Have you ever wondered why dull, strange, totally boring museums don’t get more press? No!? Well of course you haven’t – it’s because they’re dull, strange and totally boring. However, someone’s been playing super sleuth and hunted down London’s most exciting caches of weird and obscure. Now you don’t have to end up at the Fan Museum when you could be role-playing Holmes and Watson at Baker Street. It’s elementary people! Boom-tish!
The Canal Museum
This might sound about as fun as The Museum of Watching Paint Dry, but give it a chance and you’ll be won over. First of all, all canals are great – the Suez, the Panama, the Regent’s – there’re loads of them. Second, this museum is interesting. Who doesn’t want to hear about the history of the waterways, the lives of the workers and the horses that dragged the boats? Take a chance - heritage is huge right now.
The Cartoon Museum
Forget about The Simpsons - apparently there were cartoons way before them – and delve into the world of British illustration. Open to the public since 2006, The Little Russell Street museum houses thousands of caricatures, cartoons and comics. Along with that huge collection there are regular shows focusing on anything from 18th century drawings to its current exhibition – Her Maj: 60 Years of Unofficial Portraits of the Queen.
The Museum of Brands
Brands; they’re the choice of a new generation. What could be more natural than for a city like London to host such a place? Jocular, titillating copy aside; The Museum of Brands is an underrated treasure. Anybody interested in the history of design, graphics or advertising should be able to appreciate its cultural importance. For anybody else it’s worth a trip for branded mind bumps alone –courtesy of old packaging, ads, posters and slogans. Just do it.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum
Located at 221b, Baker Street, The Sherlock Holmes Museum is a relic to the writing of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his most famous character. Anybody who has ever had even the most fleeting interest in the brainiac detective should visit this recreation of his abode just to say they’ve been there and done it. It’s hip right now thanks to the BBC, but if you’d rather the real-deal deerstalker aesthetic over the Belstaff style recently seen on screen, then this untouched Victorian offering will appeal. Plus, it’s the world’s most famous address!
The Magic Circle Museum
Take all you learned from your Paul Daniels Magic Kit and put it into practice at The Magic Circle Museum in Euston. It’s tiny – standing room for only 35 – and with exhibits like Harry Houdini’s handcuffs and rabbit in hat spoilers, who could resist, right? The website says “perfect for anniversaries…” and who can argue with that – after all, isn’t love just magic?! Da-daa!!
