Depot Open Days: London by Design
- Saturday 27 April 2024, 10:30-17:00
- Sunday 28 April 2024, 10:30-17:00
Event description
Join us at the Museum Depot in Acton, west London to explore some of our favourite design icons. This three-day extravaganza will celebrate all things London Transport design and give you the opportunity to explore our collections store, with its treasure trove of over 320,000 objects.
Frank Pick pioneered a world-renowned design culture at London Transport, with the help of design icons like Harry Beck and the underground map, Charles Holden’s station architecture and Enid Marx’s moquette patterns. Our collection highlights over 160 years of incredible design pieces from the first Roundels to the one and only red Routemaster bus.
Come and hear from our expert speakers, build your dream Lego city and test your knowledge of London Transport’s moquette patterns. Explore the largest collection of transport signage in the world, and admire the Tube carriages, trains and unique road vehicles from London’s past and present. We’ve got great family activities too, including designing your very own Underground tiles. It’s a fantastic day out with something for everyone!
Image gallery
Video trailer
What's happening?
Every day
Heritage Vehicles
Yard
In addition to the incredible collection inside the bus and train shed, explore even more of our vehicles out in the Yard.
Match the Moquette
Train Shed
Think you know your Elizabeth line moquette from your Barman? Test your knowledge of a variety of famous past and present moquette patterns in our drop-in activity. Suitable for all ages.
Hidden London Stall
Entrance to Train Shed
Come and learn terrific Tube trivia to share with your friends! Try on Hidden London branded clothing to take photos in front of iconic London Underground roundels, and find out about our Hidden London in-person and virtual tours behind the scenes of Underground stations.
Memory Mile
Large Object Store
Share memories and stories of your time on London’s transport network.
Live music
Yard, 12:00 – 16:45
Relax to the sound of live music out in the Yard as we celebrate busking on London’s transport.
Selfie stations
Take a selfie with our Metropolitan line and Love the Tube 160 backdrops to remember your visit to the London Transport Museum Depot. Don’t forget to tag us using @ltmuseum!
Book corner and soft play
Portakabin
Cosy up in our transport themed book corner, or take time out of the hustle and bustle at the soft play area. Recommended for ages 3 and under.
London Transport Museum Friends
Bus Shed
Find out more about supporting London’s transport heritage when you visit the Friends desk in the Bus Shed.
TALKS
Welcome to the Depot
Holden Room
Friday & Saturday: 11:00, 12:30, 14:00
Sunday: 11:00, 12:45, 14:45
What is the Museum Depot? Which vehicles and objects can you discover here? Join us for a short 15 minute talk to discover what the Depot is, as we highlight a few of our favourite collection objects for you to look out for during your visit. Talks last approximately 15 minutes.
Why are London buses red?
Bus Shed, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
Volunteer Depot Guides explore the history behind one of the key aspects of London’s public transport identity in this short 10-minute talk in the bus shed. Talks last 10 minutes.
TOURS
Please note that places for tours are limited, you must sign up in advance. Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Hidden London behind the scenes
Meeting point: Under the Sign Mezzanine, 11:00, 11:45, 12:30, 14:00, 14:45, 15:30, 16:15
Take a tour to discover London Underground stations … in miniature! Explore captivating, lifelike models of stations such as Acton Town, Aldwych and Piccadilly with the Hidden London team, who lead guided tours behind the scenes of these real-life Tube stations. Tours last 20mins; numbers are limited, please sign up in advance at the bottom of the yellow stairs.
Pallet racking
Meeting point: Large Object Store, 12:00, 13:15, 15:00, 16:15
Take a one off behind the scenes look at some our special and unique objects and uncover some of our mysteries of the Depot. #LTMMysteriesOfTheDepot
Tours last 30mins; numbers are limited, please sign up in advance at the large objects store.
SHOPPING
At the London Transport Museum Shop you can buy exclusive gifts and souvenirs from moquette pattern socks, scarves and cushions, to framed posters, limited-edition prints and authentic Underground signs. At the Museum Friends shop, you can also pick up second-hand books, signage, maps, prints, photographs and transport ephemera.
