Do You Remember These Four Lost London Museums?

London is home to at least 240 museums, which come in all manner of shapes, sizes and specialities.
This figure is subject to change of course, as new institutions open, whilst others sadly close...
In this video, I'd like to show you four lost London museums and, in doing so, hopefully give you some idea as to what it was like to visit them during their heyday.
Depending on your age of course, most of the places we'll be seeing here were open within living memory- so if you do have any recollections of them, please do be sure to share them in the comments as I'd love to hear them!
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
01:20 The Museum of the Moving Image
05:31 The Nature Study Museum
08:15 The Britain at War Experience
10:52 The London Toy & Model Museum
13:54 Outro
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Links for this video:
Pollock's Toy Museum appeal
www.pollockstoymuseum.co.uk/l...
The Kent Museum of the Moving Image
www.kentmomi.org/
The Cabaret Mechanical Theatre
cabaret.co.uk
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Thanks again for watching, friends. Stay well, and please be sure to stay tuned!
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Credits:
Footage used in this video:
Cabaret Mechanical Theatre Footage
• Video
The Blitz Experience Footage
• LONDON'S BRITAIN AT W...
MOMI birds-eye view: e-architect.com
MOMI Footage 1
• Museum of the Moving I...
MOMI Footage 2
• Museum of the Moving I...
MOMI Footage 3
• Museum of moving image...
MOMI Footage 4
• MOMI promotional video
Britain at War image: Mike Peel (Creative Commons)
London Toy & Model Museum Footage
• London Toy & Model Mus...
Music used in this video:
First Dream (Brian Bolger)
Analogue Cabin (Noir Et Blanc Vie)
Veracruz (Quincas Moreira)
Faultlines (Asher Fulero)
Natural Light (Chris Haugen)
Dreamland (Aakash Gandhi)
Local Elevator (Kevin MacLeod)
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[@andyoncam1]

Interesting video on those we have lost. I filmed at MOMI and the Model & Toy Museum for Nickelodeon back in the early 90s. As a cameraman I obviously found MOMI especially interesting, whilst the Toy museum had a lot of charm for this fan of model railway layouts. I also filmed at the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre some years earlier whilst working on a CH4 series called the Secret Life of Machines.

[@Robslondon]

Brilliant comment Andy, thank you.

[@MakeAllThingsBeautiful]

the toy museum looked wonderful a proper quirky london attraction in a lovely part of town, same also for the nature museum which had to close because of the war, the momi building ... urgggh

[@claredonachie5013]

My favourite two long gone museums are the Museum of Mankind (now absorbed back into the British Museum) and the Commonwealth Institute- both of which had fantastic interactive exhibitions that delighted me as a child.

[@Robslondon]

Much agreed Clare! I did consider both of those for this video… may include them in a second instalment at some point 😉

[@neilthehermit4655]

@@Robslondon please do something on the Museum of Mankind. - I have fond memories of the place !

[@Robslondon]

@@neilthehermit4655 Thanks so much for this Neil. A few people now have mentioned the Museum of Mankind... I remember it too and did have it shortlisted for this video. If there's enough support I may will include it in a sequel. Cheers and stay well.

[@rugosetexture2716]

I agree. The BM was great, but the Museum of Mankind was always a special treat; the Commonwealth Institute was very 1960s, but in the best way. Happy memories! :o)

[@WifeMamaArtist]

OMG, the Commonwealth Institute was wonderful!!

[@darriendastar3941]

What a great video. I loved Pollock's Toy Museum. I used to work round there in a truly depressing and dispiriting job and discovered the museum/shop by chance, I used to escape there just to remind myself I was human and I can't tell you the number of times I bought last-minute presents from the shop. I also remember the Britain at War museum. I took my aunt there once. She'd lived through the war and had very clear recollections of what went on. We whipped round incredibly quickly with her narration of "Bollocks, bollocks, it was never like that, ooh they've got that dead right, isn't it sad, bollocks, bollocks, I remember that" To be honest, I think she was more interested in the fact that I'd promised to take her to the pub and I was paying. We got through the entire place in slightly less than 15 minutes. My favourite museums that no longer exist any more are the Museum of Mankind because it used to have the weirdest people and infinitely stranger exhibits from time to time, the National Geology Museum (when I was a kid I'd wander through that place and it was like Ali Baba's cave - it was glorious) and there used to be a weird little place up near Euston called something like 'The Museum of the Expedition to Mesopotamia', which was a shopfront containing musty, dusty, fusty documents and incredible maps that looked like they hadn't been touched since the 1920s (they probably hadn't). If you're looking for ideas for future videos, you should investigate some of the smaller and incredibly obscure colleges and schools that made/make up the University of London. I went to a place called the Warburg Institute and was told by a straight-faced librarian that they kept a pentagram in the basement in case a demon or Alisteir Crowley wanted to visit to examine the archives. It was a joke but I only half-laughed because that plae was creepy.

[@Robslondon]

Absolutely brilliant comment, thank you! I’d love to have met your Mum, she sounds like a great lady! 😄 And yes, much agreed about the Museum of Mankind- I did consider including it here….maybe one for a future video. Cheers and stay well.

