.

Explore the art galleries

The galleries feature a diverse array of works, from expressionist art to photography, illustrations and sculpture. The fine art collection focuses on British art movements since 1800 and includes works by a number of famous artists, such as Stanhope Forbes and Walter Sickert. A particular highlight of the collection is Bianca by William Holman Hunt, one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Follow the fashion

The costume collection at Worthing includes a wide variety of clothing from the 17th century to the present day. From 18th century court dresses to home made and shop bought items from the 20th century, a Chanel dress to Queen Victoria’s underwear, the museum showcases fashions through the ages.

Local history

Explore the archaeology, geology and social history of Worthing. See artefacts from the Bronze Age, Roman, and Saxon periods as well as more modern items such as toys, tools, and photographs that shine a light on the social history of the seaside town.

Family fun

The museum offers a variety of family-friendly activities, including interactive exhibits, hands-on workshops, and children's trails, plus special events and activities during school holidays.

Did you know?…

Worthing has a literary connection, it is where Oscar Wilde wrote The Importance of Being Earnest, and was also the model for Jane Austen’s last work, Sanditon.