A new Barbie exhibition featuring one-of-a-kind dolls is coming to London – How to get tickets

She’s everything, and now, she’s on display for all of London to see.

By Olivia Garrett

Published: Friday, 01 March 2024 at 13:55 PM

Hi Barbie! Welcome back! Just when you thought the pink dust had settled and the age of Barbenheimer was officially over, another unmissable event comes roller-skating into town.

This summer, London is celebrating 65 years since Barbie stepped out in that stripey swimsuit with a brand-new exhibition at the Design Museum.

Featuring over 250 objects and 180 “rare and unique” dolls, this exhibit will be showcasing Barbie’s influence on design and popular culture in the 20th century. Display items will include Dreamhouses, props, one-of-a-kind prototypes as well as a huge range of first edition dolls including the original Barbie herself.

“I think it’s valid to see Barbie as a design phenomenon,” said Curator Danielle Thom. “We are not just talking about the doll itself but the world of Barbie, the universe of Barbie, and the design of that has a really interesting story to tell in terms of how it relates to the design of our own world.

“If you trace the design history of Barbie it’s basically the design history of the late 20th and 21st centuries in microcosm.”

So, this Barbie is excited, what about you? Here’s how you can get some tickets.

Buy Barbie: The Exhibition tickets

Watch Barbie on Amazon Prime Video

Why sit around at home in your Mojo Dojo Casa House when there’s so much to do out there? In the capital you can find the best immersive experiences, the best London experience gifts and the best West End shows.

What’s on display at Barbie: The Exhibition?

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The Exhibition has over 250 objects on display including “rare, unique and innovative dolls” dating back to 1959. Among the 180 dolls on display is the first-ever Barbie, affectionately coined “Number One” Barbie by the exhibit as well as the groundbreaking Day to Night Barbie from 1985 and the best-selling Barbie of all time, 1992’s Totally Hair Barbie.

They’ll also be showcasing the first talking Barbie, the first Black, Hispanic and Asian Barbies, plus the first Barbie to use a wheelchair and the first to have Down’s Syndrome.

Barbie will also be joined by a tonne of her friends – every night is girls’ night don’t you know! – such as Midge, Christie and Teresa.

You’ll also be able to see a sublime collection of Ken dolls, showing his evolution from 1961 to Ryan Gosling.

Last but not least, on display will be a range of dreamhouses, vehicles, pets and props all giving Barbiecore the respect and admiration it deserves.

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Where can I see Barbie: The Exhibition?

Barbie is celebrating her anniversary at the Design Museum.

Although still a part of London’s beautiful Museum District, the Design sits away from other major museums, like the Natural History, on Kensington High Street. To get there, we’d suggest getting the London Overground (on the new Mildmay line) or the District Line to Kensington Olympia.

You can still walk to the venue from South Kensington (on the Circle, District and Piccadilly lines), but this will take about 30 minutes.

How long is Barbie: The Exhibition in London for?

The exhibition will run from 5th July 2024 to 23rd February 2025 so you’ll have plenty of time to stop by.

Visitors can attend from 10am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 10am to 6pm on Fridays and Sundays. Once the exhibition starts on 5th July the museum will also be open on Saturdays from 10am to 9pm.

How much do tickets for Barbie: The Exhibition cost?