[@samuelfellows6923]

Sounds more like your auntie was suffering from post-traumatic -stress-disorder, 😨 ~ I certainly would not take an elderly relative to a war museum in-case they had an adverse reaction to it, (given if they were born before the war and had to live through it) and given the amount of repetitive [soft] swearing your auntie emitted when reacting to the exhibits 🫢☹️

[@alisonwilson9749]

The Warburg used to have the currrent Courtauld paintings up on the top floor, it was wonderful.

[@Robslondon]

@@alisonwilson9749 Interesting, I wasn't aware of that.

[@TheUluxian]

You mentioned Narisa (Chakrabongse) Levy. There is a very interesting woman and family. Her uncle, Prince Bira, was a renowned race car driver during the 30's and 40s. She has either authored or co-authored quite a few books. Her grandfather was the 40th child of King Chulalongkorn of Thailand. She has the official title of Mom Rajawongse. Fascinating lady.

[@Robslondon]

Beautiful comment The Uluxian, thank you. Couldn’t agree more about Narisa and her family, they are as you say, truly fascinating. I discovered a lot about them when researching this video. Most heartbreaking was when I read one of her relatives died at Barons Court tube station; collapsed from a heart attack in 1985. It took a while for the authorities to realize that he was royalty. Thanks you my friend and stay well.

[@iwasglad122]

I heartily recommend Eileen Hunter & Narisa Chakrabongse's book, 'Katya & The Prince of Siam' which continues the story - and I must acknowledge, far more truthfully - that began with Anna Leonowens and her two books, 'The English Governess at the Siamese Court' and 'The Romance of the Harem.' Extraordinary stuff. Fascinating indeed!

[@Robslondon]

@@iwasglad122 Interesting, thank you David.

[@louisep4805]

The days when kids went out and about to see things and learn instead of staying indoors and gaming. Great and interesting vid thank you Rob 🙏💎

[@Robslondon]

Thank you Louise, stay well

[@WifeMamaArtist]

The problem is, there are so many less now. I used to take my kids to at least one museum or gallery each school holiday. It's now got to the point where we've either seen most places multiple times, or they're just aimed at a younger age group (they're tween/teen now).

[@653j521]

That entirely depends on the parents. If the parents live online, so will their kids.

[@annother3350]

My son would spend 12hours a day outside if he could

[@HYUKLDER1]

If interested in similar museums to visit: The Museum of Childhood, toys, etc (part of the V&A) exists now in its Bethnal Green location since 1974. The London Film Museum is in Covent Garden and Cinema Museum in Kennington. Horniman Museum, Forest Hill has a natural history collection, bee hive and many taxidermied creatures to learn about. London Museum Docklands at West India Quay has a docklands at war exhibition.

[@Robslondon]

Good recommendations, thank you.

[@WifeMamaArtist]

I always found The Museum of Childhood to be most disappointing. The Toy Museum was heaps better.

[@chrisball3778]

The V&A Museum of Childhood has been closed for a few years, as it's being substantially revamped. I checked the website and it's due to reopen in July this year, renamed as 'Young V&A'.

[@damascus6478]

I went to MOMI on my second trip to Britain in 1993 and it was wonderful. I saw Nick Parks' animated piece, Creature Comforts, and it was a great place to sit down during a busy day of sightseeing in London. I was carrying a small camera in a case and one of the interpreters who was dressed as an usherette in front of the theater told me, "Sir, the war is over, you don't have to carry your gas mask anymore." I also loved the Britain at War Experience. I have seen almost every WWII museum in the United Kingdom and thought this was one of the better ones. I thought I had gone to this Children's Museum but I think the one I went to was on the central line at Mile End or someplace out east. I can't find any reference to it and I'm wondering what it was.

[@Robslondon]

Such a wonderful comment Damascus thank you; really enjoyed reading this! Is it the ‘Museum of Childhood’ you’re thinking of?

[@damascus6478]

@@Robslondon Sounds right. I really embraced the interpreters and loved watching the tourists shy away because they might have to say something to them. Ran into some great people at Duxford Air Museum and HMS Warrior who were wonderful in their roles. They really enjoy the acting and I enjoyed giving them the chance to show off.

[@TheWizardOfTheFens]

As a young boy in the 1970’s, I used to visit a museum - The Passmore Edward’s museum - in Stratford, East London at least once per week. It was a quite small museum, but was full of magic for me. I used to then go to the library next door to read up on much of the periods covered by the museums exhibits. The curator there was also a very friendly and interesting man who would spend as much time as needed to discuss things with me - even though he’d done it time and time again! It’s a shame that these treasures are lost forever. They formed a big part of my education growing up.

[@Robslondon]

What a lovely comment :-) Thank you for sharing!

[@AngelaDavis-yz3xf]

We lived round the corner to this museum and would also visit weekly, loved it.

[@hatjodelka]

They're adults now but my children absolutely loved MOMI. It was the one museum they all enjoyed. I can't remember any other museums at that time that employed actors. The Soviet film train sticks out in the memory. The actress that played her part in that particular exhibit was superlative. London has great museums but there was always one child that wasn't engaged.

[@Robslondon]

A lovely comment, thank you 😊

[@hatjodelka]

@@Robslondon Well, it was a lovely museum. We were all really upset when it closed. We must have visited 5 or 6 times. The kids asked the 'Soviet' actress lots of questions and she had clearly done her research. Her accent was really good and she only slipped back into her English accent as we were moving on to another exhibit when she told me my kids were great! My husband really believed she was Russian until that moment.

