Walsall Leather Museum
Walsall Leather Museum
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Walsall Leather Museum is a welcoming and friendly attraction housed in a restored Victorian factory building. We offer a fascinating insight into the story of Walsall's famous leatherworking trade. There are regular guided ours and demonstrations of leather crafts, and lively programme of events and activities throughout the year, including changing exhibitions. Beautiful gardens planted with traditional tanning trees and shrubs. The museum has an excellent shop specialising in Walsall-made leathergoods.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- Amanda SimonsWest Bridgford, United Kingdom26 contributionsA hidden gemThis museum is a hidden gem. Situated on the outskirts of Walsall it was a delight from the minute we arrived, the staff were lovely (forgot to ask their names but they all informative and welcoming), the exhibitions are fascinating, there is an opportunity to make a leather key ring (60p! An absolute bargain), the shop sells beautiful leather goods, and the smell of leather permeates throughout the whole museum. I’ve now realised we missed the garden so we’ll have to go again - which makes me very happyVisited July 2023Travelled with friendsWritten 29 July 2023
- Patricia BBorough of Brentwood, United Kingdom33 contributionsHistorical gemA very interesting and compact museum which details the history of an important West Midlands industry. An array of leather samples and a talk from from the team there with workshops to explore. We made key rings for family members. On the ground floor there is a small cafe and leather items for sale.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 11 October 2023
- Brian S9 contributionsVery informative Walsall Leather MuseumPaid a visit here today, I have been trying for many years. Wow it was definitely worth it. I assume it is run by volunteers the guy that showed us around today Ralph was very informative he explained all processes in detail. We were surprised how many quality products were and are still made in the area. All of the staff were very helpfull and we can recommend if you are close by to pay a visit. Another volunteer Awais spent a long time explaining how he got involved with the museum and he has now persevered and had been taught the trade producing some very impressive items.We look forward to another visit in the near future. BrianVisited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 22 November 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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4.5
622 reviews
Excellent
491
Very good
107
Average
18
Poor
3
Terrible
3
Amanda & Mark
Birmingham, UK9 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
Fantastic! I’ve been thinking about visiting this museum for a long time and wish I’d done so sooner.
It was fascinating to learn about the history of leather making and even better to be able to touch the different grades of leather , saddles and make key rings.
The staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable.
It’s an absolute gem and definitely too good to miss !
It was fascinating to learn about the history of leather making and even better to be able to touch the different grades of leather , saddles and make key rings.
The staff were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable.
It’s an absolute gem and definitely too good to miss !
Written 17 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FootienBeer
Shrewsbury, UK223 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
A small free museum that is handy to kill time or shelter from rain, it's a short history of the industry that built Walsall primarily the horse saddler trade.
Written 14 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
neil k
Bognor Regis, UK15 contributions
Feb 2024 • Solo
A briilant museum. Great staff. Very helpful.
I enjoyed looking at the exhibits and understanding what was Happiness in Walsall in the 1800s.
Will definitely go again
I enjoyed looking at the exhibits and understanding what was Happiness in Walsall in the 1800s.
Will definitely go again
Written 13 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cosmo39
Sandbach, UK6 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
A wonderful free museum, tell the story of leather making in the local area. Staff were super friendly and knowledgeable and were happy to chat about the museum and it's contents. We got to make our keyrings, for the crazy price of just 60P!!!
Well worth a visit, would highly recommend, please don't let this little gem close.
Well worth a visit, would highly recommend, please don't let this little gem close.
Written 3 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sue
Staffordshire, UK3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Business
I manage a service for vulnerable adults, we have taken a few small groups to the leather museum over the year and they have absolutely loved it. The staff cannot do enough for our guys. Thank you
Written 22 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brian S
9 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Paid a visit here today, I have been trying for many years. Wow it was definitely worth it. I assume it is run by volunteers the guy that showed us around today Ralph was very informative he explained all processes in detail. We were surprised how many quality products were and are still made in the area. All of the staff were very helpfull and we can recommend if you are close by to pay a visit. Another volunteer Awais spent a long time explaining how he got involved with the museum and he has now persevered and had been taught the trade producing some very impressive items.We look forward to another visit in the near future.
Brian
Brian
Written 22 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Patricia B
Borough of Brentwood, UK33 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
A very interesting and compact museum which details the history of an important West Midlands industry. An array of leather samples and a talk from from the team there with workshops to explore. We made key rings for family members. On the ground floor there is a small cafe and leather items for sale.
