Museum of Brands

Table of Contents

You will take a journey through brands, packaging and products that tell the story of advertising from the Victorian era to the present day.

The Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising in Notting Hill is the result of an individual initiative. It grew out of Robert Opie’s private collection. There are over 12,000 items which together tell a story of over 150 years. The museum contains items ranging from cars, music, television, holidays and entertainment to branded groceries, sweets and household goods.

As you walk through this ‘time tunnel’ you not only see the evolution of brands, graphic design, and the development of marketing and advertising skills, but you see the evolution that forms a portrait of our society.

Not everything that looks new is new

The brand and product displays of the time also show how care for the beauty and design of the packaging was already an important factor in the sales strategy.

In addition to the commemorative dates, this visit to the Brand Museum also shows the impact of major historical events on products and brands. Certain materials, used as raw materials, had to be replaced due to demand.

This happened in particular with the arms industry during the two world wars. There is also the case of the games and toys industry where war is used as a theme for their products.

The brands of our time

Suddenly, during this walk, you start to feel more familiar with what you see in the windows of the Museum of Brands. The older you are, the sooner this happens, of course. In some cases, it is independent of age, as there are things that seem to be forever.

For example, when you stand in front of the Beatles’ showcase. No matter how old you are, who, in a way, doesn’t know them? Yet there is still much to learn, and this is one of the richest aspects of a museum: the preservation of history so that future generations can learn from the past.

Once you have looked through more than 150 years of advertising history, you have another part of the museum that is also dedicated to products and brands, but organised differently. The museum visitor now has a beautiful garden at his disposal. All the more reason for you to visit this very special place in London.