Migration Museum

Migration Museum Building the UK’s Missing Museum. We explore how the movement of people to and from the UK has made us who we are.

Community guidelines → https://www.migrationmuseum.org/community-guidelines/ Migration is a pressing contemporary issue and is at the centre of polarised political and online debate. But there’s an underlying story of comings and goings stretching back many centuries. And this story goes to the heart of who we are today. Britain has thousands of museums, but none comprehensively focused on this im

portant theme that connects us all. The time is right for a highly relevant, accessible visitor attraction that shines a light on who we are, where we come from and where we are going. From our current home in the heart of Lewisham Shopping Centre, we stage engaging exhibitions and dynamic events, alongside a far-reaching education programme for primary, secondary, university and adult learners. Our museum is reopening to the public in May 2021. We have a growing digital presence and convene a knowledge-sharing Migration Network of museums and galleries across the UK. From February 14 2020, we'll be staging exhibitions,
events and education workshops from our new venue in the heart of Lewisham Shopping Centre.

"The world cup is a confronting time to reflect on your own identity, and a way where sport brings all people together- ...
23/06/2026

"The world cup is a confronting time to reflect on your own identity, and a way where sport brings all people together- a beautiful contrast that works simultaneously together. Despite our differences, I love that there’s always a common language on the pitch." – Nicole Chui

⚽️Ready to turn your favourite kit into a wearable archive of your own journey?

This July, we’re teaming up with embroidery artist Nicole Chui () for an exclusive workshop at 's Backyard Biennial! 🧵✨

During the final weekend of the men’s World Cup, Wearing Our Stories is your chance to use hand embroidery to transform your favourite football shirt.

We’ll be stitching, creating, and opening up a conversation about football, migration, race, and belonging –and what it means to feel at home on and off the pitch.

Whether you're a total beginner, or an intermediate stitcher looking to level up, this session is shaped for you. Plus, you'll be able to wear your finished creation just in time for the final! 🏆

📍Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX.
💙Entry is free. All welcome
⏱️Saturday, 18 July | 2 - 3:30pm

🔗 Tap the link in our bio () to book your spot now! Make sure to let us know your stitching level on the booking page so Nicole can tailor the magic just for you.



🪡 About Nicole
Nicole's currently exploring her identity in football, movement and sports through her embroidery art practice. Born in Hong Kong and now based in London, football and dance have always been core in Nicole's life, from training as a ballet dancer for 10 years, to co-founding the London based football club – a grassroots football community for women, trans, and non-binary people of Asian heritage to play football.

Previous clients and shows include , , , , , , the .vam and the .

Stay tuned for more updates on our Whitechapel Backyard Biennial events! Full details coming soon, or check the link in our bio.

10/06/2026

“He didn’t really choose to come here, it was expected that with the benefit of this education he would leave his family and leave his community behind.”
– Amardeep Patel (), People’s Panel member

Amar’s Nana Ji lived through Partition when he was around 14, and later in life, in the 1960s, journeyed from Punjab to the UK. Today, Amar is honouring their grandparents’ legacy by exploring with other second- and third-generation Punjabis and South Asians what it means to be in community in the former heart of Empire.

At the we believe the best way to bridge gaps and find common ground is through the power of storytelling and story sharing. We want to be a place where everyone feels a sense of ownership and representation; a space for the kind of honest dialogue that helps us understand one another better.

Because we want to build a museum that reflects who we are and the world we live in, we are working with our People’s Panel of 50+ incredible individuals from all walks of life who are helping to shape key aspects of our permanent home.

Amar’s grandfathers’ story is just one of many that make up the complex past, present and future collective story of the UK.

👀 Keep an eye out for more introductions from our panel. 🔗 Hit the link in our bio to see how panel members are helping us shape our museum.



💡Nana Ji: an affectionate Hindi and Punjabi term used in South Asian cultures to refer to one’s maternal grandfather

Video: Felix Ursell
Photos: courtesy of Amardeep Patel

01/06/2026

“My grandfather was born in Calcutta, and that’s because my great-grandfather, also Scottish, was working for the Indian civil service.”

Hear from BBC journalist Kirsty Lang () as she shares her family’s deep connections to the British Empire, and a story of emigration that stretches from Scotland and India all the way to Australia.

We are proud to partner with to bring you the personal migration stories of some of this year’s incredible speakers.

✨ This is the last in a week-long series. Follow and a look at our profile to discover the other videos in the series.

29/05/2026

“Without their love, I wouldn’t be here, so thank you mum for smoking all of dad’s ci******es at the house party – it’s great.”

Hear from author, creative director and broadcaster Liv Little () as she shares the story of how her Jamaican-born dad met her mum at a house party one summer’s evening in London – and fell madly in love.

We are proud to partner with to bring you the personal migration stories of some of this year’s incredible speakers.

✨ This is the latest in a week-long series. Follow and keep an eye on our feed as we share more stories throughout the week!

29/05/2026

“I think that your parents always shape you. Philip Larkin said they f*** you up, whatever. My parents didn’t f*** me up. They provided an incredibly secure and loving home for my brother and I.”

Hear from David Miliband, President of the International Rescue Committee () and former UK Foreign Secretary, as he shares how his parents came to the UK as Jewish refugees fleeing N**i persecution – his dad from Belgium and his mum from Poland – and reflects on how stories like theirs have always been part of British history.

This year, we are proud to partner with to bring you the personal migration stories of some of this year’s incredible speakers.

✨ This is the latest in a week-long series. Follow and keep an eye on our feed as we share more stories throughout the week!

28/05/2026

“A lot of people often talk about home as though it is a single place and you’re expected to have one answer or to feel conflicted.”

What does ‘home’ mean when your life spans continents? 🌍

Hear from award-winning Pakistani and British novelist Kamila Shamsie () as she shares her story of moving from Pakistan to the UK through a specialist visa category for writers that no longer exists – and of following in the footsteps of her mother and grandfather, who both went to school in England.

We are proud to partner with to bring you the personal migration stories of some of this year’s incredible speakers.

✨ This is the latest in a week-long series. Follow and keep an eye on our feed as we share more stories throughout the week!

27/05/2026

“My family are not singers. We used to joke that we were the only non-signing Welsh on the planet. My father continued to follow Wales in the Rugby, and he definitely wanted us to understand Wales literary traditions.”

Hear from Julia Gillard (), former Prime Minister of Australia, as she shares her family’s story of emigrating from Barry in south Wales to Adelaide, South Australia, in 1966.

Her family arrived as one of the many ‘Ten Pound Poms’ – a scheme that offered subsidised passage to Australia for over a million British citizens.

The Migration Museum is proud to be partnering with to bring you the personal migration stories of some of this year’s incredible speakers.

✨ This is the first in a week-long series. Follow and keep an eye on our feed as we share more speakers stories throughout the week!

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Lewisham Shopping Centre
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SE137HB

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