Join us throughout April for Suffragettes at Bow Street – The Fight for Hope.
In the early 20th century, women fighting to get the vote were repeatedly ignored by the government of the day and increasingly treated with hostility and violence by law enforcement. The suffragists, who started out as peaceful protestors, slowly adopted a more forthright campaign of direct action to bring attention to their cause, leading to mass arrests and imprisonment.
The programme will explore the relationship between the suffragettes and Bow Street officers and magistrates through live performance, object-handling sessions, family-friendly workshops and a full-scale Lego model of an Edwardian suffragette.
Visit ‘Hope’ at the Bow Street Museum and join the conversation on social media from 4th April – 20th April, using the hashtag #StandwithHope.
‘Hope’s’ visit and Suffragettes at Bow Street – The Fight for Hope is programmed by Bow Street Museum, with support from St James’s Ward budget Programme. ‘Hope’ is on loan from the House of Commons.
Suffragette Rosette Family Workshops
Join us this April for our suffragette rosette-making workshop. Learn how they became an important symbol in the fight for the vote, and make your very own personalised rosette in our family-friendly workshop!
Suitable for all ages. Booking is essential as spaces are limited and likely to sell out.
Duration: approximately 30 minutes
Dates: Sat 5th, Sun 6th, Thu 10th, Fri 11th, Sat 12th, Sun 13th, Thu 17th, Fri 18th, Sat 19th, Sun 20th April
Times: 11:30 or 14.30 each day; please check when booking.
Conditions of entry: Museum admission prices apply (Children Under 12 go FREE). All children must be accompanied by an adult. Your workshop ticket includes entry to Bow Street Museum of Crime and Justice, please explore the cells before or after your workshop.
Suffragette Live!
Sunday 6th April @ 11:30 and Saturday 19th April @ 13:30
Who were the suffragettes? What did they do to get the right to vote and why? Hear all about the militant campaign and the sacrifices made from a real suffragette herself!
Maria will tell you all about her journey as a suffragette in person in this theatrical, interactive performance. You will even get a chance to learn and sing a real suffragette song!
Suitable for families. Join this drop in session with Museum admission for Sunday 6th April or Saturday 19th April.
Object Handling
10th – 20th April 2025, 14:00-16:00
Handles objects on loan from the Glasgow Women’s Library. Investigate objects from the propaganda battle against the women’s suffrage movement and how they fought back. See police and prison documents, suffrage publications, membership cards, and more.
Suitable for all ages. Join this drop-in session with Museum admission for 10th – 20th April (please note: there is no object handling on Friday 11th or Friday 18th April).
SUFFRAGETTES AFTER DARK: The Fight for Hope
Friday 11th April 2025, 18:00
Join us for this adults-only, late museum opening as part of our Suffragettes at Bow Street programme. We are delighted to be hosting a fun, informative, hands-on evening of events:
- Meet Kitty Marion, actress and suffragette, who sacrificed everything for the cause. Performed by Maria Beadell of Herstorical Tours.
- Author Jennifer Godfrey will be talking about her book Secret Missions of the Suffragettes: Glass Breakers and Safe Houses and revealing how the protests impacted Bow Street.
- Explore objects from the propaganda battles between the suffragettes and their detractors with a handling collection on loan from the Glasgow Women’s Library.
- Make your own suffragette rosette and discover how they became an important symbol in the fight for the vote.
- Meet ‘Hope’ the Lego Suffragette, a full-size model commissioned by the House of Commons to celebrate the centenary of votes for women.
Timings: doors open at 18:00
Conditions of entry: this event is recommended for anyone over the age of 16 years.
Tickets: this event is in person at Bow Street Museum
Prices to attend at the Museum: £15/ £12 Friends of the Museum.
VOTES FOR WOMEN: Suffragettes at Bow Street & Beyond
Saturday 19th April 2025, 10:30
In association with Bow Street Museum of Crime and Justice, allow Herstorical Tours to transport you back to Edwardian London, and retrace the footsteps (quite literally!) of these incredible women as they marched, preached, fought, smashed, burned, and bombed their way to getting women the vote.
From Westminster to Covent Garden, revisit the locations where the suffragettes held protests, rallies, and staged some more *ahem* ‘creative’ stunts. See also where they were arrested and tried.
On this tour, you will see theatrical re-tellings of the stories of…
- Human smuggling involving a Music Hall star…
- Vandalism in the National Gallery…
- A disabled, working-class suffragette of the East End…
- A refugee singer and actress who became an arsonist…
- An Indian Princess who joined the cause…
…and many more!
Herstorical tours are guided walking tours with a difference. Created and led by Maria, a performer, and storyteller, the tours focus on women’s stories in London’s history and bring those stories to life using acting, comedy, and fun! With a special focus on the dark and curious underbelly of London’s past along with the ‘forgotten’ women, exploring the hidden nooks and crannies of the city whilst introducing you to the characters that created ‘herstory’ there. Herstorical tours aim to educate on sensitive historical subjects with the right balance of respect and entertainment.
Duration: approximately 120 minutes.
Dates: Saturday 19th April 2025
Times: 10.30
Price: £20.00 / £16.00 Friends/ 2-4-1 Art Fund entry (includes entry to the Museum after the tour)