The Barbie Exhibition At The Design Museum, London

If You’re A Barbie Fan, Go to The Barbie Exhibition at The Design Museum, London – It’s Sensible For Barbie Followers Massive And Small

Hey doll….in case you’re a fan of Barbie, ensure you pay a go to to The Barbie Exhibition at The Design Museum. It’s an excellent exhibition that showcases the design evolution of one of many world’s most well-known dolls.

The Barbie exhibition at The Design Museum in London contains over 250 dolls, gadgets of furnishings and equipment, courting from 1959 to the current day, and there are even a few of Margo Robbie’s costumes from the current Barbie film.

My tweens are actually far past the enjoying with Barbies age – this appears a lifetime away! – however they actually loved it, as did I, a Eighties childhood fan of the doll (after all!). It was top-of-the-line exhibitions we’ve seen not too long ago, and because it’s on till February 2025, right here’s why you need to see it.

What’s At The Barbie Exhibition At Design Museum?

In addition to the very first doll launched by Mattel in 1959 (my 9-y-o ‘Can I’ve one?’) there’s a big show of latest, notable and previous dolls, Barbie furnishings and equipment. All of Barbie’s pals are there – together with Skipper and Midge – and a there’s a wide array of Simply Kens.

We favored that it highlighted the variety of the Barbie vary, with examples of the primary Black, Hispanic and Asian dolls to bear the Barbie title, in addition to the primary Barbie with Down syndrome, the primary to make use of a wheelchair, and the present vary of dolls with totally different physique shapes.

In addition to the dolls, the exhibition contains details about the historical past of Barbie, the design evolution and the way the dolls are made. My youngsters often zip round museums however discovered this actually absorbing.

For any fellow Eighties infants, there’s plenty of recognisable Barbie nostalgia on show. Together with the enduring Eighties Peaches N Cream Barbie that I swear each woman both had, or had a buddy who had one they have been very jealous of.

For Inside Followers…Iconic Barbie Dreamhouses And Furnishings

The Barbie Exhibition additionally contains a variety of Dreamhouses, automobiles and furnishings, with a deal with how the design mirrored the tastes and traits and mirrored present day trendy design.

I cherished Barbie’s 90s ‘fashionable loft’ furnishings set (with the ever present inflatable couch, after all!)

There’s additionally a dreamy choice of doll-size design, together with this Nineteen Seventies modernist masterpiece A body Dreamhouse (my dream home!).

Barbie Film Outfits

The ultimate room showcases extra trendy Barbie references, together with designer outfits, journal covers and even a few of Margot Robbie’s costumes from the current Barbie movie (recognise this?)

What Age Is The Barbie Exhibition Appropriate For?

First off, The Barbie Exhibition is good for adults (I’d fortunately return for an extended look). There may be a lot fascinating info mixed with recognisable nostalgia from your personal childhood, in addition to recognisable gadgets from your personal youngsters’s childhoods. The exhibition additionally appears unbelievable – it’s designed so nicely (love all of the pink and the silver wallpaper within the ultimate room).

When it comes to the age it’s most fitted for youths, it is extremely a lot a toy exhibition the place you’ll be able to’t contact the toys,

With this in thoughts, the Design Museum has a cart of Barbies you’ll be able to take across the museum which I believed was a pleasant contact.

Nonetheless I’d say it’s greatest for barely older youngsters (college age and above doubtlessly!)

Do I Must Guide Tickets In Advance?

Do it’s worthwhile to guide tickets to the Barbie Exhibition? Sure, it’s worthwhile to pre-book tickets and even thought it’s bee on some time, they nonetheless appear to promote out rapidly (we went on the very finish of the summer season however nonetheless needed to pre-book a number of days prematurely).

Barbie tickets are round £8 for youths and £16 for adults.

What’s The Barbie Present Store Like?

The all-important query! In case your youngsters are something like mine, they love a very good present store – after all – however it may be laborious to seek out ones with a choice of good / helpful stuff that’s not horrendously priced.

Throughout The Barbie Exhibition, in addition to the primary Design Museum present store – which sells the standard gadgets you’d anticipate from a museum – there’s additionally a separate Barbie present store on the entrance to the museum. I used to be fairly impressed on the vary of things – in addition to the larger ticket dolls on the market, there’s a good choice of smaller and extra inexpensive toys, keepsakes and postcards.

The place Is The Design Museum?

The Design Museum is at 224–238 Kensington Excessive Avenue, London W8 6AG.

The closest tubes are Excessive Avenue Kensington, Earl’s Court docket and Holland Park.

Discover out extra on the Design Museum web site and guide tickets right here.

Extra of our favorite London museums:

The Museum of Childhood / The Postal Museum / And Tate Trendy