Things to do at the Design Museum
With so many design disciplines, it’s no surprise that there are countless things to see and do at the Design Museum.
The structure is a design marvel, a drama of angles and concrete with a pitched tent roof. True to its subject, the Design Museum is perfectly planned. You enter its core, and the open-plan multi-level layout means there’s no trudging from room to room. One staircase corkscrews through the building, so each exhibit is easily accessed. Follow a factsheet trail through the building and its grounds to find out how it was made. There’s so much to explore!
Collection
Designer Maker User – part of the museum’s permanent collection – has nearly 1,000 items. Curated collections showcase the art of design to the layperson, telling extraordinary stories of everyday objects like Bic biros and Post-it notes. They look back at the UK’s iconic red telephone box, designed in 1935 and now largely abandoned, and look ahead to low-carbon homes and artificial intelligence.
You don’t need a ticket to enter the Design Museum; you can access much of its permanent collection free of charge.
Exhibitions
Alongside its permanent collection, the Design Museum hosts temporary exhibitions in areas as diverse as skateboard design, email and road signs. Exhibitions have showcased everything from Ai Weiwei’s Lego recreation of Claude Monet’s Water Lilies to Bob Ross’s accidental ASMR.
It also hosts interactive displays like Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich’s ANTIFURNITURE, which invites you to climb, sit, swing and lie on wooden furniture sculptures.
Pre-booking is not required for any of the museum’s free collections, but it is recommended for paid temporary exhibitions.
Prices vary. Visit the website for more information.
Events
The museum hosts talks with artists and designers, allowing visitors to hear creation stories from the people behind the designs. Recent talks have covered evolving fashions, human-centred design and the museum’s construction. Its collection boasts everything from fashion to furniture, and its talks are equally diverse.
The Design Museum also runs expert-guided tours offering unique exhibition experiences. Tours are available with an exhibition ticket and include complimentary refreshments.
For more information, check out the museum’s events calendar.
Workshops
Always wanted to try your hand at fashion design, tailoring or textiles? Get hands-on in an artist-led creative workshop after drawing inspiration from the museum’s collection.
The workshops suit all ages and abilities, making it the perfect place for a fun family day out. The museum even hosts design camps for keen young designers aged 8-14 who can try heat-transfer printing, architectural model-making and designing through software.
Gift shops
The Design Museum doesn’t sell the usual gift shop trinkets. It has three retail stores: High Street Shop, Atrium Shop and Gallery Shop.
The products on the Gallery Shop’s shelves change alongside the museum’s current exhibits, like an extension of the collection. The High Street and Atrium Shop stock homeware products that make great gifts, like retro-style Hightide and Penco stationery and expertly crafted Iga Yaki earthenware pots. Everything’s functional and fashionable. The Design Museum’s gift shops aren’t just another room you pass through on your way to the exit.
Things to do near the Design Museum
There’s plenty to do nearby once you’ve explored the Design Museum. Why not enjoy a picnic or take the kids to the playgrounds at Hyde Park? Or indulge in some retail therapy on Kensington High Street – one of the best shopping spots in London. If your trip to the Design Museum has you craving more, the nearby Victoria & Albert Museum is among London’s best places for art lovers. The Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are also around the corner, hosting some of the best exhibitions in London.
Tips for enjoying the Design Museum
- The museum is open daily from 10:00 – 17:00, but there are late closes on Fridays and Sundays (18:00) and Saturdays (21:00)
- Lockers are located on floor -1 and cost £1 to use
- Buggies are allowed on all floors, and baby changing facilities are located on the ground floor
Food and drinks
The Design Kitchen and the Design Café are relaxed, family-friendly and use ethically sourced ingredients.
If you need a quick snack or caffeine hit at the Design Museum, head to the ground-floor Design Café. It’s the museum’s canteen-style on-the-go offering. Choose from various soups, sandwiches and sweet treats to energise before hitting the exhibits.
After visiting the collection, head to the second-floor Design Kitchen. The lounge atmosphere makes it the perfect place to recline and discuss the exhibits over coffee and snacks. Enjoy seasonal breakfast and lunch menus and locally sourced ingredients.
Places to stay near the Design Museum
Given its central location, there are plenty of accommodation options near the Design Museum. Premier Inn London Kensington, Holiday Inn London Kensington High Street and Hotel Indigo London Kensington offer comfort on a budget, while London Marriott Hotel Kensington is great for families.
Don’t forget, thanks to SWR rewards, you can save when you book directly with us.
The Design Museum accessibility
The Design Museum offers concessionary rates and free carer tickets for all disabled visitors. There are two accessible parking spaces, and the ground floor has wheelchair-accessible toilets. Wheelchairs are available when requested in advance via telephone (+442038625937) or email (bookings@designmuseum.org).
Assistance dogs are welcome.
For more information, visit the Design Museum accessibility page.
