Design Museum
With a National Art Pass you get
Documenting contemporary design in all forms, London's Design Museum hosts free displays and inspiring exhibitions on architecture, fashion, furniture, product design and more.
Located in a Grade II* listed building, London’s Design Museum is all about making the process and impact of design visible. Founded in 1989 by Sir Terence Conran, the museum’s collection, free displays and special exhibitions feature globally influential designs, chart the rise of mass production and reflect the recent digital revolution. Watch a working 3D printer, or attempt to design a car using a bespoke app by Jaguar Land Rover.
The special exhibitions here are one of the Design Museum’s real highlights. Past programmes include a raft of ‘firsts’, such as the first UK retrospective of shoe designer Christian Louboutin, the first exhibition dedicated to the Pritzker-prize winning architect Zaha Hadid, and the first exhibition to bring Issey Miyake’s innovative tailoring to the UK. Visitors have been treated to an unprecedented glimpse into the world of Ferrari and showcases from the museum’s annual Design of the Year award. The accompanying programme of talks, workshops and tours is equally alluring.
Designer Maker User is the museum’s permanent, free display – an introduction to the resident collection that features nearly 1,000 items of 20th and 21st century design. It explores the influence of designers ‘from the spoon to the city’, makers in the evolution of manufacturing and users on branding and product design. Don’t miss the crowdsourced wall of 200 objects from 25 different countries.
Even the museum’s shops are a working example of modern design, featuring a curated selection of products from established and emerging names.
Why you should go
European Museum of the Year 2018
Designs that have shaped the world
Inspiring special exhibitions
Visitor information
Address
224-238 Kensington High Street, Kensington, London, Greater London, W8 6AG
020386 25937
Opening times
10:00 – 17:00 Monday to Thursday
10:00 – 18:00 Friday to Sunday
Some ticketed exhibitions will remain open later on weekends – please check individual exhibition pages for details.
Closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Please check the museum's website for updates.
Exclusions and safety measures
Pre-booking tickets online is recommended for paid exhibitions.
Our permanent collection is free and open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, no pre-booking is needed.
Cashless purchases only. Credit/debit card or mobile payments will be accepted at the shops. However, a £1 coin is needed for the lockers (a token can be purchased by card at our Ground floor shop).
Our bike parking capacity has been doubled so that more people can cycle to the museum.
