Museums
Museums
Culture beyond the usual
Museum of London Docklands
Museum of London Docklands gives you the opportunity to learn about the rich history of how the docks transformed London and made this great city into the metropole we know and love today. Learn about East London's working-class women and their struggle for liberation or find out more about the dark side of London with the slave trade legacy mapped out. Check out our location page, where UEL student Lauren explores the Museum of London Docklands.
The Barbican
The Barbican is one of London's best brutalist buildings and Europe’s largest performing arts centre. Here you can enjoy cutting-edge exhibitions, take part in the London Animation Festival, catch a movie or watch a music performance in the music hall. Take a gander throughout the Barbican Estate, and enjoy the outdoor gardens or the indoor oasis that is the Barbican Conservatory.
Sutton House
Sutton House is one of Hackney's oldest houses and is located by a repurposed car breakers' yard. This National Trust property was originally built in 1535 for Henry VIII's first secretary of state, Sir Ralph Sadleir and still maintains a lot of original features. The yard is home to upcycled vehicles, including a bus-turned-greenhouse. The Tudor house became occupied by squatters in the 1980s and you can still find a lot of their artwork within the property.
Museum of the Home
The Museum of the Home is a free museum in Hoxton and explores the history of home life featuring a range of exhibits which showcase how people in the local community lived throughout the centuries. Be sure not to miss out on the beautiful outdoor gardens on the way out.
The Victor Wynd Museum
The Victor Wynd Museum is a tiny curious little museum where you can find and observe the strange and the wonderful whilst enjoying a tipple in the onsite bar. Think Damian Hirst-style artworks including two-headed animals, an eight-legged lamb and loads of skulls. There is a large coral aquarium, a variety of late-night lectures and the death mask of Napoleon. This little Hackney gem is worth a visit.
Sarabande Gallery
Sarabande Foundation is where Alexander McQueen's artistic legacy continues to thrive in east London. The foundation supports emerging contemporary artists, makers, and crafters in a variety of different disciplines through studio space and scholarships. The Summer Group show is always a delight where members of the public can see what the artists in residence have been creating, get a chance to meet them and discuss their work. Check out our location page, where UEL student Uma explores the Sarabande Gallery.
Hackney Museum
Hackney Museum is a small but informative museum where you can explore the fascinating stories behind Hackney folks through the ages. Learn about the Anglo-Saxon settlers, the Victorians, refugees and yuppie families as well as the annual carnival celebration and more.
Whitechapel Gallery
Whitechapel Gallery plays a pivotal role in London's cultural landscape with thought-provoking exhibitions held in a beautiful space in east London. Alongside the ever-changing exhibition programme that has premiered modern masters such as Picasso, Kahlo, Pollock, and Rothko there are brilliant educational resources and public art courses. On the first Thursday of every month, Whitechapel Gallery comes together with over 150 galleries in east London to run free events, exhibitions, talks and private views during a special late opening. Check out our location page, where UEL student Saiful explores the Whitechapel Gallery.