Marlow Museum is Popping Up on the High Street this Summer

2026-08-12T19:05:39Z

If you’re looking for a lovely excuse to spend a few hours in Marlow this summer, we’ve got one for you: Marlow Museum’s summer pop-up at All Saints Church Hall.

Since July, the museum has taken over this central spot on The Causeway, bringing together local stories, fascinating characters, family activities and a packed programme of events. And with the pop-up running until 4th September, there’s still plenty of time to pop in and have a look.

It’s exactly the sort of place you can build a relaxed summer outing around. Have a wander through the museum, try one of the activities, explore a little more of Marlow afterwards and then reward yourself with coffee and cake. Sounds like a pretty good day to us.

Get Your Treasure-Hunting Shoes On

One of the most fun things to do is the Marlow treasure hunt, created with local business Ace Places, the team behind the Marlow Playing Cards.

Rather than keeping you inside the museum, this one sends you out into the town, with 11 locations to discover and clues to find along the way. You’ll uncover local stories, visit some of Marlow’s independent businesses and collect hidden letters before unscrambling them to reveal a secret two-word phrase.

Maps cost just £3.50 and are available from Marlow Museum, with 50p from every sale going back to support the museum’s work. There are also exclusive offers from participating businesses and a prize draw featuring goodies donated by local businesses including Sorbon Estates, Flow Yoga, Creative Collective and Jane Douglass Fitness & Dance.

And, because no treasure hunt should end without a little something to show for it, everyone who completes the trail gets a limited-edition Marlow fridge magnet.

A Museum Trip The Kids Will Love

If you’re visiting with children, there’s plenty here to keep them entertained, and it’s refreshingly hands-on rather than being a case of wandering around while everyone politely tries not to touch anything.

Legends of Marlow Bingo invites children to hunt for remarkable people from the town’s past, while budding storytellers can create their own Marlow character or nominate someone they think deserves to be recognised as a ⁠Legend of Marlow.

There are also trails that take you beyond the museum itself. The ⁠Higginson Park Centenary Trail celebrates 100 years since the park was bought for the people of Marlow, and the Magic Faraway Tree trail gives families the opportunity to explore some of the different worlds in the story.

So, if you’re trying to persuade the kids that a trip into town is going to be fun, this gives you a great head start.

Get Creative

There’s also an excellent programme of creative activities coming up, with Family Fridays giving you the chance to take part in themed arts and crafts activities on 14th, 21st and 28th August.

On 21st August, there’s a particularly fun session called High Street Dioramas, where families can create their own miniature version of Marlow – whether that means recreating the town as it is today, imagining it in the past or dreaming up what it might look like in the future.

If lace is more your thing, visiting lacemakers from Bourne End will be at the museum on 14th, 15th and 22nd August. Visitors can create artwork inspired by the museum’s Lace exhibition and have a go at lacemaking themselves.

It’s a nice reminder that local history doesn’t have to mean standing quietly in front of a display case. Sometimes it’s much more fun when you get to have a go yourself.

Jazz Hands at the Ready

Marlow Museum’s summer programme has a distinctly jazzy streak.

On 20th August, the museum will host a Jazz Talk exploring the life and influence of Marlow’s own Mr Jazz, Michael Eagleton. A founding member of Marlow Jazz Club and Marlow FM, as well as a former chairman of Marlow Football Club, Michael was clearly one of those people who seemed to pop up everywhere in local life.

Then, on 29th August, you can hear the museum’s resident jazz band performing live from 1–4pm.

There’s something for younger musicians that day too, with a Children’s Jazz Workshop for 7–11 year-olds. Musicians Stuart and Lucy will introduce children to the sounds and rhythms of jazz, and they’re welcome to bring along an instrument if they have one. Tickets for the workshop are £5, with advance booking required.

Meet Marlow’s Legends

One of our favourite ideas at the pop-up is the Legends of Marlow project, which gives local people the chance to nominate someone who they think has made a difference to the town.

And they don’t have to be famous.

Perhaps it’s a community champion, a much-loved local character or someone who has spent years volunteering behind the scenes. Yes, you can even nominate your postie.

The nominations will form part of a community display at the pop-up, celebrating the people who have helped shape Marlow and reminding us that local history is about much more than dates and old buildings.

What’s on at Marlow Museum?

There’s a full programme of events and activities happening throughout the rest of the summer, from free family sessions to jazz, lacemaking and creative workshops.