Museum of Brands Attraction Guide

A museum unlike any other is situated on 111-117 Lancaster Road in Notting Hill, where visitors are invited for a unique, nostalgic experience. The museum of brands is literally that – a museum dedicated to brands. It explores how people, culture and society have shaped brands and, in turn, how they have been shaped by brands.

The Museum of Brands displays a range of collections and artefacts to show the importance and history of consumer culture from the nineteenth century to the present day. Also hosting regular exhibitions, talks and workshops, the museum offers the chance to examine brands in an interactive environment. The museum is also home to an impressive subtropical garden, café and gift shop for visitors to enjoy.

Adult prices are £9, children £5, concessions £7, family £24 and under 7’s are free to enter. The museum is open every Monday-Saturday from 10-6pm and every Sunday and Bank Holiday from 11-5pm. It is closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The museum is accessible to wheelchair-users and includes pram storage and baby-changing facilities.

Being a registered charity since 2002, The Museum of Brands is centred around a huge variety of items from the Robert Opie Collection. From 1984 until 2001 the collection was stored in the Museum of Advertising and Packaging in Gloucester, before moving to Notting Hill in 2005. Displaying over 12,000 original items, the museum features a range of domestic products, toys, games, packaging and posters.

Chronologically structured, visitors will be immersed in different decades as they are led through the retro ‘Time Tunnel’. This main exhibition explores the evolution of consumer society by witnessing popular brands in their historical context. It shows how society and advertising has been shaped by inventions such as the railway and the car. The introduction of TV and cinema is also reflected in vintage posters and artefacts, as are prominent changes in fashion and style. It’s not only a journey through brands and marketing, it’s a journey through history, politics and culture.

There are always interesting temporary exhibitions to explore, from discovering competitive toy brands in the 1950s to exploring sustainable packaging and new eco-friendly initiatives. The museum also hosts various activities, such as Electro Dough workshops for children during the Summer Holidays. They even have special appearances from The Maconchy Quartet who perform classical music and jingles from memorable TV commercials.

There are opportunities to plan group visits and the museum even offers self-guided worksheets for visitors. There are numerous subject-specific resources for those in education to critically engage with the collection, as well as a range of workshops to encourage practical learning. Workshops are available for all levels, from early years to higher education.

After visiting the museum, we would like to welcome you to Aubaine Notting Hill where you can dine on delicious French cuisine.

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