Museum of Brands

Had a very nice time visiting the museum. The staff at reception were very nice. The museum isn't big but if you read the informations and check out the displays not rushing it takes spmetime, which is very good. They have the displays nicely organised, nostalgic, taking you back in time. It's nice to see how household items and food companies looked like in the past and how old some of these companies are. The amount of board games that were around in the past is astonishing. Some of the board games especially from war times are...interesting, let's put it that way. The way how technology evolved is impressing. You will get an insight into the world of packaging from Victorian era through to the present day, not just packaging but also everyday items that we can all relate to from tins and bottles to sweets to toys, TVs and record players and everything else that comes with it. It's a worthy place to visit with friends, family and kids. There's a little souvenir shop next to te reception. The cafe offers snacks, food and nice warm drinks. The closest tube station is Ladbroke Grove, 2 minutes walk around the corner.

Fascinating museum charting the development of brands and products throughout the centuries, and the societal and cultural changes that took place over the same time. The main permanent exhibition features a huge array of items and packaging representing changing brands from the Victorian era up to the present day. Visitors of different ages will recognise groceries, household goods, toys and games, technology and more, making this part of the museum a real walk down memory lane. Displays are well presented and don't seem cluttered despite the huge collection of exhibits, while there's enough information to learn about different eras without being overwhelmed. At the time of our visit a Thunderbirds exhibition was taking place, showcasing collectables and toys connected to the popular works of Gerry Anderson. Adult tickets for the museum were £14, which felt like good value considering the high standard of presentation throughout and the enormous range of exhibits. Onsite facilities are excellent, and include a gift shop, café, toilets and an outdoor area with benches, so you can sit and relax amongst lovingly maintained gardens for a while to escape the bustle of London. If you're at all interested in brands or social history, don't miss this museum.

Absolutely brilliant! The time turned from Victorian era to now, seeing the development of known and loved family household brands. Things my dad grew up through the 60/70s, then all the things my brother and I remember from the 90/00s. As an enthusiast for vintage radios, the radio wall was the best part of the museum for me. We visited for the Gerry Anderson exhibition as well, my dad and brother are massive Anderson Productions fans, it was FAB!

It was a great experience. We had a wonderful time not just on the exhibition, but also on the nice coffe shop they have. The miseum has a beautiful dinning area, with a variety of products from elaborated sandwiches to delicious cakes and snacks. Also, they offer a wide range of coffee, tea and sparkling drinks. And last but not least, you can have your meal indoors or in their garden sourounded by plants and nature. So, you can have a nice break before you carry on with your journey.

Loved it. A proper nostalgia trip and highly-recommended. We showed-up for the extra exhibition on Gerry Anderson - while great as well, it would’ve been nice to have more merch for sale. Still, a terrific way to spend a rainy afternoon!

Friendly staff on arrival. Nice small place taking you back through history seeing all the old brands and recognising favourites! Came here for the thunderbird exhibition too! Would like to come back when in London again. Got lots of photos but too many to post 😊

The Museum of Brands not only created a real feeling of nostalgia, seeing games and toys that my Nan and grandad had from my parents’ era and the eras around it, but it did a brilliant job of talking about culture over time and it’s shaped technology and brands, and vice versa. I’d recommend a trip for anyone looking for a trip down memory lane (one of the other visitors spoke about how good it would be for anyone suffering from Alzheimer’s too). It’s also a worthwhile afternoon for those working in marketing or advertising, like myself, who are in need of some inspiration!

Didn't know what to expect.But it was marvellous a worthwhile visit. There was much to see from products of the past and up to very new. It is a step into nostalgia. The staff were excellent and welcoming.

Absolutely loved this museum. As a mass consumer myself, I really appreciated learning about the development of brands throughout time. FOr instance, the first products were made to celebrate events such as the crowning of a Queen whereas now, there's strong brand associations with the products that are made. Also, they have a lot of childhood nostalgia items that anyone will appreciate, like groovy chick? I hadn't thought about that brand for a long long time before my visit! I also appreciate how easy the museum is to walk through. The exhibit is organized based on a timeline, also its a straight path so you'll definitely be able to see everything you want to. It's also kind of funny to see at the end of the exhibit there's just a giant case full of Frozen items. Definitely, a must-see when in London. Highly recommend it as the consumers that we have grown into today.

