A local’s guide to the best fashion museums in London; from the unparalleled V&A Museum’s couture dresses to the vintage vibe of the secret Fan Museum!
London is a dream city for fashion lovers; after all, didn’t even I move to London to continue my beauty and fashion makeup artist career in the first place?
I recently shared with you a quirky Fashion in London itinerary, mixing arty locations like bookshops, museums, and other must-visit shops in Central London and outer boroughs.
Heck, did you know there are more and more designer cafes in London, too?!
The city is buzzing with creativity, innovation, and history – if you’ve read a few of my articles about London’s historical areas and other spots to come across breathtaking ruins, you’ll have seen that it’s anchored in history.
London’s Fashion Museums: 8 Spots To Dive Deep into Style
London has this unique way of blending the old with the new, and its few but inspiring fashion museums are proof of that.
Most of these, truthfully, are quite secret museums, like the Fan Museum or the London Sewing Machine Museum.
Others, like the Victoria and Albert Museum or the innovative Design Museum in Kensington, are gorgeous places to admire pretty clothes, but also reflect on the importance of style and artistic expression.
Best Fashion Museums in London: Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington
Fashion enthusiasts visiting London will quickly find that the V&A Museum in South Kensington is an absolute must-see.
The permanent fashion gallery is free to visit, and filled with dresses, accessories and other pieces dating back decades, and sometimes centuries.
Admire Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent and other Vivienne Westwood creations, discover shapes, textures and styles you might only have seen in books and period movies.
Plus, if you happen to visit London when there’s a limited-in-time exhibition, like the Naomi in Fashion exhibition running until April 2025, you’ll find that the entry fee is well worth all the beauty you’ll find going from one iconic outfit to the next.
Read: The Best Free Things to Do on London’s Central Line
Best Fashion Museums in London: Museum of London
If the Museum of London is better suited for those interested in London’s history, it’s still a great, completely free place to visit to admire fashion pieces.
We’re only steps away from St Alphage church ruins and its adjacent, secret gardens, and minutes from the Barbican Centre and St Giles Cripplegate church, right in the heart of the oldest part of London.
Fashion pieces you will come across at the Museum of London trace the history of well-known Londoners and entire populations of migrants, from Queen Victoria to French Huguenots and Jewish migrants.
When you’re done admiring the extensive collection (thousands of pieces are exhibited!), discover some of the city’s best hidden gems:
- The Barbican and Smithfield neighborhood for sights of beautiful streets and other free historical sites, including ruins of the Roman Wall
- The Postman’s Park, a secret garden featuring a moving Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice
You can also walk around the old City of London, in search of historic churches redesigned after the Great Fire of London and the World War II Blitz.
Afterwards, why now make your way to Horizon 22 near Liverpool Street or the free rooftop at One New Change for stunning views of St Paul’s Cathedral and London?
Read: 5 Immersive Experiences in London You Shouldn’t Miss
Best Fashion Museums in London: Central St Martins, Granary Square, King’s Cross
If you’re on a budget, and only looking for free museums, I’ve got another one for you: the Window Galleries at Central St Martins in Granary Square, just off Coal Drops Yard and King’s Cross station.
Central St Martins is part of the University of the Arts London, and not only has several branches in London (one just steps away from Oxford Street), but also quirky concept shops perfect for unique gifts.
Several galleries other than the Window Galleries are located in CSM, including Lethaby Gallery and the study collections, which are regularly open to the public.
Once you’re done, enjoy a light lunch while admiring the Granary Square Fountains, a walk down Regent’s Canal or why not have some delicious breakfast or brunch before visiting the museum?
And if you’re into jewelry as well, one spot I can’t stop raving about is Maya Magal in Coal Drops Yard – this is one of the best indie jewelry shops in the city.
Plus, it also offers very unique workshops that make for a great moment with friends or solo, from which you’ll leave feeling oh, so creative!
Read: The Best Things to Do During Summer in London
Best Fashion Museums in London: Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey
If Bermondsey and London Bridge both offer plenty of hidden gems (that you can also visit even if you’ve only got one hour), the Fashion and Textile Museum is one of the first stops to make in the area if you’re into fashion.
Founded in 2003 by designer Zandra Rhodes, the Fashion and Textile Museum dives deep into style and trends with a permanent collection bound to spark your creativity.
Great to visit with kids due to all the colors and shapes, and if you’re planning to learn more about fashion, make sure you check the museum’s schedule for courses, workshops and other events to deepen your understanding of textile.
