Toys from the Thames
-
Explore medieval toys and miniatures.
Delve into the the playful side of Londoners through rediscovered toy treasures in this lecture from Hazel Forsyth, Senior Curator at London Museum.
London Museum holds the largest collection of medieval and early modern base-metal toys and miniatures in the world – almost all recovered by mudlarks.
In this lecture, Hazel Forsyth, Senior Curator at London Museum and author of Toys, Trifles & Trinkets, will consider how the toys were found, made and used and who they were intended for.
Whether they were playthings for children or novelties for adults, they all offer fascinating insights on the cultural life of London and Londoners.
Need to know
London Museum Docklands is open every day 10am – 5pm.
If you have time, why not also visit our free galleries and get more in-depth with Docklands history?
Our address is London Museum Docklands, No. 1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL. We're just a few minutes away from Canary Wharf and West India Quay.
Check our need to know page to get the answers to all the frequently asked questions about visiting.
Our cafe is the perfect place to sit down and relax for a bite or tea break. We have sandwiches, pastries, snacks and a wide selection of hot and cold drinks.
You’ll also find our shop with a curated range of gifts and souvenirs, including posters, prints, toys, books and jewellery.
More about shopping, eating & drinking
Tags
-
London Museum Docklands
London Museum DocklandsSecrets of the Thames
Now until – 1 Mar 2026
Exhibitions & displays
Unearth London’s past in the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to mudlarking
-
London Museum Docklands
London Museum DocklandsRemarkable mudlarking finds
28 Sep 2025
Talk
Discover some of the most surprising finds from the Thames with Dr Michael Lewis
-
London Museum Docklands
London Museum DocklandsMudlarking alchemy
27 Sep 2025
Talk
Uncovering the long-lost tools of the people who lived and worked along the river, with Monika Buttling-Smith