It's educational, fascinating, and very fun. Fans of print media, culture, and people that don't want to miss a beat will enjoy the history on display.

Worth one visit, just to stroll down memory lane. For such a small museum, you wouldn't think it would take 45 minutes but it does. The corridors twist and turn with a constant display of packaging and branding through the ages, starting in the Victorian days, passing through the Wars and rationing, ending up in the present. Quite interesting to see the evolving package designs that are based on the tastes of the times as well as world events, with WWII causing packages to reduce tin and move towards more paper packing, plus the recent environmental programs reducing the amount of plastic. A couple of interesting displays caught my eye. It was neat to see that Tony the Tiger (of Frosted Flakes fame) used to have a red collar around his neck and in newer updates has changed to a red kerchief/bandana. The exhibit on intellectual property mentioned that Cadbury's "purple" color is actually trademarked. Big display on the humble Bic "Biro" pen. For such a simple device, there is a whole lot of engineering that goes into its manufacturing. Looped videos discuss the making of the ball in the ball point and the formulation of the ink and more. It's quite a precision device for something so unpretentious. £6.50 entrance fee seems rather steep considering that the place has quite a bit of corporate sponsorship (Tesco, Cadbury's, Kellog's and Diageo) as well as the location not being exactly a high traffic zone. Pictures of the displays are not permitted, which I found disappointing. I thought I might sneak a couple, but the displays are set up in such a way as to make it difficult - very reflective glass would block a flash and it's quite dark. Note: if you spot a party with lots of kids, you may want to wait for them to pass before entering. The reflective glass bounces the sound around, making it difficult to concentrate on the exhibits. Finding the place is a challenge. You wouldn't think that a museum is hiding down that small road, but yes, it really is there.

What a gem of a place this is! I visited the museum during its relaunch at its new location in Lancaster Road, just a few hundred yards from Ladbroke Grove underground station. The new site is much larger than the previous home, which was tucked away in the corner of Colville Mews. The museum provides a fascinating insight into how everyday lives have changed over the past 200 years through the evolution of consumer brands. It actually houses 14,000 items of daily life that span the 200 years of British consumer culture. The entrance is a large open space with a really good gift store. The reception staff are very helpful and informed when I was asking questions. To the rear is a great coffee shop, which has a very nice outdoor courtyard garden. I was advised that you can use the cafe and gift shop without paying to actually use the museum. At £7.50 though, this place is well priced. As the museum is much larger, it now has featured areas. The first I tried was the 'Time Tunnel' . It was really good. The content includes so much material. It relates to events such as wars, coronations, exhibitions, and also the 1966 World Cup. There are tons of items covering the evolution of everyday technology, such a the radio, television and computer games. The tunnel itself was quite narrow, and as I visited on a busy Bank Holiday, was difficult to pass larger groups. There is a promotors pitch in 'Channels to the Consumer' with Diageo promoting the Jonnie Walker brand and an advertising cinema charting 60 years of iconic TV campaigns. There are areas covering 'Brand Origins' and 'Packaging Innovations'. Great to see how the packaging for items have changed. They also lead you through the decades to see how new items were introduced that are now taken for granted as if they have always been there. The museum also houses a venue space that can be hired and a learning space too. Upstairs they had some vintage games that you are able to play if you have the time. I'll be back! For £20 you can actully get a 1 year unlimited entry pass!! Great!

I really enjoyed my time at the Museum of Brands. I found the exhibits to be very fascinating as it showcased about 150 years of product development. I went for a school trip and we had a workshop there hosted by one of the museum workers named Abby. I found this workshop to be very entertaining and informative as it gave me lots of insight into how influential a brands logo and the colors they use can be. I would highly recommend visiting this museum, it was a very impressive and informational exhibit!

