Cuming Museum

The Cuming Museum investigates the history of Southwark, one of London's oldest boroughs. The museum is home to the collection of the Cuming family; this contains artefacts from paper bags to Egyptian figurines.

The collection was left to the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark by Henry Syer Cuming, he and his father Richard has amassed their 25,000 strong collection during their frequent travels abroad together and independently between 1780 and 1900.

Richard Cuming's collection began when he was given three fossils by his grandmother, from their on in his interest in science and natural history became a passion, a passion he passed on to his son Henry. The collection comprises of ethnography, decorative art, example of geology, textiles, prints, coins, ceramics, ancient Egyptian and Etruscan objects and items collected by Captain Cook on his travels to South America and New Zealand.

As well as the Cuming Collection the museum houses the Cuming family gallery and the Southwark gallery that explores the history of the local area from Roman times. In addition to the permanent collections and galleries there are also temporary exhibitions on display and family events taking place throughout the year, to find out more about these events check out our Exhibitions and Family sections.

The Cuming Museum is located on Walworth Road; it is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm excepting Public holidays.

Find out more about the Cuming Museum.

How to get there

The closest tube stations are at Elephant & Castle and Kenington.

If travelling by bus the 12, 35, 40, 45, 68, 148, 171, 176, P5 and 343 stop outside the museum.