[@Robslondon]

@@hatjodelka 😄

[@markshrimpton3138]

I’ve never heard of any of these defunct museums Rob, not even MOMI, which as a former television graphic designer is unforgivable. As always, thank you for shining a light into four former treasures of the capital.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks so much Mark! Don’t worry, it’s easy for such places to slip beneath the radar- especially so in years gone by. Cheers mate and stay well.

[@thetragicyouth]

I loved the old Theatre Museum in Covent Garden. When it closed, the collection was passed to the V&A, so I imagine it will eventually be moved to the David Bowie Centre for Performing Arts at the new V&A site in Stratford, East London, due to open in 2025.

[@Robslondon]

Fantastic comment. I actually had the Theatre Museum down as a fifth inclusion, but due to circumstances I didn’t have time to detail it here. The David Bowie Centre sounds wonderful.

[@sarac.3259]

I'd forgotten how enjoyable the Theatre Museum was. I hope its collection can be exhibited again, like you mention.

[@pj_naylor]

I used to ring at St George-in-the-East in the late 80s/early 90s and was always intrigued by the Nature Study Museum, so it's good to finally find out about its history. Sad to see it in such a sorry state though.

[@Robslondon]

Wonderful comment Phillip, thank you. Let’s hope it gets restored at some point.

[@WifeMamaArtist]

I've been trying to remember the Toy Museum for years! No wonder I've never been able to find it as an adult. I would've dearly loved to have shown my children the garden. I also used to LOVE the MOMI. 😔Thanks for the memories x (Side note: so many places have been turned into 'experiences' nowadays. Not only are they all extortionate, but they don't suit neurodiverse kids).

[@Robslondon]

Thank you so much; an excellent comment and thoughts.

[@srfurley]

There used to be a Gas Museum near Bromley-by-Bow station. I didn't know about it until after it closed, and the exhibits were moved to another Gas Museum, in Leicester I think. Near to the building which used to be the Museum is a small war memorial garden, with a continuously burning gas lamp.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks so much Stephen, I’ll have to look into the gas lamp, sounds incredible.

[@srfurley]

@@Robslondon This is the address: Imperial Gas Light and Coke Company Memorial Gardens (in Industrial site) Twelvetrees Crescent Bromley-by-Bow London E3 3TE England If you do a search on that you should find a picture. Twelvetrees Crescent is not named after a dozen large plants which grew there, but after a person with a strange name.

[@Robslondon]

@@srfurley Thanks Stephen... didn't know that about Twelvetrees, I always assumed it was after twelve trees, ha ha!

[@knowlesy3915]

Yet another fantastic video, if a little sad. Hope there's enough for a part 2?

[@Robslondon]

Many thanks Knowlesy. Yes, if this video is a popular one I may well do a second instalment; I had 10 museums in mind at first 😉 Cheers and stay well.

[@grahamwheeldon5872]

This is very interesting, I remember visiting the London Toy & Model Museum in the late 1980s when I lived in Lancaster Gate. I worked at the Science Museum at that time as assistant curator of the Telecommunications collection, and remember visiting MOMI as they had some of our items on loan.

[@Robslondon]

Wonderful comment Graham, thank you for sharing.

[@vespasian606]

The London Picture Archive has some pretty good pictures of the interior of the old nature study museum. Worth checking out.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks Robert.

[@PaulMcCaffreyfmac]

I'm sad to say that I visited none of these fascinating looking places. The lost (moved really) museum that looms largest for me is the old Museum of London that was part of Kensington Palace in Kensington Gardens and although it is still very much there I do miss the old Imperial War Museum from before the big redesign. Thanks again Rob.

[@Robslondon]

Excellent comment and thoughts Paul, thank you and stay well.

[@BlackCatMargie]

When I visited in 1992 there was a museum near the Tower of London, called the London Pageant. It was gone when I visited again in 2010. There was a ride inside that took you through London's history. I remember enjoying it.

[@Robslondon]

Gosh, yes! I remember that! Thanks for the memory!

[@russyboy68]

Sad they have gone. I remember going to MOMI, the Britain war museum, and the Toy Museum. That was great nostalgic video.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks so much Russy, lovely comment. Stay well.

[@emmam586]

I loved the Momi museum as a kid! I definitely still miss the commonwealth institute. I remember the dolls from all over the world.

[@Robslondon]

Lovely comment Emma, thank you :-)

[@brianlopez8855]

I like your slow paced old fashioned style of presentation, well researched but bite sized portions readily digested. Most agreeable Rob..

[@Robslondon]

Much appreciated Brian, thank you.

[@georgiacsapo]

My mum used to take me to the Britain at War Museum a lot! We loved it. I didn't know that's what it was called. I didn't realise it shut down and so long ago! 😞

[@arejayseeottawa]

I visited MOMI back in 1990! It looked like an exciting and fun place to visit! I was back there in 1998 to see a special exhibition on the "Carry On" movies. Unfortunately, during that later visit, it was quite evident to me that the museum had seen better days, and was becoming quite worn. Anyway, thank you for another great video about London!

[@Robslondon]

Thanks so much Robert. My experience mirrors yours; went when it first opened and then towards the end... it was a bit run down by then wasn't it. Cheers and stay well.

