Clockmakers Museum
The Clockmakers Museum houses a priceless collection of clocks, watches, portraits and tools which trace the history of watchmaking and clockmaking in the City of London from the reign of Henry VIII to the present day. The collection is the property of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers and is run by its educational charity.
The collection was founded in 1813 and is the oldest collection specifically of watches and clocks in the world. It has been open to the public since 1873 and at any one time includes some 600 English and European watches, 30 clocks and 15 marine time keepers, together with a number of rare horological portraits.
Among the museum's greatest treasures are the space travellers' watch by Dr George Daniels and the 5th marine timekeeper invented by John Harrison, a carpenter from Lincolnshire, who won the £20,000 prize offered by Queen Anne for an instrument which could accurately find longitude.
The Clockmakers' Company library, a collection of ancient manuscripts and printed books dating back to 1813, is also housed nearby in the Guildhall Library.
The museum is generally open Monday to Friday (except public holidays) from 9.30am until 4.30pm although it may be closed from time to time for re-winding and adjusting the clocks. Visitors are advised to telephone and check opening times before setting off on their journey.
Location
Clockmakers Museum
Guildhall Library
Aldermanbury
EC2
Telephone
+44 (0)20 7332 1868
Getting There
The Clockmakers Museum is situated within the Guildhall Library building and can be accessed via the historic Guildhall Yard.
Nearest Tube / Rail Station
Bank
Bus Routes
8, 9, 11, 21, 22, 22B, 25, 43, 76, 133, 141, 501, 502
Access
The Guildhall Library is fully accessible to wheelchair users.