Experts' Choice Award Ragged School Museum
What the experts agree on
This preserved Victorian schoolhouse charms visitors with its authentic 1877 classroom and East End kitchen, telling the story of free education for London's poorest children—a moving, hands-on social history that appeals to both adults and kids.
“Barnado's school 'for the deserving poor' turned East End museum.”
– Not For Tourists
Fodor's "In its time, the Ragged School Museum was the largest school in London and a place where impoverished children could get free education and a good meal." Full review
Atlas Obscura "A Victorian school for poverty stricken waifs has been preserved as a museum to their donated education. " Full review
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"Both adults and children are inevitably charmed by this combination of mock Victorian schoolroom, re-created East End kitchen, and social history museum." Full review
Time Out "Ragged schools were an early experiment in public education: they provided tuition, food and clothes for destitute children. This one was the largest in London, and Dr Barnardo himself..." Full review
Time Out "Every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the summer holidays, the Ragged School Museum welcome families to drop-in activities, with a focus on Victorian fun and games. Learn how to make..." Full review
Time Out "These free drop-in Easter family activities will focus on 1877, the year the Ragged School opened" Full review
Time Out "This year the museum is focusing on nineteenth-century art and design, from the Gothic Revival to William Morris. Little visitors can get creative and have their faces painted for free..." Full review
Time Out "For these half-term activity days the Ragged School will take you back in time to a time when London was at the centre of a global empire. Over the course of the day you'll visit the..."
A Tourists Guide To Victorian London
Select Date
Frommer's "The Victorians weren’t very nice people. Although in 1883, as many as 60,000 families lived in a single room, church-run schools still charged a penny a week and had a dress code, and the..." Full review
