About The Harris
Welcome to The Harris, Preston's cultural hub, located at Preston's Flag Market. The Harris is the cultural heartbeat of Preston, a hub of creativity and community that showcases the best of art, literature, history, and fashion. The Harris serves as a cultural hub, bringing together communities and promoting creativity and learning. Through exhibitions, events, resources, and spaces The Harris celebrates the diversity of Preston and beyond, and make culture accessible to all, free of charge. It's an inclusive and welcoming environment where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, experience the richness of art, culture, and knowledge, explore new ideas, and connect with their community.
The Harris has undergone the ambitious reimagining journey of The Harris Your Place Project. Thanks to invaluable support, this £19 million endeavour has allowed us to restore and reimagine The Harris for the 21st Century audience, transforming it into a dynamic community, cultural, and learning space.
Accessibility: The Harris welcomes guide and assistance dogs, and an induction loop is fitted throughout the building. In the annex on the ground floor, there is a Changing Places toilet, an ambulant toilet, gender-neutral toilets, and baby changing facilities. There are also male and female toilets within the main building. A set of lockers are available for public use. If you need to park close by, you'll find Blue Badge parking available in Jacson Street. Sat Nav: PR1 2PP. There are ramps at The Harris entrance on Market Square. There is also level access from Lancaster Road at the rear of the building. There is lift access to the main floors, and all the gallery spaces have level access. Due to the architecture of the building, The Egyptian Balcony is not accessible. There is an audiovisual guide to The Egyptian Balcony, available on the second floor for visitors who are unable to access the balcony.
Collections: Explore ceramics, history, fashion, glass, art and even a 13,000-year-old elk. The Harris believes in transforming lives through art and culture. The collections are at the heart of the cultural hub, beautiful, surprising, challenging, and inspiring. Whether it's a centuries-old painting or a delicate piece of local lace, every object helps tell the story of Preston and the world beyond.
Library: The Harris has dedicated library and reading spaces, but you'll find books woven throughout the museum and galleries. As you wander around the exhibitions, you'll notice carefully chosen books connected to the objects and artworks on display. Step into a world of stories, knowledge, and discovery. Whether you're looking for your next great read, a quiet corner to relax, or a place to explore rare texts, The Harris' library spaces are perfect for you. There is a massive selection of books for everyone, from the latest novels to loved classics, useful non-fiction, and even historical, specialist works. The family section is a magical space full of colourful picture books, entertaining stories, and fun activities to spark imaginations. If you're a heritage fan then you'll love the rare and historic books collection, a very special glimpse into the past.
The Harris shop: Discover beautiful gifts, including Harris and Preston merchandise and unique gifts from local artists. Pop into The Harris Shop or buy online. By supporting The Harris Shop, you are contributing to The Harris' work and helping to ensure the continued operation of the building and care for collections.
Harris cafe: The brand-new Harris Café, a relaxed, stylish space to take a break, meet friends, and enjoy delicious food and drink in the heart of Preston's most iconic building. Whether you're grabbing a quick coffee, catching up over lunch, or soaking in the atmosphere after a gallery visit, the Harris Café is where you can refuel and refresh. Wherever possible, The Harris Cafe use locally sourced ingredients to support producers across Lancashire.
Opening hours
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Today
9:00am - 5:00pm
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Thursday
9:00am - 9:00pm
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Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm
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Saturday
9:00am - 5:00pm
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Sunday
11:00am - 4:00pm
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Monday
9:00am - 5:00pm
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Tuesday
9:00am - 5:00pm
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Lunchtime Lecture: the Battle of the Somme - The Harris
Date: 18th Nov 2026
Go beyond the dates and tactics and uncover stories from the battlefield and pivotal moments of the…
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Textile Patch Workshop - The Harris
Date: 26th Nov 2026
You’ll learn simple hand-sewing techniques, including appliqué and embroidery, with guidance and…
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Paper Dress Making Workshop (Adults) - The Harris
Date: 14th Nov 2026
Sold outPaper art workshop with artist Sian PetersCome and be inspired by the exhibition Horrockses…
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Junior Craft Club - The Harris
Dates: 22nd Oct 2026 - 21st Jan 2027
Drop-in to our Discover Preston Gallery and have a go at one of our craft activities. Take…
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The Anatomy of a Robot - Interactive Show - The Harris
Date: 30th Oct 2026
Meet different types of robots and find out how biomimicry and AI helps them to do some very clever…
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Coding My First Robot - The Harris
Date: 30th Oct 2026
A fast paced, hands-on coding lab activity – can your team programme your robot to complete the…
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Foucault Pendulum Talks - The Harris
Date: 28th Oct 2026
Students from the University of Lancashire will be holding short talks about the pendulum and will…
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Grow Your Potential - Get Ready for Work - The Harris
Date: 18th Dec 2026
Need a hand getting into work or training?Drop in and have a chat with Harriet. She’s here to…
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Harris Youth Panel Monthly Meeting - The Harris
Date: 3rd Dec 2026
The Harris Youth Panel is made up of 14-19 year olds. We meet on the first Thursday of every month…