[@johnbacon1854]

Hey Rob. What a lovely video of lost memories. Although I didn't visit any of those I did know of a couple of them. The Nature Study Museum is sad to see in that condition. The tiling on that wall really did look like old Morgue tiles. Shame the war closed it down. A real loss to all the School Kids. Its a shame they can't find a way to house some of the smaller ones in one nice place. I think it would draw more visitors and secure the history of yesteryears. Hope you and family are doing well. Take care and best wishes.

[@Robslondon]

A lovely comment John, thank you my friend.

[@CorvoFG]

I remember the museum of the moving image very well. My father was in Thatchers Government at the time and he used to take both myself and my brother there occasionally as it was close to the house of parliament.

[@Robslondon]

Interesting comment Jason, thanks for sharing.

[@dslatts5361]

Omg loved the Museum of the moving image. I used to live around the corner from it & loved it.what a great day out. Thanks for video.xx

[@Robslondon]

It’s a pleasure; hope it bought back some nice memories!

[@sharonleong7120]

Great and interesting video. I love it. Thanks Robert. 👍👍👍😍😍😍

[@Robslondon]

Thank you so much for your support Sharon 😊

[@wonderglory]

I remember the Britain at War Experience Museum very well. The feeling I felt inside kind of reminded me of what now-retired movie director John Boorman experienced in his childhood days during the London Blitz. That was depicted in the 1987 motion picture, "Hope and Glory." I wonder where have everything in the collection have gone to now.

[@Robslondon]

Good comment, and thank you for reminding me about that film! I haven't seen that in years :-) Stay well.

[@AtoZbyLocalBus]

I have been to two of the Museums in this video, and they where the Museum of the Moving Image and Britain At War Museum at London Bridge. Also I have visited Tower Hill Pageant Museum that was beside the Tower Of London. Also in the early 2000s I visited another Movie Museum in London, that was beside the London Eye, where Shrek's Adventure is now located.

[@ChrisSmith-ls7mb]

Hello Rob Very interesting video. The bell foundry where big Ben was made had a small museum which we visited in 2017 and purchased a small bell. It was at the time the oldest business in it's original home and it closed in 2018. Today is planning day as we map out what we are doing each day on trip to London the first week of May. Take Care Chris and Sandra of Canada.

[@Robslondon]

Yes, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry! So historic… and you’re coming to London in May? That’s wonderful to hear 😊

[@ChrisSmith-ls7mb]

@@Robslondon We have decided to come for the coronation. Looking forward to the visit. Thanks

[@Robslondon]

@@ChrisSmith-ls7mb 🙂

[@mattashman4040]

Really liked MOMI - went there first on a week day early, there was a new Ray Harryhausen exhibition. And the man was visiting checking everything was good. What a really nice man.

[@Robslondon]

Ah, would've loved to have met him!

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

I loved the MOMI and its costumed docents. I had a wonderful chat with the "Hollywood director." I started going on about early Hollywood scandals, most of which seemed new to the docent. The more salacious ones (like Fatty Arbuckle) had to be told in whispers. The docent finally laid hand on my arm and asked me to slow down. "I'm trying to keep track of all this. I wish I could take notes."

[@Robslondon]

😂 Great comment and memory! I remember the director well; saw him storming around and shouting at an actress who was having a tantrum, calling her “honey”!

[@Jpkjr52]

I did get to see Pollack’s Toy Museum. Sorry to see that is closed. Thanks again John in Chicago

[@Robslondon]

Really glad to hear that John. Let's hope it finds a new home. Take care my friend.

[@Rachel-bo3qg]

Interesting content, the concentration camp exhibition is totally shocking and disturbing!!

[@Robslondon]

Thank you… yes, crazy wasn’t it 😕

[@loisrossi841]

Great fun.

[@Robslondon]

Thank you!

[@tracyfryer8153]

Wow places I never even knew where there. Such a shame they have all disbanded as that's part of our past that needs remembering. Thank you Rob it was worth the wait. I lived in the Canterbury area and watched that happen there too. All the little old oddities that gave you a glimpse of the past slowly shut whilst bigger museums grew into expensive places to visit for locals and only free passes given to city dwellers. I've visited loads of museums and heritage centres across this island and learnt so much about people's in different settings. Shame the corporation doesn't fund these areas for free use anymore. ❤️

[@Robslondon]

Wonderful comment Tracy, thank you. I love Canterbury, would love to do a video about the city at some point. Cheers and stay well.

[@tracyfryer8153]

@@Robslondon that would be awesome I've been away for a few years and try to find up to date videos but I'd love one from you, as your dialogue is interesting. Thank you ❤️

[@Robslondon]

@@tracyfryer8153 🙂

[@SLane249]

Brilliant as always, thanks for sharing.

[@Robslondon]

Cheers Stephen; much appreciated. Stay well mate.

[@nelliemelba4967]

I loved the MOMI. My BIL was one of the actor "directors" at one time and when we turned up unexpectedly, he stayed in character when he saw us, and we played along with him, much to the amusement of the rest of the visitors! So sad about the toy museums too. Thanks Rob, for keeping them alive in the memory!

