Visit Stonyhurst's Historic Collections
Discover more than four centuries of history within Stonyhurst's Museum and Historic Libraries.
Home to remarkable objects, rare books and manuscripts collected over generations, the Stonyhurst Historic Collections offer a fascinating insight into literature, history, faith, science and the story of the College itself.
There are two ways for members of the public to explore the collections: Self-Guided Open Days and Guided Tours.
Self-Guided Open Days
Explore Stonyhurst's Museum and Historic Libraries at your own pace.
On selected dates throughout the summer, Stonyhurst opens the doors to its Museum and Historic Libraries for self-guided visits.
This summer, discover The Real Shire, exploring the story of J.R.R. Tolkien's connections with the Ribble Valley alongside treasures associated with Arthur Conan Doyle and William Shakespeare.
Visitors can explore independently, with members of the Museum team and volunteers available throughout the visit to provide information and answer questions.
Summer Open Days 2026
Selected dates from 31st July–30th August 2026
10.00am–3.30pm
Adults: £12
Under 16s: Free with a paying adult
Pre-booking is recommended. Select a date and book your tickets below.
Guided Tours
Go behind the collections and discover more of Stonyhurst with one of our expert guides.
On selected dates, we also offer guided tours providing an opportunity to explore Stonyhurst's remarkable heritage in greater depth.
Unlike our Summer Open Days, these visits are led by a guide and focus on particular aspects of Stonyhurst's historic buildings and collections. Tour themes include opportunities to discover the Museum and Historic Libraries and the history and architecture of the Stonyhurst buildings.
Places on guided tours are limited and advance booking is required.
View upcoming guided tours, times and availability below.
Proud to house a wide range of remarkable artefacts, objects and historical books
Set in the refurbished lower floor of a former College chapel, the Stonyhurst Museum is a modern display space with state-of-the-art facilities, showcasing changing exhibitions of the College’s remarkable and wide-ranging collections.
The College recorded its first acquisition in 1609 - a stunning 15th century cope and chasuble commissioned by Henry VII for royal occasions in Westminster Abbey. Since then, the museum collections have expanded significantly and cover a wide variety of periods and cultures.
You will find a permanent exhibition in the Do Room at the College that introduces the full breadth of the museum, archives and historic libraries, and also describes the College's history of acquisition over the centuries.
For visitors with limited mobility, please note that the main exhibition gallery and Historic Libraries are only accessible via flights of stairs. Please contact us before booking to discuss access.
Academic Research & School Visits
If you would like to visit Stonyhurst to carry out academic research in the museum, please contact the Curator. If you would like to visit the Archives, please contact the Archives Manager to make an appointment.
At the museum, we accommodate as many school visits as possible during the academic year and can offer sessions on a range of topics. Please get in touch with the Curator if you are interested in arranging a visit for your class to Stonyhurst.