London Transport Museum

London Transport Museum explores the story of London and its transport system over the last 200 years, highlighting the powerful link between transport and the growth of modern London, culture and society since 1800. We care for over 450,000 items - preserving, researching and acquiring objects to use in our galleries, exhibitions and other activities.

As well as exploring the past, the Museum looks at present-day transport developments and concepts for urban transportation in the future, which includes a contemporary collecting policy for the benefit of future generations.

The Museum was granted charitable status in 2007 which has enabled us to secure funding from new sources such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, and trusts and foundations including the Luke Rees-Pulley Charitable Trust, thereby extending our learning and engagement programmes. This funding enables the Museum to offer learning opportunities, skills development and engaging programming to a wide variety of audiences.

The collection originated in the 1920s, when the London General Omnibus Company decided to preserve two Victorian horse buses and an early motorbus for future generations. The Museum of British Transport opened in an old bus garage in Clapham, south London, during the 1960s, before moving to Syon Park in west London in 1973 as the London Transport Collection.

In 1980, the public display moved again, this time to occupy the Victorian Flower Market building in Covent Garden as London Transport Museum.