Local artist stall: Charlotte Berridge Studio
Yard
Local designer and illustrator Charlotte Berridge is selling her range of prints, cards and tea towels inspired by the fabulous architecture of West London, including prints of many of Charles Holden’s iconic tube stations.
FOOD AND DRINK
Yard
Enjoy some of your favourite dishes from Mexican hot food truck The Lil Kitchen, or treat yourself to a hot drink and a sweet snack from the Mini Bean Coffee mobile bar.
-
Friday 26 April
Please note this schedule is subject to change.
TALKS AND SCREENINGS
Please note that places for talks are limited, first come first served.
Redesigning a museum brand
Holden Room, 11:30 and 14:30
Our journey of rebranding our Museum to better connect with our audience, communicate its mission and values, and remain relevant in a rapidly changing cultural landscape. Talks last approximately 30 minutes. Sau-Fun Mo, Head of Design, London Transport Museum
Perfect patterns: A story of moquette
Holden Room, 13:00 and 15:45
A talk by textile designer Harriet Wallace-Jones, one half of the famous Wallace and Sewell design company, which has created iconic moquette fabric designs for the London Underground, London’s buses, the Elizabeth Line trains and London Overground. Talks last approximately 30 minutes. Harriet Wallace-Jones.
Q Stock volunteer team
Train Shed
Visit our Q Stock carriages in the train shed, and learn more about our current restoration project, supported by the London Transport Museum Friends.
-
Saturday 27 April
TALKS
Waterloo Station 1848-2023, 175th Anniversary
Holden Room, 11:30 and 14:30
Go behind the scenes of this iconic station that opened as a temporary station only, yet is now, by its number of platforms, the largest station in London. Hear from John King as he explores the station from its architecture and art to the shortest tube line on the network. Talks last 30 minutes.
For Business or Pleasure: London Transport Poster Art and its Promotion of London
Holden Room, 13:00 and 15:45
London Transport was one of the biggest commissioners of poster art in Britain during the twentieth century, learn about the variety of posters and their artist from Head Curator Matt Brosnan. Talks last 30 minutes.
Design your own Underground Tile
Portakabin, 11:00 – 13:00, 14:00 – 17:00
Since the late 19th century, decorative tiles have been used in the design on underground stations. Join our family craft activity and have a go at designing and decorating your very own underground tile. Suitable for families with children aged 5-11.
Lego Dream City
Yard
Try your hand at designing your very own Lego city! Suitable for all ages.
Signalling live interpretation
Large Object Store
Watch a live demonstration of heritage train signalling equipment.
Q Stock volunteer team
Train Shed
Visit our Q Stock carriages in the train shed, and learn more about our current restoration project, supported by the London Transport Museum Friends.
London Transport Miniature Railway
Museum Depot Entrance
Ride on our working 7¼ in gauge London Transport Miniature Railway: it’s based on real London Underground locomotives, carriages, signals and signs. Suitable for all ages; tickets sold separately on the day.
-
Sunday 28 April
TALKS
Behind the scenes of filming on the underground
Holden Room, 11:45, 13:30, 15:45
Join our Director of Content, Chris Nix, as he pulls back the curtain on filming documentaries about hidden and secret spaces on London Underground. Chris is historical consultant for Secrets of London Underground and creator/producer of Hidden London Hangouts. Talks last 30 minutes.
Design your own Underground Tile
Portakabin, 11:00 – 13:00, 14:00 – 17:00
Since the late 19th century, decorative tiles have been used in the design on underground stations. Join our family craft activity and have a go at designing and decorating your very own underground tile. Suitable for families with children aged 5-11.
Lego Dream City
Yard
Try your hand at designing your very own Lego city! Suitable for all ages.
London Transport Miniature Railway
Museum Depot Entrance
Ride on our working 7¼ in gauge London Transport Miniature Railway: it’s based on real London Underground locomotives, carriages, signals and signs. Suitable for all ages; tickets sold separately on the day.
Location
2 Museum Way
118-120 Gunnersbury Ln
London
W3 9BQ
United Kingdom