Name: The Museum of Brands
Rating: 5.0

The Museum of Brands

111-117 Lancaster Road, London W11 1QT, United Kingdom

1-99 Years

Paid

Description

Looking for the best things to do with kids in Notting Hill? The Museum of Brands offers an exciting journey through 200 years of packaging, advertising, and pop culture. Families and children explore a massive collection of everyday items that show how lifestyles have changed over the decades.

Prices start from £8.00 for children, with adult tickets priced at £14.00. Family bundle tickets are also available to help save on group visits.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids to explore history, toys, and design, this museum delivers. It provides an engaging, educational experience that appeals to all generations.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

What makes The Museum of Brands unique?

Interactive exhibits featuring trails and activity bags designed for younger learners.
A chronological Time Tunnel that guides visitors through the evolution of toys, sweets, and household goods.
An extensive educational day out showcasing over 12,000 original items of consumer heritage.
A peaceful courtyard garden and café providing a family-friendly space to relax after exploring.

Top 5 Highlights

What can families experience in the Time Tunnel? The Time Tunnel wraps visitors in decades of historic advertising and packaging, letting kids spot retro toy brands and see how everyday objects looked when their grandparents were young.
Why do children enjoy the historic toy collection? Children love spotting vintage dolls, board games, and action figures from past eras, offering a fun comparison to modern toys and video games.
What is featured in the changing temporary exhibitions? Special showcases like Branding Britain explore the creative design and cultural impact behind logos and household names that shape modern society.
What early product designs can visitors find? Displays feature early iterations of chocolate wrappers, biscuit tins, and beverage bottles that highlight early manufacturing and graphic design breakthroughs.
How does the museum engage younger visitors? Children receive activity sheets, quizzes, and trail packs at the entrance that turn the walk through consumer history into an interactive scavenger hunt.

Facilities

Toilets: Clean public restrooms including accessible facilities located on-site.
Buggy Parking: Pushchair-friendly galleries with step-free access throughout the exhibition space.
Café & Garden: An on-site family-friendly café opening onto a quiet outdoor courtyard garden.
Gift Shop: A retro-inspired retail shop offering vintage games, quirky stationery, and unique souvenirs.

Pro-Tips for visiting guests

Book Online First: Advance booking is strongly recommended to secure your preferred entry time slot and avoid queues.
Use Family Trails: Pick up a kids' trail booklet at reception to keep younger children entertained with puzzles throughout the exhibits.
Combine with Portobello Road: Pair your museum morning with a walk down nearby Portobello Road to make a full day out in West London.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth it for toddlers? While the museum is best suited for older children aged seven and above who can engage with reading and historical trails, toddlers can still enjoy spotting colourful retro packaging and vintage toys. Families with very young children will appreciate the pushchair-friendly layout and baby-changing facilities, though older kids get much more out of the cultural context.
How long does a visit take? Most families spend between 1.5 and 2 hours walking through the chronological Time Tunnel and completing the children's activity trails. This timeframe allows enough unhurried time to explore the main permanent collection, check out temporary exhibitions, and stop by the café.
Where is the best place to park? Public transport is strongly recommended because the venue does not have dedicated on-site parking and local street spaces in Notting Hill are restricted. Visitors driving to the area should look for metered parking bays on nearby residential streets or use public car parks near Ladbroke Grove.
Are there cheap indoor activities in London for families? Yes, the Museum of Brands offers budget-friendly family tickets starting at £36 alongside concession rates and £1 tickets for Universal Credit claimants. Standard adult tickets also include free re-entry for a whole year, making it a cost-effective educational day out in West London.

What to see

Specific Museum Exhibits and Historical Objects

Victorian Rimmel Packaging: Fragrance and cosmetics containers dating back to the late 19th century.
1970s Raleigh Chopper Bikes: Iconic childhood bicycles representing youth culture and design trends.
Early Cadbury Cocoa Tins: Vintage metal containers showcasing early mass-market chocolate advertising.
Post-War Wartime Ration Packaging: Plain packaging examples used during government rationing periods in Britain.
1960s Star Wars and Action Man Toys: Classic childhood action figures and memorabilia from vintage toy shelves.
Retro Bovril and Marmite Jars: Early glass jar designs and ceramic advertising pots from the early 1900s.
Vintage Board Games: Retro family pastime boxes including Monopoly and Scrabble sets from mid-century decades.

What Visitors Love

Fascinating Nostalgia: Parents and grandparents love pointing out products from their own childhoods, sparking great conversations with kids.
Compact Layout: The museum size is just right for children, offering plenty of visual stimulation without causing walking fatigue.
Helpful Staff: Floor team members are frequently described as welcoming, friendly, and great at answering children's questions.

What Visitors Don't Like

Limited Interactive Screens: Some younger kids look for digital touchscreens, though the physical displays make up for it with trails.
Pushchair Crowds: Navigating narrow sections of the timeline can feel tight during peak weekend morning hours.
No Parking On-Site: Visitors note that central London parking restrictions make public transport the easiest option.

What is beyond the main attraction nearby?

Portobello Road Market: Famous historic street market known for antiques, vintage fashion, and street food stalls just minutes away.
Notting Hill Bookshop: Iconic independent bookshop made famous by films and local community literary events.
Holland Park: Expansive green space featuring woodland paths, formal gardens, and resident peacocks.
Notting Hill Community Cinema: Local independent picture house showing family films and mainstream releases.

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult Ticket: £14
Child Ticket: £8
Concession Ticket: £10
Accessible Ticket: £10
Family Ticket: £36
Universal Credit Ticket: £1

Pricing URL: https://museumofbrands.com/plan-your-visit/admissions/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

The museum offers unique private hire packages for children's birthday parties, workshops, and family celebrations for groups of up to 60 guests. Private catering is not provided by the venue, but party organizers can arrange custom elements. For specific availability and party booking inquiries, contact the team via email.

Monday – Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00
Sundays: 11:00 - 17:00

Address: 111-117 Lancaster Road, London W11 1QT, United Kingdom

Post Code: W11 1QT

Council: Kensington and Chels

County: Greater London

By Tube: Ladbroke Grove Station (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines) sits just a two-minute walk from the museum.
By Bus: Local London bus routes 7, 23, 52, 70, 228, and 452 stop close to Lancaster Road.
By Car: Central London traffic rules and congestion charges apply; public transport is heavily encouraged.
Local Parking: Limited metered street parking and local Blue Badge bays are available on surrounding Notting Hill residential streets.