We took a group of students here, and I came without having read much about this place. I love museum and can spend hours being captivated by their displays and rich history. However, this is just my view. I read the information on the plaque inside the building that this museum was renovated and re-opened over the summer (2023) by HRH Catherine l, Princess of Wales. The displays were good, especially in the doll house, and create design sections. It encourages imagination, creativity, and simplicity. Showing how people used simple resources to create a lasting impact on children. Some of the displays force us to understand the sense of community that toys, plays, and other creative expressions can bring.

So why such a low score? My opinion is that this place could have been designed with a more inclusive outlook. The atmosphere was very Euro-centric considering the diversity of a city such as London. This came from the food, which wasn't rich and diverse, the activities that seemed boring, rather than engaging. Maybe these are cultural differences. It’s just that it needed a sprinkle of more cultural input to bring it to life. It was like an unseasoned chicken that just needed some of those tantalising flavours from the spice tray or spice cupboard to make it not just a meal, but one that left your mouth watering and craving for more... The museum definitely needed something extra (more fun), more lively (engage members of the Black and Asian community for input on this).

On the day, the majority of the visitors were middle class, mainly white British (my colleague said these were mainly stay at home families), I love people, but it definitely didn't create a sense of inclusion, when so many people from the diverse backgrounds of London were missing.

Then there were the prices: £10 for a Special Japanese event (our visit had students who rely on school meals- this was way beyond their reach- although there were a few concessions). If you did attend this special event, then the souvenir shop linked to the event had bags being sold for £25, toys from £14-£20.

One of the young people we brought to the museum wanted to buy one of the teddy bears from the souvenir shop, but the price was £14! The price, for low incomes families, would be extortionate, which defeats the inclusivity that a museum can bring. This alone would exclude those from poorer backgrounds., who wouldn't be able to afford most of the items in the museum shop.

All in all, it all seemed quite middle-class and middle-minded.

It's good to have a museum like this and to see the renovations, however equal focus needed to be placed on not just renovating the structure of this building, with its educational and attractive displays, but in renovating how it will connect with and fully use the diversity of London's different communities to create a more dynamic experience. One that embraces all the different peoples and cultures of London, with loads more engaging, fun, playful, interactive activities for children and young people. If it's left like this,