[@Robslondon]

Brilliant memory Nellie, thank you! I clearly remember going there (would’ve been late 80s/early 90s) and seeing a ‘director’ storm around shouting at an ‘actress’… I wonder if it was him? 😉

[@nelliemelba4967]

It might well have been!🎬📽📣😊

[@PaulB-17]

Reading the comments it seems like you may have enough material for a sequel here Rob ..... HINT HINT! Also I love all the little side stories to the main themes of your videos. How you don't have 100 times the number of subs is beyond me. Well done again Rob.

[@thewrecker3140]

Paul I concur with you 100%. Lovely comment.

[@Robslondon]

Really appreciate that Paul, thank you so much. I will certainly consider a sequel at some point! Thanks for the kind words and stay well.

[@nelliemelba4967]

Yes! I'm also remembering the Telecom Technology Showcase at Blackfriars, The Bramah Tea and Coffee museum, The Planetarium, and the David Evans Silk Musuem, in Crayford, South East London, all gone now.

[@Robslondon]

@@nelliemelba4967 Yes, sadly... I had those on a shortlist- may well do a part two ;-)

[@petercalthorpe7966]

Thanks for sharing, so interesting. 👍🏼👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Robslondon]

Much appreciated Peter, thank you

[@Britoverseas]

Fascinating video Rob. Loved it. Thanks. Lance

[@Robslondon]

It's a pleasure Lance, many thanks.

[@Sinmara]

I used to work in Tooley Street, right next to the old Southeastern Railway offices. They were doing renovations on the upper floors there and one day I was passing underneath when I heard a crash - a large piece of glasspane fell down and narrowly missed me and other pedestrians

[@Robslondon]

😬

[@hobhood7118]

I was an actor/guide at MOMI in 1989, part of the second acting company. It was a job which while interesting to start with became increasingly difficult as most of the summer visitors were non-English speaking tourists. They looked at us as if we were mad. That's one of the reasons why the acting staff became disgruntled or 'bored'. Basically, we were required to put on an improvised show for four-hour stints with no breaks. I'm glad some of the comments enjoyed the actors. We did our best and there were some great moments but the job was a slog.

[@Robslondon]

This is a wonderful comment Hobhood; it's really lovely to hear from someone who worked at MOMI. I can see how non-English speaking tourists would be puzzled! I wonder if that was considered when the museum was being planned? I have to ask, what character did you play?

[@hobhood7118]

I was a victorian showman in the 'pre cinema' section and the guy on the russian cinema train. The exhibits were designed and built before an acting company was ever thought of so we had to work around what was there. When bored i used to go into other sections and improv other characters. I'd meet up with the 1930s hollywood starlet, put on a new york accent and play her agent. We'd get told off for doing things like that. I also did costume character work and was Noddy for most of the Noddy 70th anniversary year. That took me on a publicity shoot to the toy museum featured in your video. I'd forgotten it until now.

[@Robslondon]

@@hobhood7118 What a superb comment! Thanks so much for taking the time to write your memories down, really enjoyed reading your account.

[@lesleysmith51]

I can't believe that Pollocks closed I loved that when I was a child. I don't know how many times I went there. Very interesting video. It's sad that all of them closed. I wish I had gone to MOMI, that looked really interesting. I can't believe the War in Wax display with a German concentration camp, that is disgusting. Kind of sad but an enjoyable presentation.

[@Robslondon]

Excellent comment Lesley, thank you so much. Yes, sadly Pollocks closed very recently.... a tragic loss. Let's hope it finds a new home soon. Stay well my friend.

[@CPonSound]

I remember MOMI, they had a darlek you could go inside and it would change your voice. I believe some of the collection is now in Bradford's film museum. And I loved the Toy and Model Museum, I remember riding the train in the garden, it was a really magical place. EDIT: The other one I remember was the Commomnwealth Institue, with it's Heliride simulator which I only remember as we had a mug with the logo on. The site is now the Design Museum.

[@Robslondon]

Lovely comment Charles, thank you!

[@hoosierwood]

Thank you for the update on The Museum of the Moving Image. I went there during the Doctor Who exhibit. I wish I could remember it better. Enjoyed the tour of the National Theatre. I went to The Theatre Museum in the Covent Garden. Too bad the is gone also.

[@Robslondon]

It's a pleasure. I went to the Dr Who exhibition too 🙂

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks for another cracking vlog very interesting 🧐

[@Robslondon]

Thank you so much David!

[@deanieleet]

I went to The Britain a War Experience! The 'lift' that takes you down to a mock up of a tube station wasn't real! it was a mock up of the inside of a lift which kind of jiggled up and down a little bit to make you think you're moving. And there was no lift at the end to take you back 'up' again. I was pretty proud of myself for noticing that when I was 8 years old, and now it's finally paid off! I also remember the mock up of the bombed out street prominently featured a collapsed department store with it's mannequins scattered about the place, they were clearly meant to be window display mannequins, with bald heads where their wigs had come off, they didn't look like people at all, but it was obviously designed to make imagine a much more gruesome scene.

[@Robslondon]

Ha ha ;-) Great comment Dean, enjoyed reading your memories.