Written 11 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe R
Lichfield, UK3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Was very interesting, kept the kids occupied while still being educational and informative with lovely staff!
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda Simons
West Bridgford, UK26 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
This museum is a hidden gem. Situated on the outskirts of Walsall it was a delight from the minute we arrived, the staff were lovely (forgot to ask their names but they all informative and welcoming), the exhibitions are fascinating, there is an opportunity to make a leather key ring (60p! An absolute bargain), the shop sells beautiful leather goods, and the smell of leather permeates throughout the whole museum.
I’ve now realised we missed the garden so we’ll have to go again - which makes me very happy
I’ve now realised we missed the garden so we’ll have to go again - which makes me very happy
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth H
1 contribution
Jan 2023
the leather and the explanation were very well displayed the guide was excellent and very generous with her time experience and attention, honest about her knowledge very patient with our questions and observations ,fun and very pleasant .
i visited with my 4 adult children all of whom were interested to know about our family's involvement in the walsall leather industry and were not disappointed far from it
my son suggested that you bottle and diffuse the smell of tanning pits in use to waft (on demand) over one of the appropriate rooms .(the dorchester museum of archeology does this to great effect with the simulated smell of flowers which is said to have escaped from the pyramid tomb opened on caernarvon's behalf.
perhaps your archivist could find and add a photo of a shaving machine (unless i missed it ) to that of the splitting machine .these machines were operated in my childhood at E T Holden &son ltd at park street leather works by the (?) hollogood brothers - twins i think
the museum is a fitting tribute to the skills and work of walsall people (and to ronnie hawkins ).
thank you
david holden-white
i visited with my 4 adult children all of whom were interested to know about our family's involvement in the walsall leather industry and were not disappointed far from it
my son suggested that you bottle and diffuse the smell of tanning pits in use to waft (on demand) over one of the appropriate rooms .(the dorchester museum of archeology does this to great effect with the simulated smell of flowers which is said to have escaped from the pyramid tomb opened on caernarvon's behalf.
perhaps your archivist could find and add a photo of a shaving machine (unless i missed it ) to that of the splitting machine .these machines were operated in my childhood at E T Holden &son ltd at park street leather works by the (?) hollogood brothers - twins i think
the museum is a fitting tribute to the skills and work of walsall people (and to ronnie hawkins ).
thank you
david holden-white
Written 10 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheryl D
Walsall, UK6 contributions
Do they have a sales area for leather products ie: wallets and or checkbooks?
naturelover561
Birmingham, UK39 contributions
Yes, there is a large shop with a good selection of locally made leather goods such as wallets, purses, belts, bags etc. The prices are very reasonable.
Elisabeth H
Helmsley, UK78 contributions
Is it a good place for disabled people to visit.
Leanne O
Birmingham, UK211 contributions
From what we saw it was ground floor with slopes
William A
Staffordshire888 contributions
Simply do not understand the comment about the toilets, we used both sets of toilets in the museum, easy to find and absolutely spotless. We commented at the time that they were some of the cleanest 'public' toilets we had ever been in.
Are you sure you were in the Leather Museum!
Walsallmike
Walsall, UK
We are very proud of the toilets here and our cleaners work very hard to keep them spotless at all times so like you I was surprised when I read this review. On looking into it I found out that we did have a large school group in the museum making clay sculptures that morning and a few sticky hand prints ended up briefly on the walls in the entrance toilets. Just goes to show, you have to be on top form all the time! But many thanks for your very kind comments, I`ve shared them with our cleaners who were delighted.
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Claim your listingWALSALL LEATHER MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Walsall Leather Museum
- Walsall Leather Museum is open:
- Tue - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
- Hotels near Walsall Leather Museum:
- (0.09 mi) Travelodge Walsall
- (0.26 mi) Premier Inn Walsall Town Centre hotel
- (0.45 mi) Lyndon House Hotel
- (3.72 mi) Fairlawns Hotel and Spa
- (1.22 mi) Village Hotel Birmingham Walsall
- Restaurants near Walsall Leather Museum:
- (0.06 mi) The Littleton
- (0.09 mi) German Doner Kebab
- (0.08 mi) Royal Punjab Restaurant
- (0.07 mi) Mega Munch
- (0.09 mi) Greggs