London has a number of large well-known museums, but it also has a whole host of smaller, less well-known but no less interesting museums. These smaller museums are generally dedicated to one particular thing and as such, they are the ideal way to explore something new or develop an interest further. The Cartoon Museum is one such museum and it does exactly what it says on the tin, it is a museum dedicated to the history of cartoons. Find out everything you need to know about visiting the Cartoon Museum with children in this guide.
The Cartoon Museum: the essentials
What is the Cartoon Museum?
The Cartoon Museum is a small museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating British cartoon and comic art. The museum champions these art forms by highlighting their significant value to culture and society, focusing specifically on British cartoons, caricatures, comics, and animation.
The museum houses a collection of original cartoons and comics, many of which are on display to the public.
Behind the scenes they also have a comprehensive archive containing more than 8,000 comics and books dating back to the 18th century.
The Cartoon Museum aims to collect, conserve, and provide public access to Britain’s cartoon and comic art heritage; encouraging broader participation in and awareness of these popular art forms; and supporting contemporary cartoonists and comics artists while championing Britain’s vibrant cartoon and comics communities.
Where is the Cartoon Museum?
The Cartoon Museum is located in Fitzrovia, just north of Soho and right off Oxford Street.
How much does it cost to go in the Cartoon Museum?
As at June 2025, entrance to the Cartoon Museum costs:
- Adult – £12
- Child (0-17) – free
Various concession tickets are available, including Universal Credit tickets (see our post for more attractions that offer discounts for those in receipt of Universal Credit and other benefits).
All paid tickets are valid for one year and are then an annual pass that allow for unlimited visits by the original ticket holder on production of the original ticket.
Do you need tickets for the Cartoon Museum?
You will need tickets in order to visit the Cartoon Museum but pre-booking is unlikely to be necessary.
When is the Cartoon Museum open?
The Cartoon Museum is open:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10.30-17.30
Sunday: 12.00-16.00
On the last Thursday of each month the Cartoon Museum is open late until 20.00.
Getting to the Cartoon Museum
What is the nearest tube to the Cartoon Museum?
The nearest Tube stations to the Cartoon Museum are Tottenham Court Road (Central Line, Northern Line and Elizabeth Line), Oxford Circus (Central Line, Bakerloo Line and Victoria Line) and Goodge Street (Northern Line). Slightly further away are Great Portland Street (Circle Line, Hammersmith & City Line and Bakerloo Line), Warren Street (Northern Line and Victoria Line) and Regent’s Park (Bakerloo Line).
Several bus routes also stop nearby.
How do you get into the Cartoon Museum?
The entrance to the Cartoon Museum is located on Wells St (on the left hand side of the road if you are walking North from Oxford Street) – look out for the neon sign in the window. It is located on the lower ground floor of the building.
Do I have to queue for the Cartoon Museum?
Unless you arrive before they open, you are very unlikely to need to queue for the Cartoon Museum.
At the Cartoon Museum
What is there to see at the Cartoon Museum?
The Cartoon Museum is made up of three main areas:
- Permanent exhibition
- Clore studio
- Temporary exhibition
Permanent exhibition gallery
The permanent exhibition showcases cartoons ranging from the 18th century and the origin of the term ‘cartoon’ in the sense that it is most commonly understood today, right through to the present day. It provides a history of cartoons.
The permanent exhibition gallery is organised in chronological order, and you follow the trail marked on the floor to go forward through time. Cartoons from the same time period are grouped together, for example, cartoons from the two world wars, post-war cartoons etc.
You should note that the focus of the cartoons in this exhibition is primarily on cartoons of a political nature, rather than on cartoons in the sense of those found in comics. For example, the most recent cartoons on display are largely those that were produced for newspapers on topics like Brexit and Covid-19.
Clore studio
Used for events, workshops and school sessions, the Clore Studio features more cartoons displayed on the walls. When not in use it is set up with tables, crayons and worksheets that give you the opportunity to put pencil to paper. There are also stacks of comics to leaf through.
Temporary exhibition gallery
The Cartoon Museum also has a gallery that hosts temporary exhibitions. These might be based on a particular cartoonist’s work or might, as with the Summer 2025 exhibition, be based on a particular subject or theme.
What age children is the Cartoon Museum best for?
As the main exhibition is heavily focused on political cartoons, the Cartoon Museum is likely to be best appreciated by teenagers who have at least a high level understanding of political history and current events, but for those that don’t, the explanations are really helpful.
Even if your kids don’t fully understand many of the cartoons, they are likely to find something to enjoy at the Cartoon Museum, whether that is the temporary exhibition or whether that is taking advantage of one of the many spaces around the museum where they can pick up a pencil and try their own hand at drawing.
What facilities are there for children at the Cartoon Museum?
The Cartoon Museum can accommodate step-free access if you need this for a pushchair.
You can borrow sensory backpacks for free at the front desk to make your visit more comfortable and enjoyable. These have been specially designed for autistic, neurodivergent and learning-disabled visitors of all ages, as well as visitors with anxiety.
There are a number of spaces around the museum where children can either read through comic books or draw. There are also trails that you can pick up at the start of the permanent exhibition gallery.
How long can you spend at the Cartoon Museum?
There’s no limit on how long you can spend there, but you can probably expect to spend up to an hour and a half there maximum, depending on your child’s interest.
Can you eat in the Cartoon Museum?
No.
Is there a question you have about visiting the Cartoon Museum with children that we haven’t answered here? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to address it.
