The Museum of Brands, Packaging, and Advertising

Does Exactly What It Says on The Tin!

The Museum of Brands, Packaging, and Advertising in London's Notting Hill documents social history through consumer products. You will see over 12,000 items from shampoo bottles and drinks cans, to toys and postcards.

Pros:

• Clean and modern museum
• All on one floor so fully accessible
• All exhibits in cabinets so children can explore freely
• Displays from ceiling to ground level (great for small children)
• Close to Portobello Road Market

Cons:

• Not close to other museums but can be included in a day out in Notting Hill
• Tea Room only serves hot drinks and chocolate bars
• Not very big but still quirky and fun

Visit Duration:

1.5 hour

Background

Robert Opie decided at 16 to stop throwing things away and started collecting everything from toys, comics, and magazines to technology and royal souvenirs. Opie wanted to keep a record of social history through the consumer objects used in our daily life.

In December 2005, the Museum moved from Gloucester to London and houses over 12,000 original items from Robert Opie's collection which now has about 300,000 pieces.

The Museum is located two minutes walk from Portobello Road.

Address:

2 Colville Mews
Lonsdale Road
Notting Hill
London
W11 2AR
Location map

Telephone:

+44 (0)20 7908 0880

Email:

info@museumofbrands.com

Official Website:

www.museumofbrands.com

Nearest Tube Station:

Notting Hill Gate
(Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove are also nearby.)

Opening Hours:

Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 6pm
Sunday: 11am to 5pm
Closed Mondays except Bank Holidays

Admission:

Check official website for latest ticket prices.

Visit this attraction for free with a London Pass
• Find out more about the London Pass.
• Buy the London Pass now.

The museum is located down a small quiet street in Notting Hill so do check the location map so you don't miss it.

The Museum is clean and modern and all displays are in glass cabinets so children can explore freely. The museum is extremely well laid out as the space is actually quite small but you are guided through a winding "time tunnel" to see the history of consumer culture decade by decade, from Victorian times to the present day.

There is not a lot of information to read with each cabinet, and the items are not individually labeled, but I think it is mostly self-explanatory.

It's a real trip down memory lane as you will see items from throughout your life including sweet wrappers and cleaning products, as well as grouped items documenting events in history such as the effects of two world wars.

You can enjoy a cup of tea in the Tea Room (sponsored by Twinings) at the end of your visit. There is only tea, coffee, and chocolate bars available so plan your visit after lunch.

The shop sells merchandise from The Robert Opie Collection including books, postcards, and fridge magnets, which would make great gifts or souvenirs to make you smile when you remember your visit here.