Outstanding gem of a museum a short walk from Portobello Road Market. Not only kitschy and interesting but also an educational and entertaining connection in how historical events and pop culture shaped (and shapes) marketing to the masses. This is so much more than its name implies. It is a study of how culture and current events influences product and vice-versa. A walk-through museum of well-organized and well-varied display cases, this is a terrific hidden gem. It took us roughly two hours to peruse the treasure trove of products from Victorian England to the present. From toys to household products, war time games to revolutionary inventions, this museum has it all. Excellent small gift shop with unique souvenirs that creatively bring yesterday's wit and whimsy to today's practical products. Lovely cafe and garden attached for a little nosh to fuel your time travel through the ages. We did London's large and medium museums, and enjoyed them immensely. But this was one so unexpected, we were thrilled to have discovered it. All ages should find this museum appropriate and interesting. A fascinating time capsule worth the detour from Portobello.

I've been hanging around Notting Hill for years and I worked in advertising for a while but I had no idea this place was here. It's hidden slightly down Colville Mews but the huge neon 'Museum' sign on the outside wall should point you in the right direction. It's a fiver to see the exhibition which isn't much but considering that so many London museums are free these days and this place has corporate sponsorship (and is one big piece of advertising itself) you might expect a better deal. Inside, it feels a bit like one long aisle in a supermarket that has been around for ever and keeps adding shelves as the years pass. The aisle starts in the Victorian period and continues all the way up until the 90's. The older the visitor the earlier they seem to linger and pause in nostalgia, remembering those sweets or those drinks or that washing up powder. Only the passing of time and a glass cabinet can turn washing up powder into a fond memory. If you're interested in an overview of the twentieth century as seen through consumer goods this is a decent place to check out and the inevitable café/gift shop at the end served us a great cappuccino.

What a great museum! If you're at all interested in recent-ish history, advertising, or just product packaging in general, do not miss this one. It's a private collection of thousands of items, ranging from cleaning products over food items to toys. The time tunnel is brilliantly laid out, products grouped by decade. While there aren't many information boards, the products themselves usually have writing on them so they're easy to identify. As you walk through the time tunnel, you can see products evolve from late 1800s to modern times. Especially the decades of your childhood will trigger severe nostalgia! They also have the product hall in the back, where the same products are shown through their development. It's super interesting to see fifteen different packages of the same item, all labelled with their release year. Don't miss the upstairs space, they have vintage board games for you to try! There's also a loop of commercials projected onto a large screen. Many, especially the really old ones, have very poor quality but are entertaining to watch nonetheless. This place definitely gets a huge recommendation from me, well worth the small entry fee.

If the day is yours and you're not keen on the overcrowded tourist scene, head to W11 and experience the wonderment of England's graphic design past. Robert Opie's is clearly the world's biggest pack rat, having collected packaging dating back to the Victorian era. The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising boasts an intimate setting and a labyrinth of rooms that give visitors the feeling of being led through history. I, perhaps, am not the best person to brag about the blast from the past effect of the place. A lot of the childhood flashback opportunities are lost on me, having grown up across the pond, but that does not mean you should to count it as a miss. Until November, The Waste Not, Want Not exhibit from the WWII era is on display and reiterates the global need to sustain meagre resources. The days of make do and mend may be over but it's a gentle reminder of our overly disposable, facility seeking lives. The most humorous display cases include showing very happy little housewives posing with household electronics. I'm not much for vacuuming but those crank handle Hoovers sure look like fun! Whether you're looking to walk down memory lane or just to gain a glimpse into Britain's social history, the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising is sure to keep you intrigued and giggling.

My time here could not be considered less than a provocative learning experience. Their history of brands showed the evolution of products over a 150 year period and their brand evolution display had a multitude of large and small brands and how they have changed over time, both of which were fascinating to see, especially when you frame them in their respective eras in accordance to all the events occurring at those times. This was all topped off with an excellently guided workshop by one of the museum staff members, who was able to ask many questions that had my peers and I think deeper about the art of making brands. I would highly recommend this museum to people who are learning about marketing or business in general.

As many other reviewers said, it is mainly a collection of different object from the Victorian times to now, with particular focus on the introduction of products and packaging and printed ads. It took me an hour to do the full visit and I found it interesting, in particular the last part were the evolution of the packaging of the same product is shown for many households brands. I was really surprised also to discover that some well known brands were introduced in the same fashion of today in the 30s or so. Also, it is a good recap of British recent history, being many of the products showed linked to royal weddings, jubilees and exhibitions. Some of the displays are overcrowded though, so at some point I was a bit tired by looking at so many things, but overall a nice rainy afternoon activity. Entrance fee is £6.5.

