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The Clockmaker’s Museum is well-signposted in the Guildhall – by following the signs past a couple of security checks I managed to avoid gate-crashing a traffic-planning meeting and a farewell lunch in the rooms between the main entrance and the museum. The museum itself is small and full of interesting clocks – lots of ticking and tocking and, shortly after my ten-to-twelve arrival, plenty of chiming and cogs whirring. Noon is definitely the time to be there.

The museum’s exhibits are beautifully-presented and clearly-annotated. There is plenty of intricate craftsmanship to be seen, and the skill on display is quite impressive. I am not a clock expert, but I did enjoy some of the annotations (clearly aimed at more-knowledgeable people than me). There is the nautical deck-watch with its silver case. Flat spiral balance spring with stud on a flexible arm an interesting feature. I also appreciated the “Verge escapement worm and wheel regulator” of a smaller clock.

The historical context of London clockmaking is also interesting. My favourite exhibit is of the clock taken by William Parry on the ship “Hecla” during his failed attempt to reach the North Pole in 1827. I also liked a small presentation of watch keys – in the shape of “two pistols, a skull, a horse’s hoof, a fox mask, a pomegranate, a hand, and an eagle”.

The museum is open from 9:30am to 4:45pm, Monday to Saturday. Impressively, it is also closed “briefly from time to time for re-winding”. I enjoyed my short visit, and would recommend the museum to passers-by, or to anyone with some interest in clocks and clockmaking.