Wallace & Gromit mania leaves Preston, but the exhibition isn’t gone for good

Sunday, 4 January 2026 15:34

By Central News

If you missed the Wallace and Gromit exhibition in Preston, you can still catch it – but it now requires a fairly long journey south.

The exhibition proved one of the biggest draws to The Harris since the museum reopened following a £19 million refurbishment. During its run, queues regularly stretched around the block as hundreds of visitors waited to see the stop-motion characters that helped define British animation. Families, animation fans and lifelong admirers of the duo packed into Gallery One to view original models, sketches, behind-the-scenes material and interactive displays charting Wallace and Gromit’s journey from short films to international success.

The exhibition formed a centrepiece of The Harris’s reopening programme and was officially launched by creator Nick Park, who grew up in Preston. Park cut the ribbon at the museum’s reopening in September 2025, marking a homecoming moment for one of the city’s most famous cultural exports.

PHOTO: Local broadcaster John 'Gilly' Gillmore with creator Nick Park

Despite its popularity, museum officials made it clear early on that the exhibition could not be extended. Gallery One had already been scheduled for a new display, meaning the Wallace and Gromit show closed as planned on Sunday 4 January. The decision disappointed many visitors who had hoped the exhibition might continue longer due to demand.

However, fans who missed out in Preston are not entirely out of luck. The exhibition has now moved to a new home in London, where it will open at the Young V&A in Bethnal Green on Thursday 12 February 2026. The London version forms part of a wider celebration of Aardman Animations’ work and includes material from across the studio’s history, offering visitors a deeper look at the craft of stop-motion animation.

The exhibition will be hosted at the Young V&A on Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA. Tickets are priced at £11, with concessions available, and advance booking is recommended due to expected demand.

While the move means a round trip of over 400 miles for Preston fans, the exhibition’s continued life in London ensures that Wallace and Gromit’s clay-crafted world remains open to audiences eager to see how some of Britain’s most recognisable characters were brought to life.