Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s lost treasures
Until 1 March 2026 | 10am – 5pm | Tickets from £16 | All ages

Explore the hidden world of the mudlarks.
Twice a day, the River Thames dramatically recedes to expose a landscape unknown to most Londoners. Among the mud and the stones, the tides reveal remarkable objects from every era of London’s rich past. The exhibition features over 350 mudlarked objects, from intimate personal items to historical relics, with many on display for the first time. Step into the shoes of a mudlark and explore the foreshore, uncover artefacts and learn how they identify and curate their personal collections.

The journey ends with a space for reflection on the mysteries of the moon and the tides that make mudlarking possible, leaving visitors with a powerful, contemplative memory of their time uncovering the secrets of the Thames. Blending archaeology with contemporary art and digital experiences, Secrets of the Thames offers fresh perspectives on London and all its people – past and present.
What will you discover?

By Appointment Only: Romani art, culture and heritage
Opens 25 November 2025 | 10am – 5pm | FREE | All ages

This new display showcases works by British Romani artists Corrina Eastwood, Dan Turner and Turner prize-winner Delaine Le Bas, exploring identity, heritage and Romani visual activism. Co-curated with artist Corrina Eastwood, By Appointment Only highlights the Romani communities’ contribution to British society, challenging stereotypes, and offering an invitation to foster better understanding and connection.

About the artists

Corrina Eastwood
Corrina Eastwood is an artist, activist and writer. Her personal experiences as a British Romani woman have shaped her work which highlights marginalised voices and challenges social inequality.

Delaine Le Bas
Delaine Le Bas is a British Romani artist. She addresses themes of belonging, gender and modernity in her work, through various forms including installation and performance.

Dan Turner
Dan Turner is a British Romani artist and educator from South-East London. His work examines the relationship between Romani and mainstream culture in Britain. Objects and industry are important themes in Dan’s work, as they are in London Museum Docklands.

Walks & talks:

Post-war Poplar & Call the Midwife
27 Nov and 17 Dec 2025 | 10.30am – 12.30pm and 11am – 1pm | Tickets from £18 | Adults only

A guided walk of Poplar featuring stories and sites connected with the internationally-renowned memoir, Call the Midwife.
Join our guide to explore the history of the streets of Poplar and their connections to Jennifer Worth’s bestselling memoir, Call the Midwife, about her work as a midwife in London’s East End in the 1950s.
Stops include the Lansbury Estate, Poplar High Street, the site of Poplar Workhouse, Chrisp Street Market, All Saints Church and St Frideswide’s Mission House – the very building that inspired “Nonnatus House” in the memoir.
Hear about the local community, as well as the nurses and nuns of the Order of St John Divine who served them.

Wonders of the warehouse tour
Nov and Dec 2025 | 1.30pm-2.15pm | Tickets from £8 | All ages

Our building is one of the last remaining fragments of the old West India Docks. The warehouse was once a hive of activity and stored imports like sugar, rum and tea – eventually closing for business in the 1980s. You’ll have the opportunity to visit some areas not usually open to the public, to learn more about working lives of the dockers who once walked these floors.

Caribbean Voices: Shaping Docklands trail
Until 24 Jan 2027 | 10am – 5pm | FREE | All ages

A museum trail shedding light on the Caribbean community’s contributions to London Docklands, created in collaboration with local partners.
This trail highlights the need to reclaim the histories of colonised Caribbean nations, the role of Caribbean produce in shaping Britain, the contributions of Second World War veterans, and the many ways the community has influenced the local area’s past and present.
Pick up your guide on the Third Floor, continue the trail on the Second Floor, and find the six stops that showcase the stories of Caribbean contributions to London Docklands.