Paradox Museum London
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £18.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
London
What it’s like
A walkthrough of 50-plus optical illusions in South Kensington, including a Zero Gravity room made for photos.
This is a self-guided wander through more than 50 paradox-inspired exhibits, the sort of thing where rooms tilt and photos come out looking impossible. The big draw is the Zero Gravity Room, where you appear to float, and it's the bit everyone will be talking about on the way home. There's no set route to follow and no age limit, so a toddler can shuffle through it as easily as a teenager showing off for the camera.
Reckon on about 90 minutes inside. It's a walkthrough with no seating, so it's not really built for lingering, more a case of moving from one mind-bending exhibit to the next. Under-14s need a paying adult with them throughout, and anyone under 18 needs an adult's consent to go into the Zero Gravity Room specifically. Under-4s get in free, which softens the £18.50 child ticket a bit if you've got a mixed-age group.
Food is the one to plan around. The gift shop sells snacks and drinks but nothing can be taken into the museum itself, so eat before you go in or save it for afterwards. There's no car park on site either, just multi-storeys nearby, and prams can't get round the space, though they'll store yours at the entrance for you.
Tickets aren't compulsory to book ahead, but the site is upfront that they can sell out before you reach the box office on the day, which makes turning up on spec a bit of a gamble on a busy weekend. Some exhibits use strobe lighting, worth knowing if anyone in your group is photosensitive, and once you're through the door there's no late entry if you're running behind.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- No lower age limit; under-4s go free, under-14s need an adult with them
- Booking
- Advance booking recommended. Box office on site but tickets may sell out
- Parking
- No on-site car park. Several multi-storey car parks within short walk
- How long to allow
- Approximately 90 minutes
- Food
- Snacks and drinks available from gift shop
- Pushchairs
- Space is inaccessible for prams/strollers but pram storage available at entrance
- Wheelchairs
- Majority of museum wheelchair accessible
- Dogs
- Service dogs only
- Worth knowing
- Children under 4 years old enter free
- Strobe lighting features in some exhibits, worth flagging if anyone's photosensitive
- No refunds once you've bought, so double-check your dates
- Weapons, drugs, food, drink, smoking and vaping are all banned inside
- Under-18s need an adult's consent specifically for the Zero Gravity Room
Plan your visit
How much are tickets?
£18.50 for a child, £24 for an adult. Under-4s go in free.
Do we need to book in advance?
It's not compulsory, there's a box office on site, but tickets can sell out before you get there. Booking ahead is the safer bet.
How long does it take to get round?
About 90 minutes. There's nowhere to sit, so it's a keep-moving sort of visit.
What are the opening hours?
Monday to Thursday 10am to 5.30pm, Friday 10am to 7pm, Saturday 9.30am to 7.30pm, Sunday 9.30am to 6pm.
Can we eat there?
The gift shop sells snacks and drinks but you can't take food or drink into the museum itself.
Is there parking?
No car park on site, but there are multi-storey car parks a short walk away.
Can we bring a pram?
The space doesn't work for prams or strollers, but they'll store yours at the entrance.
Is it OK for young children?
There's no minimum age, and under-4s go free. Under-14s need to stay with a paying adult the whole time.
What about the Zero Gravity Room?
It's the standout exhibit for photos, but it's not wheelchair accessible and anyone under 18 needs an adult to consent to it on their behalf.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Most of the museum is, with free carer tickets available, though the Zero Gravity Room and some uneven or narrow spots aren't.
Can you turn up late in the day?
Late entry isn't permitted, so plan to arrive with enough time before closing to actually get round.
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