Cinema Museum

Over het museum

The Cinema Museum grew out of the private collection of film memorabilia of Ronald Grant and Martin Humphries. It opened in 1986 at Raleigh Hall in Brixton and later moved to Kennington. Since 1998 it has been based at 2 Dugard Way, the administration block of the former Lambeth Workhouse, where the young Charlie Chaplin once lived when his mother was in poverty.

The building is owned by an NHS trust, and the museum has faced the threat of eviction several times: a proposed sale in 2011, and a decision in 2017 to put the site on the open market, which led to a campaign and a petition with more than 52,000 signatures. After developers bought the site in 2022, the charity was given time to raise the money to buy the building itself, and fundraising continues.

The collection covers every aspect of going to the cinema, with over a million publicity photographs, posters and original artwork, film in all gauges, projectors, sound equipment, arc lamps, cinema uniforms from the 1930s to the 1950s, seats and signage, and fan and trade publications. The museum is run by volunteers as a social enterprise and also hosts screenings and events.

Hoogtepunten

• Over a million cinema photographs, posters and original poster artwork
• Early projectors, sound systems and arc lamps
• Cinema uniforms from the 1930s to the 1950s
• Art-deco signs, seats and other cinema fittings
• Former Lambeth Workhouse building linked to Charlie Chaplin's childhood

Vaste collectie

• The Cinema Museum collection – A guided tour shows highlights of the collection of cinema photographs, posters, projectors, uniforms and fittings, followed by a short film screening.

Opgericht

1986

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The ticket price is for the guided tour, which is the only way to visit. Carers who accompany a visitor are admitted free.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Level access on the ground floor, a lift to the upper floor and an accessible toilet on the ground floor.

Kinderen & gezin

Children and young people under 18 pay the concession price for the guided tour.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is within the Congestion Charge zone. The entrance is at Dugard Way, off Renfrew Road.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The main hall has a café and licensed bar during events; a shop sells souvenirs and vintage cinema items.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen

Tot 100 personen.

The Main Hall, a former workhouse chapel, holds up to 100 people; the 36-seat Screening Room is being restored and is due to reopen later in 2026. Bookings can include a VIP tour of the collection.

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