The Migration Museum explores how the movement of people to and from the UK across the ages has shaped who we are – as individuals, as communities, and as nations. 

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.

The UK has thousands of museums, but unlike many other countries, from Australia to France, Brazil to the USA, we don’t have a permanent Migration Museum. The time is right for a highly relevant, accessible permanent visitor attraction that shines a light on who we are, where we come from and where we are going.

We stage award-winning, story-led exhibitions and dynamic events, alongside a far-reaching education programme for primary, secondary, university and adult learners. We have a growing digital presence and convene a knowledge-sharing Migration Network of museums and heritage organisations and professionals across the UK.

We have been based in a series of temporary venues, most recently in Lewisham, south-east London, where we welcomed over 200,000 visitors between 2020 and March 2025. 

After a 10-year journey, the Migration Museum has been given the green light for a new permanent home in the City of London.

Our permanent museum, opening in 2028, will be Britain’s missing museum, encompassing  interactive temporary and permanent exhibition galleries, a learning suite and event space, outdoor areas, a cafe/restaurant and shop, enabling us to deliver a wide programme of exhibitions, events, learning and community programmes and activities.

The permanent Migration Museum site in London will be part of an ecosystem encompassing temporary venues across the UK, a digital storytelling platform, and partnerships with other museums, galleries and heritage sites to platform and amplify migration stories across the UK.

Our founding story

The Migration Museum was founded by Barbara Roche, who first made the case for a migration museum for Britain almost 20 years ago, stemming from her time as Britain’s immigration minister, and from visiting similar museums in other parts of the world – notably Ellis Island in New York. 

Barbara assembled a founding team of people from different professional backgrounds who shared her passionate belief that Britain’s migration history should be placed at the heart of our national story. Together, they began to scope what a national migration museum might look like. Sophie Henderson, a former immigration judge and barrister, came on board as Director in 2013.

Between 2013 and 2017, the Migration Museum staged pop-up exhibitions and events and ran education workshops at a wide range of venues across the UK, including the Southbank Centre, the National Maritime Museum and City Hall in London, the Museum of Oxford, Leicester railway station, and the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh. From 2017 to 2019, the Migration Museum was based in a former London Fire Brigade workshop in Lambeth, London.

Supporters and funders

The Migration Museum has secured the support of a wide range of Distinguished Friends – high-profile supporters with a wide range of professional backgrounds and from across the political spectrum who back its vision and ambitions.

We receive funding and support from a wide range of academic, arts, charitable and corporate organisations and trusts, including:

Ahluwalia Family Foundation
Alfred Caplin Charity Settlement
Art Fund
Arts Council England
The Big Yellow Self Storage Company
City Bridge Foundation
The Dr Marten’s Foundation
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Fragomen
Hogan Lovells
John Ellerman Foundation
Kusuma Trust UK
Landsec
Lewisham Council
The Linbury Trust
National Lottery Heritage Fund – thanks to National Lottery players
Nesta Cultural Impact Development Fund
Oak Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
The Portal Trust
School for Social Entrepreneurs
Shakespeare Martineau
Stelios Philanthropic Foundation

We are also extremely grateful to individual donors who support what we do. If you would like to support the work of the Migration Museum with a one-off or regular donation, you can do so here.