The Design Museum

Overview

The Design Museum is a free museum in central London. The museum features exhibits on various types of design, including fashion, graphic, and architecture, among others. The exhibitions explore the past, present, and future of design and are constantly changing, meaning that no two visits are the same.

The museum is a great place to visit for families with older children and teenagers, as well as couples, and people exploring London by themselves. Kids will love the free Explorer Trail with activities to complete as you explore the museum.

Adults can enjoy learning more about the interaction between people and brands and encounter a wave of nostalgia when they see a vinyl record player, a Sony Walkman, and a mini disc player (if you’re of a certain age, you’ll know!).

The Design Museum location

The Design Museum is located on Kensington High Street in West London. It’s just next to the beautiful Holland Park, so visitors to the museum should also spend some time wandering through this green space.

What’s on at the Design Museum?

The Design Museum plays host to several exhibitions. Most of these are temporary, running for a limited period. Some of the temporary collections are free to view, and others have an admission fee.

The permanent collection at the Design Museum is free to explore. It’s called Designer Maker User and looks at modern design through these three roles and how they interact with each other. There are almost 1,000 items in the collection which cover architecture, engineering, digital, fashion, and graphics.

You’ll see some items that are very familiar to you here, but you’ll see them from a different point of view. Items include:

Tennis balls
London 2012 Olympic Torch
Different types of music player
Apple iPhone
Typewriter
British road signs

Past temporary exhibitions have included Barbie, The World of Tim Burton, and Fred Perry: A British Icon.

The Design Museum also has two shops – one on the ground floor of the building and one just outside the main building on Kensington High Street. The shops have a wide range of gifts and souvenirs, including prints and books – perfect for lovers of design.

Is the Design Museum free entry?

Yes, it’s free to enter the Design Museum’s permanent collection display, Designer Maker User, and some of the other displays. You don’t need to book a ticket in advance.

Some special events and temporary exhibitions may have a charge and will need to be booked ahead of time.

Can I get something to eat at the Design Museum?

The Design Museum has two places to choose from when it comes to food and drink – The Design Kitchen and The Design Café.

The Design Kitchen offers all-day breakfast and lunch options, including fresh salads, poached eggs and avocado, and soups. There’s also a selection of cold and hot drinks, wine, and beers. The restaurant has stunning views over Holland Park from its floor-to-ceiling windows.

If you fancy a grab-and-go snack or drink, then The Design Café is the place for you. There’s a casual atmosphere with hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, soups, pastries, and snacks on offer.

A wide range of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are all available.

How long do I need in the Design Museum?

You can spend as long as you like in the Design Museum. It takes between one and two hours to explore the exhibitions, but you could easily spend longer.

Is the Design Museum accessible?

The Design Museum aims to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. The museum has the following accessibility features:

All areas accessible by lift
Registered assistance dogs welcome
Blue Badge parking
Wheelchairs available for loan
Large print guides
Accessible toilets

How to get to the Design Museum from YHA London Earl’s Court

The Design Museum is less than a mile away from YHA London Earl’s Court. The easiest and most convenient ways to get there are by walking, cycling, or catching the bus.

On foot: It takes around 20 minutes to walk from YHA London Earl’s Court to the Design Museum. It’s a simple walk along Earl’s Court Road until you reach Kensington High Street.

Cycling: Cycling from YHA London Earl’s Court to the Design Museum takes approximately seven minutes. There is bike parking outside the museum. If you don’t have your own bike in London, there are some Santander Cycles docking stations nearby in Phillimore Gardens and Ilchester Place.

By public transport: To get to the Design Museum, you can catch the C1 bus to White City from Redcliffe Gardens. Alight at the Design Museum. If you’re coming from elsewhere in London, the nearest tube station to the Design Museum is High Street Kensington.

By car: The drive from the Youth Hostel to the Design Museum takes approximately ten minutes. Accessible Blue Badge parking spaces are available near the museum and can be pre-booked through the Design Museum website.