An iconic museum will throw its doors open to the public once more to mark the end of a lengthy £7.75million restoration.


St Albans Museum and Gallery will be open to visitors on June 8 following a two-year refurbishment of the historic Georgian town hall. 


The grade II listed building will showcase more than 2,000 years of heritage and art exhibitions as well as local and national treasures across three newly restored galleries. 


Visitors can expect a vibrant programme of events to mark the museum reopening, and an opportunity to revisit the history of the town hall, the assembly room, and its fully restored courtroom and cells.


Glass corridors have now been installed on the first floor allowing for various elevated views of St Albans. 


National touring exhibitions and contemporary art shows will be housed within the newly excavated temperature controlled basement gallery, and the ground floor now has a renovated learning studio, information point, gift shop and café.


The project was made possible with a £2.8 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, donations from Arts Council England, the Garfield Weston Foundation and a partnership with the University of Hertfordshire. 


A community fundraising campaign raised nearly £400,000 for the project, and work of the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust played a major part. 


Deputy chief executive (commercial and development) at St Albans City and District Council, Richard Shwe, said: “This project to create a wonderful new museum and gallery for St Albans is finally coming to fruition. 


“It has taken years of planning and hard work to transform the beautiful old town hall right in the heart of the city into an amazing museum and gallery.


“Be sure to make a date to come and explore this fabulous new museum and gallery when it opens its doors to the public in June.”


The museum’s opening flagship exhibition will be First Impressions, exploring printing techniques over the centuries.


Further exhibition announcements will be made ahead of the museum’s opening.


For more information www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk or call 01727 751810.