I booked myself onto a guided tour of The Cinema Museum in Kennington, London SE11, and it turned out to be one of the most intriguing local discoveries I’ve made in a while. It’s not your typical museum; it’s inside an imposing former Lambeth workhouse, a place where Charlie Chaplin lived for a time as a child. Inside, you’ll find a treasure trove of cinema history, from the golden age of film through to more recent decades. Whether you’re a devoted film buff, nostalgic for old movie houses, or simply looking for one of the more unusual things to do in Kennington or near Elephant and Castle, this place is worth seeking out.
The Cinema Museum Guided Tour
The museum was founded in 1986 by Ronald Grant and Martin Humphries, who began displaying their collection of film memorabilia. This is now the museum’s third home. It’s also entirely unfunded, so visiting requires booking onto a two-hour guided tour, old-school style via email or telephone.
I visited on a Monday morning and found a small, mixed-age group gathered at the door just before 11 am. We were ushered into a corridor crammed with film reels and other memorabilia before heading upstairs to the main room. It’s an impressively large, high-ceilinged space that functions as a bar, café, souvenir shop, and small cinema. There’s a giant cut-out silhouette of Charlie Chaplin and an air of slightly ramshackle charm.
We were offered tea, coffee, or soft drinks for free while entrance fees were collected. Then we settled into the cinema seating for a half-hour talk by Martin Humphries, the museum’s co-director. He spoke about Chaplin’s connection to the building, the evolution of cinema, and shared some memorable anecdotes. His passion for preserving these memories was evident.
Exploring The Cinema Museum Collection
After the talk, we had around thirty minutes to wander. Most of the exhibits are found in the corridors we had passed through, rather than in dedicated galleries. Objects are grouped thematically but without descriptive labels, so Martin’s introduction helps bring them to life.
The collection is wonderfully idiosyncratic: vintage projectors, film canisters, ushers’ uniforms from the 1940s and ’50s, art deco cinema chairs, tickets, ashtrays, popcorn machines, cinema carpet samples, and even original cinema doors. There’s also an archive of hundreds of books, photographs, and film.
The slightly musty air, the dust motes drifting in the light, all add to the feeling that you’ve stepped back into a half-forgotten part of cultural history. I had to fight the urge to reorganise the display and remove any objects that didn’t seem to belong, but I had to let go!
Once your self-guided wander is over, you can return to the main cinema room to watch some films and browse the gift shop for tote bags, T-shirts, and postcards.
If you love the magic of the movies and the quirks of old cinemas, The Cinema Museum offers a rare and personal glimpse into a world that has almost disappeared. It’s part nostalgia trip, part history lesson, and part celebration of cinema in all its forms.
Helpful Information About The Cinema Museum
The Cinema Museum is located at 2 Dugard Way (off Renfrew Road), London SE11 4TH. The nearest stations are Elephant and Castle (Underground and National Rail) or Kennington (Underground), both about a 10–15 minute walk.
Guided tours cost £15 for adults and £12 for children and concessions. Dates and times vary, but tours are generally at 11 am and 1 pm. In August, tours were held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays; from September onwards, they appear to be on Saturdays. It’s best to check the website for the latest schedule. Booking is essential and must be done via email or telephone, with payment made on arrival. For more information, go to The Cinema Museum website.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.