This museum seemed almost hidden from the public. There was only a sign on a fence to point us down the alley to the museum entrance. It was charming how modest it was. The entrance fee wasn't very much; it felt just right for a museum where you simply walk through one passage for as long as it takes you to look at everything you're interested in. At the end, which was really just the front again, there was a small gift shop with a couple tables. While impressive and very interesting, the advertisement and packaging collection itself was sometimes borderline overwhelming for me because of the sheer number of items displayed in such a tiny space. It was incredible to see it all, and I definitely believe that it's valuable to have it all available, but it was a lot to take in at once with only a few blurbs on the walls here and there to give context. I wish I had an audioguide or collection booklet at the time because I feel like I would've gotten a little bit more out of it. My favorite parts came closer to the end: one part showed specific brands' packaging over time, and another part explored packaging in the context of sustainability. Overall, the museum is absolutely a worthwhile way to spend a couple hours if you're in the area.

I'm a bit of a marketing geek, so I was really looking forward to this museum - I was a fan, but am not sure what others would think. As another reviewer said, it's more of a collection of objects rather than a museum. I loved seeing the context of different product launches, and really loved seeing changes in packaging over time (especially at the end of the museum, where samples of the same product over the decades are lined up side by side for a direct comparison). However, the explanations were limited and noticeably filled with typos. Again, I loved the context - but wish there was more information about the trends and reasoning for changes in design instead of so much focus on the big events of the decade. While understanding war rationing is important to understanding new packaging, it is less relevant to hear about the sinking of the Titanic and it's nonrelation to brands. Overall, a nice addition to an afternoon in Notting Hill, only a few minutes walk from the hustle and bustle of Portobello Road. Worth a visit.

Great museum. Lots to showcase. So many things to see. Take your time. There's a lot to learn about the history of England and how they can consumer their goods. There's also a lot to learn about what they enjoy from the states.

A private collection of packaging. A very dense small museum. You have to pay for this one, but it is reasonable. From victorian soap boxes, to 60's children's toys.

An interesting museum of branding and packaging from the 1800s through the present day. In truth, the term "museum" might be kind of a stretch -- it's more of collection of objects from those dates. It's fascinating to see how packaging and branding have evolved through the years -- to see the transition from adorably earnest descriptions of products and their features to the slick pages we love to buy today. Still, I couldn't help but feel like the museum could have been so, so much more with a little bit more work put into contextualizing the different areas. I couldn't help but wish for more societal and historical context for the changes in packaging and design -- the products are sorted by decade, with a couple of paragraphs on the wall introducing the major events of the decade, but it's definitely light on explanation. Similarly, the end of the museum displays collections of products evolving through the years -- Coke cans, Cadbury chocolates, Guinness bottles -- which is very cool, but again, it doesn't have any mention of the trends designers were following as the redesigned packages or call out any particular brands or packaging as exceptional. That said, it's still a fascinating and interesting collection of objects that easily fills a full hour. Still worth a visit if you have the £6.50 to spare, but be prepared to be frustrated at how it falls short of its potential.

I think if you are a design student or involved in advertising,packaging,branding then this museum is awe-some to visit. I actually went with some friends of mine who are advertising addicts to this place. I am glad I did because it brought back some real childhood memories. Its a museum started by Robert Opie who saw the potential of collecting items like biscuit tins,chocolate wrappers and grown into something so vast depicting the history of advertising in a very real way. At present he has a collection of toys,comics,magazines,newspapers,gadgets,royal momentoes,fashion and its growing every day. Having gone to the museum brought back fond memories of MARKS AND SPENCER biscuits,chocolates-munchies bars,yorkies so on and so forth. There are two current exhibitions at the moment: Biscuit Bonanza - finishes 31.01.09 and the Sweet Sixties-finishes 31st May2009 The museum also is a good place to hold meetings and small conferences because they have a light airy studio area built over some mews in NottingHill.

