Fashion and Textile Museum
Bermondsey museum of contemporary fashion and textile design, with a changing programme of temporary exhibitions in a colourful building by Ricardo Legorreta.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Fashion and Textile Museum was founded in 2003 by the designer Dame Zandra Rhodes as a place to show British fashion design. It occupies a distinctive building on Bermondsey Street designed by the Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, painted in bright pink, orange and yellow. Besides the museum, the building contains residential flats and Zandra Rhodes's design studio.
Since 2007 the museum has been run by Newham College London, one of the largest further education colleges in Europe, and it has broadened its aims to celebrate and explore fashion, textiles and related disciplines. It has staged more than thirty major exhibitions on British and international designers, artists and brands, and its shows tour regularly in the UK and abroad.
Instead of a permanent display, the museum shows a changing programme of temporary exhibitions. It holds a small permanent collection of twentieth-century fashion and textiles assembled by Zandra Rhodes in its early years, which is used in learning programmes, and a selection curated by volunteers is displayed in the foyer. The museum also offers courses, talks, workshops and family activities.
Highlights
- The UK's only museum devoted to contemporary fashion and textile design
- Changing programme of temporary exhibitions
- Building by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, his only building in Europe
- Create and Learn activity space and Museum Explorer Kits for families
- Foyer display from the collection assembled by Zandra Rhodes
- Founded
- 2003
- Operated by
- Newham College London
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £11.50 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £10.50Ages 18 to 25, recipients of Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and disabled visitors |
| Children & teens | £9.50free up to age 11 · Under 12s free; Young Designer ticket for ages 12 to 17. |
| Visitors with disabilities | £10.50companion free · One carer ticket is free with each disabled person ticket. |
| Students & apprentices | £9.50UK full-time or part-time students with an NUS or equivalent card |
| Groups | –Groups must book and pay in advance; group leaders from schools and colleges enter free. |
| Art Fund National Art Pass holders | £5.7550% off the full-price adult ticket |
Prices shown are without the optional 10% donation. Tickets that include a donation cost £12.65 for adults, £11.55 for concessions, £10.45 for students and Young Designers and £6.33 for Art Fund members. Entry is free for reciprocal staff ID holders from participating cultural or heritage institutions. Booking in advance is recommended; if the exhibition is not sold out, tickets may be available on the day.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The entrance is step-free and the ticket desk is reached by a ramp in the foyer. The exhibitions are on the ground floor and a mezzanine, served by a lift that staff operate on request. Toilets on the ground floor include an accessible toilet. Portable folding stools can be borrowed, magnifying glasses are available at the front desk and large-print captions are at the entrance to the main gallery. The galleries have low lighting to protect the textiles, and films are subtitled. Guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome when working. Staff wear orange lanyards.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Time needed | approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 11 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
The Create and Learn space has free fashion and textile activities for anyone to try, though it can occasionally be closed. Children can borrow Museum Explorer Kits for primary-school ages. Workshops for ages 12 to 16 run in school holidays. Baby changing facilities are on the ground floor.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
London Bridge station · 8-min walk
London Bridge station (National Rail and the Jubilee and Northern lines) is an eight-minute walk from its St Thomas Street entrance. Buses 47, 343 and 381 stop on Tooley Street, buses 1, 42, 78 and 188 on Tower Bridge Road and bus C10 on Abbey Street/Long Lane. There is a taxi rank at the top of Bermondsey Street near Tooley Street.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park and the area is residential with permit-holder parking only, with limited free parking in the evenings and at weekends. The nearest car park is an NCP where Kipling Street meets Snowsfields, a five-minute walk away.
Santander Cycles docking stations are at Tyers Gate and Snowsfields; the museum has no bicycle racks.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
- Coat check
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Guest Wi-Fi is available; visitors should ask staff on arrival. An unstaffed cloakroom with hangers and small lockers is provided; suitcases and large bags cannot be stored. The shop is linked from the museum website.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Up to 350 guests.
Hireable spaces are the Workroom (50 guests), the Fashion Studio (80 seated or 100 standing), an IT training suite and the main gallery (250 to 350 depending on layout) outside opening hours; the museum is licensed for events until 11pm.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The museum suggests allowing 45 minutes to 1 hour. Groups can book guided tours of the current exhibition (45 minutes) and workshops for school pupils; groups of up to 20 are admitted at a time during opening hours. |
