You’ve NEVER Seen a Museum Like This — Viktor Wynd’s Collection Will Mess With Your Head
Most museums have a clear theme. Art, history, science.
But The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities doesn’t stick to any one category.
It’s a strange collection of oddities, from shrunken heads to celebrity hair.
Hidden in a basement beneath a cocktail bar in East London, it feels more like a private collection than a formal museum.
A Museum Unlike Any Other
What makes this place special is its randomness.
There’s no logic to the display. One minute, you’re looking at taxidermy two-headed kittens.
The next, you’re staring at a mummified foot. Some objects have historical significance.
Others are just bizarre. It’s like stepping into the mind of someone with a very unusual taste in decoration.
Unlike other museums, nothing is labeled in detail. There are no long explanations or historical backgrounds.
You’re left to wander and wonder. It feels more like an eccentric collector’s home than a museum. And that’s exactly the point.
What You Can See and Do
The museum is small, just one room packed with curiosities.
There certainly are some odd things: The museum features a collection of shrunken heads, as well as the skull of John Parker, who was executed by hanging in 1813
You can also find a hairy Figian mermaid, which is a unique twist on the traditional mermaid myth.
That’s not to mention a notable collection of butterflies.
You can find collections of every native British butterfly, along with walking sticks and enormous spiders.
Some of the highlights include:
- A collection of occult objects – from ritual dolls to magical artifacts.
- Taxidermy with a twist – expect unusual creatures, like a giant stuffed toad with a smug grin.
- Celebrity memorabilia – hair from famous figures, including Marilyn Monroe and the poet Alexander Pope.
- Human remains – skulls, bones, and even a real shrunken head.
If you want to make a night of it, start upstairs at the cocktail bar, The Last Tuesday Society.
They serve absinthe and creative drinks inspired by the museum’s collection.
Some evenings, there are lectures and storytelling sessions on strange topics – from witchcraft to the history of poisons.
Strange but True Facts
- The museum was founded by Viktor Wynd, an artist and collector known for his love of the macabre.
- Some items in the collection were acquired through odd and questionable methods – like swapping a piece of art for a shrunken head.
- The museum embraces chaos. Wynd himself says he wants visitors to “get lost” in the experience, rather than learn something specific.
- Despite its weirdness, the museum attracts all sorts of visitors, from curious tourists to serious collectors.
If you like things a little unusual, The Viktor Wynd Museum is worth a visit. It’s small, strange, and unlike any other museum in London.
Just don’t expect a typical educational experience – this place is more about curiosity than clarity.
