please empty your brain below
I visited MotH earlier this year and enjoyed the fresh approach, and welcomed the wider-society context. My only bugbear: many of the display labels are optimised for small or wheelchair visitors, which made reading them tiresome for a tall masked visitor with bifocals and a sore back! The gardens were in a largely dormant state, so I need to revisit soon.

Frank F | 09.06.22 - 7:20 a.m. | #

Oh, that's a well-timed post. I was thinking what area to explore for Open Gardens this weekend, and you've reminded me that I haven't been to the museum since it re-opened - and your write-up makes it sound well worth a revisit. Will nicely slot in amongst the gardens around there.

Peter of London | 09.06.22 - 8:13 a.m. | #

We were there two months ago and we’re very impressed in their children’s pack available at reception. A bag of toys to take around the museum that intersects with the exhibits.

It kept our two year old fully engaged and allowed us to explore the exhibits!

TomH | 09.06.22 - 8:15 a.m. | #

We visited when it first re-opened and were pleased with what they had done. However, I was very cross that they had put in such a posh cafe when they talk endlessly about inclusivity etc. If you are taking your kids there for a visit it's helpful if there are snack options available. Their previous cafe wasn't bargain bucket but you could get a juice and a piece of cake for a reasonable amount of money.

Joan | 09.06.22 - 9:06 a.m. | #

The situation with descriptive labels is the same at the British Museum, the Tate, Tate Modern and the RA. With my short-sightedness, still awaiting a cataract operation, I have to bend down to cat's eye level to read them. Very tedious and eventually a pain in the back. Why is the text so tiny? Are they short of Letraset sheets above 24 point?

Alex McKenna | 09.06.22 - 9:40 a.m. | #

I was very disappointed to return to the Geffrye after the refurbishment - so much money and time just to a) remove the name of the man without whom it wouldn't exist in the first place b) add an enormous amount of proselytising woke claptrap. I won't be going back.

barbicanman | 09.06.22 - 9:53 a.m. | #

I've been meaning to revisit so thanks for the reminder.
I always enjoyed the period rooms, but the rest always seemed to be a bit lacking so I'm hoping there'll be more to keep my interest now.

However, if it's nostalgia you're after, the Museum of Brands is the place to visit!

Cornish Cockney | 09.06.22 - 11:11 a.m. | #

I haven't visited for quite some time, so it is interesting to read what has been happening. Thank you. I think there used to be a recreation of a small carpentry workshop near the old entrance, to show the link to what were the local furniture trades, but I believe that disappeared in an earlier revamp?

I agree with Cornish Cockney about the Museum of Brands, always a good visit, and also a wallow in nostalgia for some of us.

g.chingford | 09.06.22 - 11:44 a.m. | #

I visited at the height of the pandemic precautions so not the most relaxed of tours but still enjoyed it. Maybe trying a little too hard to shed their old approach but still didn't feel it was "proselytising woke claptrap".

Very much with Joan re the cafe. I just wanted to take the weight off my feet with a mug of tea and a piece of cake but it seemed to be expensive meals or nothing. The cafe is open to non-museum visitors so they're presumably hoping to get more trade that way but ironically it encouraged us to go elsewhere for refreshments as we'd already had to leave the premises and there was nothing we wanted.

Andrew S | 09.06.22 - 12:15 p.m. | #

I hope all these museums and gallerys that are ashamed of their history will be paying back the money, investments and bequest that set them up. If they don't agree with what their founders did I hope they are equally upset about the present conditions in this country.

Tones | 09.06.22 - 3:00 p.m. | #

Surprised by the less positive experience of others re: the new cafe. I visited mid-morning prior to the museum, having got thoroughly cold and wet walking due to train issues. I only bought a coffee; the customer service was excellent and prices less than in a Starbucks or similar, etc.

Frank F | 09.06.22 - 6:33 p.m. | #

It will always be the ‘Geffrye Museum’ to me.

Neesi | 09.06.22 - 6:46 p.m. | #

It seems from the Museum of the Home website that the cafe is now either under new management or at least trying out a very different offering. It says that 'Molly's Café currently offers tea, coffee and cakes. We are working with our suppliers to develop a new seasonal, good value menu for Museum visitors, our neighbours and food lovers alike'. From the Trip Advisor reviews it is clear that a number of visitors, like Andrew and I, were less than impressed with the place. It is good to see from Frank's account that things have improved.

Joan | 09.06.22 - 6:50 p.m. | #

Café merits a trip on its own.

Sven Ellis | 11.06.22 - 10:04 a.m. | #











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