Summer has arrived at Watts Gallery, and there has never been a better time to visit. From a major new exhibition celebrating the iconic patterns of William Morris to sunflower trails, pottery for all ages and a brand new children's book festival, our 18 acres in Compton, Surrey are bursting with things to see and do.
Whether you are planning a family day out, a quiet wander through the galleries or a creative afternoon in a workshop, here is everything you need to know about Summer at Watts 2026.
Our headline summer exhibition brings together more than 30 original wallpapers from the Morris & Co. archive, offering visitors a rare, up-close look at some of Britain's most loved and instantly recognisable designs.
Curated by wallpaper and textile historian Mary Schoeser, the exhibition reveals the stories behind the patterns, from William Morris's detailed studies of flora and fauna to the meticulous hand-printing techniques that defined the Arts and Crafts movement. You will also discover the connections between Morris and the artists linked to Watts Gallery, including George Frederic Watts, Mary Watts, May Morris and the De Morgans, with highlights including a rarely loaned 1870 portrait of Morris by G F Watts.
Plan your visit to The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co.
Running alongside The Art of Wallpaper, Beyond Strawberry Thief brings a fresh, contemporary voice to Morris's world. The exhibition unites two strands of practice, painting and stained glass, both rooted in the same reverence for nature and craftsmanship that Morris championed.
Guildford-based artist Rosalinda Kightley presents around 35 vibrant paintings and prints of flowers, still life and the occasional bird in flight, capturing the same abundance of nature that inspired Morris himself. Alongside her work, members of the British Society of Master Glass Painters showcase glowing stained glass panels exploring Morris's ideas on craft, nature and social change, displayed in a specially lit unit at the heart of the gallery.
Both are only here until 23 August, so do not miss your chance to see them together.
Over at Limnerslease, do take time to see the Women of 'Our Time' Dinner Service, a moving and beautifully made collection of decorated plates created by nine artists at HMP Send. Inspired by the 1930s Famous Women Dinner Service, the collection imagines a dinner party guest list chosen by Mary Watts herself.
Created through the Our Time initiative, a partnership between HMP Send, the Michael Varah Memorial Fund and Watts Gallery Trust, this exhibition shows the real and lasting impact art can have on confidence, wellbeing and rehabilitation. It runs until 31 August.
This summer's family programme takes its cue from Watts's painting Clytie and the gallery's wider collection of artworks celebrating light and nature, with a season of sunshine, colour and creativity for all ages.
Families are invited to help grow a collaborative sunflower installation in the grounds. Every visit is a chance to make and add your own sunflower to the display and watch the whole thing bloom across the holidays.
Alongside the sunflower trail, look out for these free, drop-in activities on every visit:
And of course, our galleries and current exhibitions are open throughout, so there is always something new to discover between activities.
Find out more about summer holidays at Watts Gallery
Fancy getting your hands dirty? Clay Club returns every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 30 July to 28 August, giving families the chance to wedge, roll, carve and sculpt with terracotta, guided by our Watts Gallery potter. Come along for a one-off session or make it a regular part of your summer.
If you are visiting on a Wednesday, pop into The Make Space for a new hands-on creative activity each week.
New for 2026, we are thrilled to be partnering with Guildford Book Festival to bring a full week of storytelling magic to Watts Gallery. From Sunday 23 to Saturday 29 August, a pop-up bell tent on our gallery lawn will play host to author and illustrator events, interactive storytelling, hands-on experiments, lively performances and creative workshops.
If The Art of Wallpaper has sparked your creativity, why not take a Morris-inspired design home with you? This summer we are running a series of adult workshops led by professional artists, all inspired by the exhibition:
Each session is suitable for beginners and includes all materials, so all you need to bring is your enthusiasm.
Browse our full workshop programme
For a deeper dive into our collection, join Collections Curator Penelope Hines for one of two free curator's tours this summer. On 16 July, explore the newly re-displayed portraiture in the historic galleries, and on 24 September, discover the Arts and Crafts textiles and ceramics on show at Limnerslease, including original pieces by Morris & Co.
A great day out needs a great cup of tea, and both Watts Café and the Canvas Room Café at Limnerslease are open Wednesday to Sunday, serving hot and cold drinks, cakes, snacks and a seasonal homemade menu.
Once you are refuelled, browse the Watts Shop for gifts, homewares, jewellery and ceramics inspired by George and Mary Watts, or head upstairs to Watts Contemporary Gallery for a changing programme of artwork for sale. Can't make it in person? You can shop the collection online too, with free UK delivery on orders over £100.
Beyond the exhibitions, take time to explore everything the site has to offer:
There is a new addition to discover in the gardens this summer. A bronze cast of George Frederic Watts's monumental sculpture Physical Energy has now been installed in the grounds of Limnerslease, right beside the home and studios where Watts himself once worked.
Watts began developing this powerful equestrian figure in the early 1880s and continued refining it right up until his death on 1 July 1904. The bold plaster model, made from a type of plaster called gesso grosso that can be modelled when wet and carved when dry, remains on display in the Sculpture Gallery, so you can now see both the original studio version and the bronze cast in the grounds during the same visit.
With something new around every corner, from world-class design history to sunflower trails and storytelling tents, Summer at Watts is shaping up to be one of our best yet. We are open Wednesday to Sunday, plus Bank Holiday Monday 31 August, so there is plenty of time to fit in a visit.
Book your tickets to Watts Gallery