[@patdoherty2414]

Another great video, Rob...👏

[@Robslondon]

Thank you Pat

[@nicholaswalker2494]

Super video as always,as you know not coming from London I’ve never been to these museums.The toad in the nature study museum reminds me Gabriel the toad in Bagpuss an 70s children’s tv program,I’m probably showing my age now,keep up the good work and see you next time 👍👍👍

[@Robslondon]

Lovely comment Nicholas, thank you- can’t beat a Bagpuss reference 😉

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Thank you for another great video. All the best from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

[@Robslondon]

Cheers Scott, much appreciated!

[@ImperialistRunningDo]

I miss Vinolandia, the wine museum. I miss the Bramah Tea Museum. The Commonwealth Institute... ah, on cold grey wintery days in London, I would pop into the institute and spend a lot of time "visiting" Jamaica. I found the bright simulated sunlight, projected photos of tropical birds, and fake warm breezes perked me up no end. It was only years later that I first heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder.

[@Robslondon]

Great comment- and those museums you mention were all considered for this video 😉

[@CthulhuInc]

cheers - came over here from john rogers page.

[@Robslondon]

Many thanks :-) John Rogers makes brilliant videos.

[@davepoole9520]

I remember going to MOMI. I liked the interactive actors walking around and in light of modern technological advances I think a lot more interactive exhibits would make it more popular nowadays. The Spitting Image Rubberworks in Covent Garden gave you the chance to handle some of the discontinued puppets which had been damaged and had a lot of artwork on the walls from the cartoonists who helped design the puppets. Its finale was an animatronic Spitting Image Question Time sketch although it was difficult to hear properly because of the audio setup. Maybe speakers should have been set up for each individual puppet rather than a blanket sound which you weren't too sure matched the movement.

[@Robslondon]

Brilliant comment Dave. Interesting thoughts… and you brought back a lot of memories for me- I too visited the Spitting Image Works when I was younger but had forgotten about the Question Time sketch! Cheers mate 😉

[@jared1870]

This was incredibly enjoyable. Thank you!

[@Robslondon]

It's a pleasure! Thanks for watching :-)

[@reachandler3655]

The Britain at War Experience sounds amazing. It's difficult to imagine what is was like living through such an experience, tv and films help, but I feel somehow the scale is lost.

[@Robslondon]

Yes, I think the Imperial War experience gave a very good idea, although sadly I think their blitz ‘simulator’ is now long gone too.

[@musiqueetmontagne]

Another interesting, well made, informative video Rob.. Excellent stuff, keep it up. Thanks. 😊

[@Robslondon]

Much appreciated, thank you!

[@davidhull1481]

Looking at this I assumed that I would never have been to any of these, but I actually did visit the MOMI in 1992. I wished I could’ve spent more than the one afternoon there that I did go.

[@aaarrrggghhhh]

I remember my girlfriend and I taking my niece to the model and toy museum. The museum was packed with interesting things, beautifully displayed and the train was a big surprise as it was in such a small back garden. Another great video, Rob.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks; a lovely comment. Stay well.

[@gareththomas6714]

absolutely fascinating--love the detail

[@Robslondon]

Many thanks indeed Gareth! Stay well.

[@tonycox5625]

Thanks for that Rob, I remember the Toy and Model Museum but not the others, ( I always liked the toy museums as I have a large collection of Dinky Toys)😊. Once again an interesting and informative vid. 👍

[@Robslondon]

Thanks Tony; a lovely comment :-)

[@altosanon]

I went to 3 of these 4 museums, too young for the 4th one! I loved Momi and it was a shame it was let to wear out really. I went to the Britain at War Experience with my Dad who had lived in London through the war and he didn't have any problems with it at all - he was enthusiastically showing me how things were. I remember being terrified going in a mock up of a Anderson shelter with sound effects of an air raid going on outside. My Dad however was completely unmoved by it - I suppose if you lived through the real thing it was nothing. As for the Toy Museum, I mainly remember the railway engine outside. It took me years to realise that this was a separate museum from the Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green!

[@Robslondon]

Excellent comment, many thanks for sharing your memories.

[@paulmerryman]

Another great video Rob. It's a shame that we have lost so many of these places. As a kid growing up, these were definitely places that amazed.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks so much Paul. Stay well.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thank you for the video. Amazing places.

[@Robslondon]

Thank you Daniel.

[@flitsertheo]

On a trip to Scotland in 1992 I met a British actress called Linda Bertram (from Horsham) and if I'm not mistaken she worked part-time at the MOMI, as one of the "living exhibitions" there.

[@Robslondon]

Nice memory 😊

[@flitsertheo]

@@Robslondon Mentioning Scotland, I know 1 lost museum in Edinburgh : the Wax Museum. Visited once. Rather serious in setup, no Americanized Madame Tussaud nonsense here. Had the mandatory horror department (which could be avoided), the rest of the museum was about the history of Scotland which could be summarized as Mayhem, Murder and Massacre.

[@Gillian-xl7wb]

Hi, Thanks for another interesting episode. I remember a a couple of three of those museums, like MOMI, I went there. 👍😁

[@Robslondon]

Thanks Gillian 😉

[@Gillian-xl7wb]

👍😎

[@mrcockney-nutjob3832]

Great channel you have here mate, good luck to you.

[@Robslondon]

Really appreciate that mate, thank you 😉

[@artel6225]

I went to MOMI the exhibitions were fun & the Britain at war museum was more of a curiosity visit. Good video the march of tech & time often puts paid to some of these places😢

[@Robslondon]

Good comment Artel, thank you.