Then, once you’re done, you’ll find a free art gallery I love just minutes away, the White Cube Gallery, and plenty of really cute cafes along Bermondsey Street.
If, however, you feel you’re getting hungry, pop by Borough Market for an array of incredible street food bits, or The Shard for a high-end lunch at Hu-Tong (absolutely delicious Chinese food with a clear view of London!).
Read: The Best Things to Do During Autumn in London
Best Fashion Museums in London: London Sewing Machine Museum, Wimbledon
Located in Wimbledon, the London Sewing Machine Museum focuses more of the evolution of sewing technology, with hundreds of domestic and industrial sewing machines, than it does on actual fashion pieces.
If you’re into materials and technology, you might love to come across Queen Victoria’s daughter’s machine, gifted to the queen’s daughter as a wedding present in 1854.
Spanning over a century of technological improvement starting in the 1850s, the museum is a very interesting and secret place to learn more about textile and sewing machine’s history.
The only downside is that while it’s free to access, it’s only open on the first Saturday of every month from 2 to 5 pm.
When you’re done visiting, laze around at Wimbledon Common or go shopping at picturesque Wimbledon Village – this makes for a educational and relaxing day away from Central London, and probably one of the quirkiest you’ll experience in the city!
Read: The Best Things to Do in London When It Rains
Best Fashion Museums in London: Fan Museum, Greenwich
Tucked away in Greenwich, a beautiful maritime area facing Canary Wharf on the other side of the river, the Fan Museum is the only museum in the UK dedicated to the history and art of fan making.
It only costs 5 pounds to enter, making it a really cheap activity to do whether it’s raining or the sun shines bright – the ticket is even cheaper for kids, and free for children under 6.
Nestled in beautiful, restored Georgian townhouses, the Fan Museum showcases a collection of fans dating back to the 12th Century from around the world.
After visiting the museum, you’ll find some really cool spots to see in Greenwich, from its quaint market (a visit to Ruby’s of London for cupcakes is a must!) to its village-like streets, and Greenwich Park for views of the skyline.
Read: The Best British Desserts in London
Best Fashion Museums in London: V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green
While I called Bethnal Green my home for a little under a year, it’s only last year that I first paid a visit to the V&A Museum of Childhood, renamed the Young V&A, since its reopening in 2024.
If the museum is perfect to visit with kids, especially since it’s so colorful, free, and filled with interactive exhibits, solo travelers will also love to discover the collection of costumes and children’s clothing.
Before visiting, go for a strong cup of coffee at Italian cafe Quarantacinque, a proper Full English breakfast at E. Pellicci on Bethnal Green Road, or start at Victoria Park and admire the colorful Chinese Pagoda.
And when you’re done at the museum, you’ll find plenty of hidden gems in Bethnal Green and nearby Brick Lane.
This includes vintage shops, the Columbia Road Flower Market on Sundays, and really unique stores that range from terrariums to bookshop cafes and bagel shops open 24/7.
Best Fashion Museums in London: Design Museum, Kensington, West London
Kensington is famous for being one of the poshest areas in the city, and that’s where you’ll also find the Design Museum, which focuses on design in all its forms, often featuring fashion exhibitions.
The Design Museum is particularly important to visit even if you’re looking for fully fashion museums, as it explores the intersection of fashion and design, with an emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and creativity.
For instance, until April 2025, you can admire one of the greatest exhibitions of this year, The World of Tim Burton, with an array of drawings, paintings, photographs, and set and costume design.
Afterwards, if it’s not raining, take a walk to nearby Holland Park to discover the Dutch Garden and Kyoto Garden, or why not discover the very secret Leighton House Museum and its Arab-themed rooms for even more inspiration?
Read: The Most Unique Shops in London
London’s Fashion Museums: 8 Spots To Dive Deep into Style
Any Gossip Girl or Devil Wears Prada die-hard fan will agree – fashion is much more than what we wear.
It’s a reflection of who we are, our past, and a glimpse into where we’re headed.
London’s fashion museums capture this beautifully, and whether you feel more inspired by the historical pieces at the V&A or futuristic exhibitions of the Design Museum, you’ll hopefully have found plenty to dream, educate yourself, and why not – create.
Should you want to keep discovering London with more quirky itineraries than you’d think possible, I’d then recommend you check out those guides I’ve crafted for you:
- A Paris in London itinerary
- An Italy in London itinerary
- Or find more things to see in my guide to Quirky Themed Itineraries in London!