Northampton Museum & Art Gallery cares for the largest collection of objects charting the history of shoes in the world. The collection is designated as being of national and international significance and consists of more than 15,000 shoes and 50,000 archival records including documentary footage and fine art.

The museum closed on 19 February 2017 to allow work to start on a major new expansion project. The first phase of the development will see the creation of new shoe displays and temporary exhibition space, teaching facilities, ...a café, shop and a selling gallery. The new museum is expected to re-open in late 2018.