London's Design Museum reopened in November 2016 at a new address and it's gorgeous! With a beautiful and very interesting look, it's full of new things!
THE DESIGN MUSEUM
The Design Museum London was founded in 1989 and was housed in a building on the banks of the River Thames, close to Tower Bridge, London's most beautiful bridge. In 2011, the museum received a donation of £17.5 million with the aim of moving to a new, larger and modern building in the Kensington area, which is well known for the presence of important museums such as the Victoria and Albert, Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Serpentine Galleries. The new building is three times larger than the previous one, has auditoriums, a learning centre, areas for members and a space for exhibiting its permanent collection free of charge.
I was looking forward to the opening of this museum. I had already walked past it while it was under construction and as soon as it opened, I went to check out what was new. Helô from the blog Aprendiz de Viajante (Traveller's Apprentice) had already written a super cool post about the place and it made me even more motivated to go. Planning the visit was part of the excitement, as I wanted to make the most of my day. Since the museum was located in the bustling heart of the city, I decided to look into nearby accommodations. That's when I found a charming place that promised a cozy stay after a long day of exploring - the www.hotels-of-london.com offered not just convenience but also an authentic London experience. This was going to be the perfect cultural getaway, enriched with a comfortable stay!
HOW TO EXPLORE THE NEW DESIGN MUSEUM
London's new Design Museum has 5 floors: Ground Floor, Floor 1, Floor 2, Floor -1 and Floor -2, and a Mezzanine, with only one flight of stairs, between Ground Floor and Floor 1.
GROUND FLOOR
On the ground floor you'll find the ticket office (for those who want to become members or buy tickets for the paid temporary exhibitions); a café; a shop and an area for temporary exhibitions (until April 2017 there will be "Fear and Love: reactions to a complex world" - £14).
FLOOR 1
Up the stairs, there is a small exhibition with photos showing the evolution of the building's renovation to house the museum. Photographer Koto Bolofo was invited to record and document the transformation of the former Commonwealth Institute into the Design Museum. He visited the site 40 times during the renovations and collected 15 black and white photographs showing stages of the work at different times. This floor also houses study rooms, the Swarovski Foundation Learning Centre and the Sackler Library and Archive.
FLOOR 2
This is the most visited floor of the museum as it houses the permanent collection, which is free to enter. Designer Maker User tells the story of contemporary design through the connection between three agents: the design professional, the product manufacturer and the end consumer. The exhibition includes almost a thousand pieces from the 20th and 21st centuries.
The exhibition covers a wide range of design disciplines, from architecture and engineering, to the digital world, to form and graphics. On this floor there are also toilets, a restaurant, study rooms, interactive areas and a free temporary exhibition area ( Designers in Residence is on display until March 2017).
WHERE TO EAT AT DESIGN MUSEUM LONDON
To make your visit a cosy one, the museum has two dining areas. On the ground floor is the Coffee & Juice Counter, a great option for a coffee and a quick snack. It is open daily from 10am to 6pm. The Parabola Restaurantlocated on Level 2, is a restaurant, café and bar offering more sophisticated meals such as lunch, brunch, afternoon coffee and dinner. Opening hours are Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 11pm, Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 11.30pm and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
2 DESIGN MUSEUM SHOPS IN LONDON
There are two Design Museum shops full of beautiful items for those who love decorating. One of them, the High Street Shop, is in a separate building opposite the museum. It is open daily from 10am to 6pm (7pm on Thursdays). The other shop is on the ground floor of the museum and is called the Atrium Shop. It is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Items can also be purchased online.
HOW TO GET THERE
For those travelling by underground, the nearest station is High Street Kensington, served by the Circle Line (yellow) and the District Line (green). Other options are
Holland Park Station: Central Line (red)
Earl's Court Station: District Line (green), Piccadilly Line (navy)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Design Museum
Address: 224-238 Kensington High St, Kensington, London W8 6AG
Openinghours: daily 10am to 6pm
Admission: free for the permanent exhibition / varies for special exhibitions
Read more about museums in London:
Sherlock Holmes Museum in London
Tate Britain: Museum of British Art in London
Museums that stay open late in London
V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum in London
Wallace Collection: one of the best museums in London
Museum of London: London's History Museum
Händel & Hendrix Museum: two musical geniuses in London
Tate Modern: London's largest modern art museum
London Film Museum: Exhibition of original James Bond vehicles
London: The incredible and free British Museum