This small museum is an total gem, I highly recommend checking it out if you're in London. This is a great place for anyone interested in how things looked like in our past daily lives and that of our parents and their parents. It gives you a sense of how far we've come, and how the psychology of advertising has become more manipulative over the years. It doesn't necessarily matter if you are interested in brands or packaging (although if you're a designer you'll be in heaven). You go through a time tunnel, starting in the Victorian era where everything is highly decorative and beautiful, then decades after decades you gradually evolve in the tunnel to discover the evolution of our household everythings. Go check it out! they have a great gift shop too.

We really enjoyed our visit to the museum. True , there's not a lot of information given about the items displayed but it doesn't really matter. There is a LOT to look at. Surprisingly they also have a rather large collection of vintage radios which are all beautiful and in good repair. If you're a fan or vintage radios, phonographs and stuff like that you'll enjoy yourself. There is also a beautiful garden patio off the cafe that would be most enjoyable during nice weather.

Waste Not, Want Not 22nd January 2009 - 29th November 2009 During the austerity years of the 1940s, Britain had to economise on raw materials, save on energy and salvage scarce commodities. Encouraged by a powerful propaganda machine, a motivated population devised ingenious ways to reduce packaging and make everything last longer. Whether the message was to grow your own vegetables, make do and mend, or save on fuel, uppermost in everyone's mind was the need to be sparing in the use of meagre resources. In this exhibition, the encouragement to save is startlingly similar to the situation of today. Thus 65 years ago a poster said, 'Will all customers kindly carry all purchases possible with them and bring own paper'. Today the message is to use fewer carrier bags. In the 1940s, housewives were asked to put waste paper and cardboard out for the salvage collector; today our local councils encourage the very same behaviour. While few may now remember those years of rationing and blackouts, the lessons from the past can teach us how to make better use of limited resources today. This exhibition is being held as part of the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising's new initiative, Packaging our Sustainable Future, sponsored by Tesco. Other information: Event: 'Waste Not, Want Not' exhibition at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising Date: 22/01/09 to 29/11/09 Address: 2 Colville Mews, Lonsdale Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2AR Times: 10am to 6pm (Tues to Sat) 11am to 5pm (Sun) closed Mon Prices: Adults £5.80 Concessions £3.50 Children £2 Description: New temporary exhibition Telephone: 020 7908 0880 Website: http://www.museumofbrands.com Email: info@museumofbrands.com

Such an interesting museum! Although there isn't much to read in terms of facts (although there is some era related boards as you go around) there is sooo much packaging from over the last century which is just amazing to see. Great for all ages and reasonably priced!

This place probably wouldn't appeal to everyone and you aren't likely to visit more than once, but I definitely thought it was worth my time and money to visit. Each display is crammed with bottles, cans, soaps, toys, ads, etc. It's an interesting social history through the lens of consumerism. Plus, I'm totally into packaging and old advertisements. So, I enjoyed the place. Plus, the walk over from the tube state is pretty.

This is quite a small museum, but surprisingly it took me about an hour to finish, give or take. I was doing an assignment for class as well, so that may be why it took a while. It's quite interesting, seeing all these brand names that go back to dates before I was born. It did remind me of when my mother was young..seeing brands such as Cadbury and those Horlick drinks, and the beatles! You get to see a lot of interesting stuff, but it's more extensive in the older years rather than the newer times such as the 90s or the 2000s. It's hard to find this museum because both of the tube station that are supposedly "close" are quite far. I couldn't even make it to Nottinghill Station without getting lost..I ended up taking a bus back to a random tube station. It's a bad location, but if you can find it, props to you! You'll definitely enjoy a little bit of history. It's a tight fit, so you may bump into someone when trying to move forward.

Well worth checking it out. You can be in and out in 30mins. Very interesting and for £7.50 well worth popping in for a bit to escape the Portobello road weekend chaos!

A fabulous collection of every kind of ephemera you can think of, from cereal packets to postcards, Robert Opie's museum takes you from Victorian times to the present day through consumer products. It's unexpectedly moving, as well as a lot of fun if you're a collector or have ever taken an interest in the 'stuff' that surrounds us.

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