Tucked away in Rudolph Road, it opened in 1993 and is volunteer-run, earning acclaim in November last year when Visit England Attraction Accolades awarded it the “hidden gem” title.

Bushey Museum and Art Gallery (Image: Newsquest)

I visited on a warm Friday afternoon to see what it had to offer and came to the conclusion that its well worth a visit for anyone wanting to learn about local history.

Currently the museum is running an exhibition on renowned artist Sir Hubert von Herkomer, who was born in Germany but set up the Herkomer Art School in Bushey in 1883, having moved to the town nine years earlier.

Until July, an exhibit of his paintings can be seen upstairs at the museum and is certainly something I would recommend visiting before its too late!

Inside the museum (Image: Newsquest)

There are historical items aplenty, with each room packed with nods to the area’s rich past, stretching back as far as the town’s earliest days.

There is also a section dedicated to more modern history, with arguably Bushey’s most famous face George Michael commemorated with an impressive collection of Wham! memorabilia.

The museum’s George Michael exhibition (Image: Newsquest)

Even if you have visited before, the ever-changing range of exhibitions makes a repeat visit worth it.

Previous exhibitions have focussed on Bushey in wartime, the art and legacy of Lucy Marguerite Frobisher and the history of embroidery in the town.

George Michael attended school in Bushey (Image: Newsquest)

Future exhibitions beyond July are yet to be announced but information will be shared via the museum’s website.

The art gallery boasts the largest collection of art in Hertfordshire, most of it from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The Herkomer exhibit is running until July (Image: Newsquest)

Personally, it is easy to see why VisitEngland included this museum on its dazzling dozen of hidden gems.

With entry free, it is well worth your time to explore the history of the area and learn a thing or two.

The museum is open between Wednesday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

Inside the museum (Image: Newsquest)