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Horrocks - the Greatest Name in Cotton - The Harris
Date: 10th Dec 2026
Coinciding with The Harris’ new exhibition: Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of…
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Protest: the Preston Wspu and the Fight for the Vote - The Harris
Date: 23rd Jan 2027
PROTEST: The Preston WSPU and the Fight for the Vote brings these forgotten stories out of the…
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Autism Connects Group - The Harris
Date: 14th Dec 2026
This is a social group that is dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming space for adults with…
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Lego Club - The Harris
Dates: 24th Oct 2026 - 23rd Jan 2027
Calling all master builders! Bring the world of Horrible Histories to life this summer. Create your…
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Conversational Workshop - The Harris
Date: 13th Jan 2027
Drop by the Special Collections Gallery on the second floor and be inspired by objects not often…
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Fascinator and Hat Workshop - The Harris
Date: 16th Jan 2027
Sold outPerfect if you’ve got a special event coming up, or make a day of it and wear your new…
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Storytime Sessions - The Harris
Dates: 25th Oct 2026 - 24th Jan 2027
With a world of stories at our fingertips, each week brings an exciting new tale for young…
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1950s Hair & Makeup Drop in Sessions - The Harris
Date: 15th Dec 2026
Join professional make-up artist Samira Rankin for a fun, informal drop-in session exploring the…
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Frieze Making Station - The Harris
Date: 29th Oct 2026
Join the University of Lancashire’s Maths Team find out about the beautiful repeating patterns and…
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Fashion in Motion: 1950s Style - The Harris
Date: 12th Nov 2026
Sold outSee the decade’s iconic silhouettes brought to life, from cinched waists and full skirts to…
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Feed at the Harris - The Harris
Date: 22nd Nov 2026
This informal drop-in event will include creative activities, alongside artworks and performances…
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Fibre Discovery Studio - The Harris
Date: 27th Oct 2026
Visitors can handle raw fleece, wool and cotton, watch spinning demonstrations using a drop spindle…
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Ink, Print, Repeat - The Harris
Date: 29th Oct 2026
This is a drop in activity and you can join any time during the session.
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Horrockses Fashions: a Celebration of Pattern, Style and Colour With Dr Christine Boydell - The Harris
Date: 17th Jan 2027
Horrockses Fashions was one of the most well-respected ready-to-wear labels of the late 1940 and…
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Black History Month: Celebrating Its Centenary Year - The Harris
Date: 1st Nov 2026
In 1926 Carter G Woodson launched the first annual event that evolved into Black History Month (his…
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Artist Networking Event - Hosted by the Birley Artist Studios - The Harris
Date: 22nd Oct 2026
Free, drop-in event with a pop-up bar.
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Feeding Chair - The Harris
Dates: 20th Oct 2026 - 4th Apr 2027
Located on the first floor balcony of The Harris, the chair features artwork by Jade de Montserrat…
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The Harris Open 2027 - The Harris
Dates: 27th Feb 2027 - 2nd May 2027
Celebrating creativity, community, and local talent, this beloved showcase is open to artists of…
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Let’s Get Printing with Phoebe Foxtrot - The Harris
Date: 28th Oct 2026
Inspired by the patterns of Horrockses dresses, in this immersive, hands-on workshop, Phoebe will…
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Behind the Scenes: Collection Store Tours - The Harris
Date: 3rd Dec 2026
Our new behind-the-scenes tours offer a unique opportunity to explore the museum’s collections…
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Horrockses Fashions: Everyday Glamour & the Art of British Ready-to-Wear
Dates: 19th Sept 2026 - 31st Jan 2027
This exhibition explores how the Lancashire-based company fused couture sensibilities with…
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The Cuerdale Hoard with Harris Volunteer Roisin - The Harris
Date: 12th Nov 2026
The Cuerdale Hoard is one of the largest Viking silver hoards ever found, reported to be much…
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Horace's Merry Chris-Moose! - The Harris
Date: 19th Dec 2026
Come along an make a Chris-Moose decoration inspired by Horace, the Poulton Elk.
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Roll of Honour Talk With John Garlington - The Harris
Date: 7th Nov 2026
In commemoration of Remembrance Day, discover the poignant history behind Preston’s Roll of Honour…
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Drop-in Community Art Group - The Harris
Date: 14th Dec 2026
Join artists Kyra and Amelia, along with other staff and volunteers, for monthly creative sessions…
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Baby Bounce & Rhyme - The Harris
Dates: 21st Oct 2026 - 20th Jan 2027
Sharing songs and rhymes is a fun way for babies and toddlers to develop their language skills.
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Corking Christmas Craft! - The Harris
Date: 12th Dec 2026
Local artist Sarah Hicks will guide you through the process and send you home with some decorations…
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Show Choir North West - The Harris
Date: 21st Nov 2026
Listen to the beautiful sounds of the choir as they present a short programme of songs in the…
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Vinyl Revival - The Harris
Date: 10th Dec 2026
Every fortnight we will reflect on a title of your choice.Come along and chat about your favourite…
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Animals! (A Family Friendly Performance) - The Harris
Date: 26th Oct 2026
Something’s got to happen, and whatever it is, it’s going to be wild!Fun, interactive and featuring…
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