[@user-vl3rr2do8y]

Thank you!. the museums I remember was The Theatre Museum was awesome, often had exhibitions of the new shows and all the background to setting them up, with sketches mini theatre set ups. Quite often from the national theatre.. Then had dressing rooms of old theatre actresses from way back to its Hey Days before film. Where actors, actresses and music hall singers were the celebrities' of the days with queues going down the streets. Also the museum of mankind which was awesome, I have sketches of drawings i did there on school trips.I wish i drew in the Theatre Museum. An unusual one but there used to be a cozy hidden cafe in the V and A downstairs in the V and A which was all wooded and you entered at the side street. It got closed down in the 90s sometime when they turned it into new tiolets and a ramp, I was heartbroken was my haven, The ones in the main hall were too busy and more touristy. I guess they have private rooms now if you pay for year fees etc, but i used to love sketching and have sketches somewhere of the v and a as well Thank you!

[@Robslondon]

Lovely comment, thank you! The Theatre Museum nearly made it into this video, but unfortunately I couldn't find much about it... thanks again and stay well.

[@user-vl3rr2do8y]

@@Robslondon thank you so much.great research on the ones you found. i know there isnt much, there is a book on the theatre museum but just has photos from what i remember. Cant remember if there was much info on the museum in it.

[@andicheese1763]

Thanks for sharing, always an enjoyable and informative watch. 👍🏻

[@Robslondon]

Many thanks Andy, stay well my friend

[@smiley4288]

Britain at war was fantastic…very sad to see that gone…definitely needs to be re housed 🤘😎🤘

[@JacqTracks]

Thanks!

[@Robslondon]

Thank you so much JA Morgan! Much appreciated my friend :-)

[@SlurpyDave254]

Ha ha, Video Nasty, seems an old saying nowadays. Love the animal insect museum and of course the toy museum. Sad loss, some fine buildings , nice one Rob

[@Robslondon]

Ha ha 😉 Cheers Dave!

[@butchknapman3939]

Rom Greetings again from Thailand , yet another great video I have exactly the same picture of Steiner Street before the modernisation of London Bridge Station as it states street I dove through it regularly when bringing a commuter coach up from Kent. There is also another old street under the station it exits into into Tooley street by the underground station Tobacco dock used to be one of the starts for the Original hop on hop off London open top bus tours, started from there many times, three tours a day Hope you are not too cold, I know it's not good in the UK at present

[@Robslondon]

Great comment Butch, thank you. Yes, I too used to drive through Stainer Street... incredible to see how it's changed. And I'm just about keeping warm thanks!! Cheers and stay well.

[@stewartellinson8846]

I was a big fan of BFI & MOMI and later moved to Bradford where I discovered the National Museum of Film, Photography & television, which covers much of the same ground, albeit with a more TV spin.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks Stewart; yes that's a museum which is well worth a visit. Cheers and stay well.

[@Risingtide930]

Just found this channel, great content Rob. I love social history too.

[@Robslondon]

Thank you so much; good to have you here.

[@Nettsinthewoods]

The new king should mind his mother and keep his thoughts to himself. Nice vid Rob, I remember many of these old museums.

[@Robslondon]

Thank you Annette 🙂

[@LondonAndy70]

I'd passed the Britain at War experience countless times, but had never been inside. I hadn't even really noticed it had gone to be honest, and although it is always a shame to lose a museum, the new London Bridge station almost makes it worthwhile....

[@Robslondon]

It is incredible what they've done with the station I must admit.

[@AndrewMartinIsHere]

I remember going into MOMI perhaps twice on one of the 'big trips' we went on in my childhood to London - there was always someone on the blue screen flying backwards over London. I also went to the Spitting Image works too in the early 90s, and took a load of photos, including one of John Major sitting on a stool outside the entrance eating a sandwich of peas.

[@Robslondon]

Great comment Andrew, thanks! I remember the Spitting Image Works too :-)

[@robtyman4281]

Great video of four fascinating museums. We should feel their absence more. Just goes to show we shouldn't take any museum for granted - even the most popular, like the Natural History Museum, the V&A, or the British Museum. Btw, you forgot to mention the Museum of Mankind. I remember going there when I was at Primary school back in the 1980's. Not sure when it closed, but it must have been at least 25 years ago.

[@Robslondon]

Lovely comment Rob, thank you so much. Yes, I remember the Museum of Mankind well- I did in fact consider including it in this video! I believe the collection is now part of the British Museum?

[@colchestergallery3996]

Thank you for this informative video, Rob!

[@Robslondon]

It's a pleasure, thanks so much for watching. I'll give your channel a watch; looks interesting!

[@janebaker966]

Do you think you might visit the Cumming Museum in Walworth some time if it still exists. It was above the local library. There was a big fire there one time so I don't know if the museum artefacts survived. I visited there once and I thought it was an excellent little museum

[@Robslondon]

Thanks Jane… sadly, I believe the Cumming Museum is no longer open…

[@janebaker966]

@@Robslondon im sad about that. Thanks for telling me.

[@claredonachie5013]

It’s now in the Southwark Heritage Centre on the Walworth Road… heritage.southwark.gov.uk

[@Slycockney]

Yet another brilliant video Rob, thank you. The toy museum in particular is a sad loss, children really miss out by not being able to visit these amazing places.

