London has a proud history of eccentric museums. There’s a museum dedicated to fans (the kind you wave, not the kind screaming outside concerts), one for sewing machines, and even a place entirely devoted to taxidermy. So, naturally, the city is also home to the Vagina Museum, a pioneering institution dedicated to smashing taboos and educating the masses about gynaecological health.
But the journey of this trailblazing museum has been anything but smooth. From pop-ups to evictions, crowdfunding campaigns to triumphant reopenings, the Vagina Museum has seen more ups and downs than a particularly dramatic Regency novel.
A Museum is Born
The idea for a museum dedicated to vaginas came to Florence Schechter, a science communicator with a passion for making complex topics engaging. In 2017, she discovered that while the world had a Phallological Museum in Iceland dedicated entirely to penises, no such institution existed for the other half of the population. A glaring omission, she decided.
She began by hosting a series of pop-up exhibitions around London, tackling everything from menstrual stigma to vulval diversity with a mix of humour and hard facts. The response was overwhelmingly positive—clearly, people wanted a space where they could learn about vaginal and reproductive health without shame or awkwardness.
In 2019, after a successful crowdfunding campaign, the Vagina Museum secured a permanent home in Camden Market, a fittingly edgy location for a museum dedicated to challenging taboos. Its inaugural exhibition, Muff Busters: Vagina Myths and How to Fight Them, was a hit, busting long-standing misconceptions about vaginal health with science and wit.
The Great Eviction and the Move to Bethnal Green
For two years, the museum thrived in Camden. Visitors flocked to exhibitions and events that ranged from educational talks on reproductive rights to comedy nights tackling period stigma. But in 2021, disaster struck: the lease was not renewed, and the Vagina Museum was forced to close its doors.
Undeterred, the team launched another crowdfunding campaign (because niche museums rarely have bottomless bank accounts) and, in March 2022, relocated to Bethnal Green. The new venue—tucked within a vibrant East London neighbourhood known for its creative energy—seemed like the perfect fit.
For a while, it worked. The museum continued its mission, hosting everything from sex education workshops to pub quizzes on vaginal anatomy. The tone remained delightfully irreverent—an institution where you could have a serious conversation about endometriosis while also enjoying a vulva-themed bake sale.
But then, in 2023, history repeated itself. The museum was evicted again, as the landlords had other plans for the space. Once more, it packed up, leaving behind a loyal following and a lingering question: Was this the end of the Vagina Museum?
The Grand Return: A New Home in Bethnal Green
Not quite. Because, if nothing else, the Vagina Museum is resilient. In November 2023, after another round of fundraising and a whole lot of determination, it secured a new permanent home at Arches 275-276, Poyser Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 9RF.
Now housed in a converted railway arch, the Vagina Museum is once again open to the public. The new space allows it to continue its vital work, providing a welcoming environment for people to learn about gynaecological health, gender, and sexuality—without the usual embarrassment or misinformation.
Exhibitions, workshops, and events are back in full swing, ensuring that the museum remains as engaging as ever. Whether you’re interested in vulva diversity, period activism, or the history of contraception, there’s something for everyone.
Why It Matters
The Vagina Museum is more than just a quirky attraction—it’s a much-needed educational resource in a world where discussions about vaginal and reproductive health are still shrouded in stigma. It provides a space where people can ask questions, challenge misconceptions, and learn without fear or shame.
So, if you haven’t yet visited, now’s your chance. Whether you go for the science, the activism, or just the sheer novelty of saying “I’m off to the Vagina Museum,” it’s a uniquely London experience that’s well worth your time.
And this time, with a permanent home in Bethnal Green, it looks like the Vagina Museum is here to stay.
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