[@Robslondon]

Many thanks Reaper55, stay well

[@yippee8570]

I remember being dragged round MOMI when I was a teenager. I had not long been diagnosed with M.E. (aka chronic fatigue syndrome) and I think my parents thought that if they *made* me move I'd be fine. I spent the next few weeks in bed because, you know, that's not how it works. Not that anyone knew how it worked back then. Anyway, fantastic video! Keep up the good work 😀

[@Robslondon]

Bless you, Yippee! Hope you’re keeping well; thanks for such a lovely comment.

[@jonathanscott7372]

I needed that nature museum in my youth. I was brought up near Kensington Gardens until I was five years old. We then moved into the country, where I promptly discovered a red ants nest, by sitting on it. In my short shorts, I was bitten all over my legs. I have hated red ants ever since.

[@Robslondon]

Oh dear! Not a nice memory Jonathan!

[@dougknight1720]

Thanks Rob. Interesting and fascinated as always. Your Historical research is always incredible…

[@Robslondon]

Much appreciated Doug, thank you so much.

[@jamesmaclennan4525]

Never went to the Nature Study Museum but I did visit the the others more than once

[@asheland_numismatics]

Yes!!! Looking forward to this one. 👍

[@Robslondon]

☺

[@annettescott5884]

Another really interesting video Rob. So sad to have lost such interesting places though 🙁

[@Robslondon]

Thank you Annette, stay well.

[@anjasteinbauer6957]

There was also the Livesey Museum for Children on the Old Kent Road, a great loss when it closed down 2009 or so.

[@Robslondon]

Yes, much agreed Anja.

[@cheech7900]

Well constructed, informative, a touch of blade runner synths, another excellent piece Rob, thank you.

[@Robslondon]

Such a lovely comment Cheech; thank you my friend and stay well.

[@cheech7900]

@@Robslondon your welcome, your pieces are always enjoyable, like taking a walk with a friend. I look forward to your next post.

[@ajs41]

We used to visit the Museum of the Moving Image a lot in the late 80s and early 90s when I was about 10 years old. I remember that it never had very many visitors whenever we were there. I'd always wondered what had happened to it.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks Andy, same here- sounds like we’re about the same age. Cheers and stay well.

[@Em280483]

Aw I went to MOMI on a junior school trip. A classmate of mine had a green jumper & so his chest & arms were invisible on the green screen. Great interactive museum for children & adults alike.

[@Robslondon]

Ha ha! Nice memory ;-)

[@jonathanchalk2507]

Thank you.

[@Robslondon]

Thanks Jonathan.

[@paultapner2769]

I went to the museum of the moving image not long after it opened, which was somewhen back in the 90's It was pretty good. I knew it had long since gone though. I spent three to four stays in London from 1997 - 2020, but haven't stayed overnight since because the place I went to didn't survive the pandemic. But in my travels during those days I would on a fair few occasions get trains from London bridge. You could see the at war experience from the platforms there. It was on my list. I hadn't realised it had gone though. Pity. I had been doing a lot of the smaller ones. Which don't take too long to go round but are pretty interesting. In the past twelve years I went to the household cavalry one. The guards museum. The museum of brands. The museum of garden history. The canal museum. The royal artillery museum. The RAF museum. The banqueting house. All you can do in under ninety mins to go round, but they were all great visits. All are worth a look.

[@Robslondon]

Lovely comment Paul, thanks for taking the time to share. Cheers and stay well.

[@matthew-Williams]

I used to love visiting MOMI, would spend all day in there wandering around and playing with the exibits. The staff even go so used to me being there they would let me use the only EMI 2000 TV camera that was working at one point.

[@Robslondon]

Nice comment Matthew, thank you.

[@barrywa39]

Brilliant as always Rob. I never visited any of them, but it made me think of my birth city, Bradford. The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford seems to cover what the MOMI did, but does it in a massive way, and probably the Bradford museum maybe had something to do with the closing of MOMI. The other thing that reminded me of my childhood, was the beehive, and the little tunnel for the bees, and the glass sided hive. There was one just like that in Cartwright Hall in Bradford. I was always fascinated by it.

[@Robslondon]

Lovely comment Barry. Yes, the National Science and Media Museum is legendary! Cheers mate and stay well.

[@ladyellice1863]

Another interesting episode Rob! 👍🏻 I remember visiting MOMI with my brother just before it closed and I wasn’t very impressed (a bit too young perhaps?) but I remember liking the actors! 😃 I also visited the Britain at War Museum and thought it was very exciting & I particularly liked the “Tube air raid shelter “. I do agree however that the advertising was in pretty poor taste.

[@Robslondon]

Wonderful comment Lady Ellice, thank you! Yes, I remember visiting MOMI in its early days and then towards the end.... it was pretty run down by then sadly. Thanks and stay well.

[@klisher]

I visited MOMI twice. once in 89 and again in 1991 for the Doctor Who exhibit. i still got the leaflet for it and i bought a Tv shirt with the theme tune on it (Dum'de'dum'' whooo hooo) which i still have in the packaging never opened.

[@Robslondon]

Great comment Klisher. I visited the Dr Who exhibition too 😉

[@klisher]

@@Robslondon 😊😊👍