Pollock’s Toy Museum Leadenhall Market 2025

Open every Thursday and Friday 11-3
(Volunteer to help us open more often!)
Unit 32-33 Leadenhall Market, EC3 (map)

Welcome to a miniature display featuring some of the highlights from Pollock’s Toy Museum’s collection.

Located in historic Leadenhall Market, a stunning Victorian edifice perhaps most recently known for appearing in the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the small Grade II listed building has been filled with a selection of toys, games, books and dolls from the collection.

The Pearlies at Pollocks: 8 May 2025

While you’re enjoying the Leadenhall Market V E day celebrations on 8 May, pop into Pollock’s Toy Museum Leadenhall to be the first to see the new exhibition of Pearly regalia, dolls, toys and history.

This miniature exhibition includes dolls dressed 60 years ago by the hotly contested Pearly Queen of Lambeth, a Pearly Jacket found in a Scottish barn, and a Pearlised wartime ‘de mob’ suit. Find out about costermonger life and charity; and the tradition of handsewing mother of pearl buttons onto suits and dresses in elaborate family patterns

In 1960 BBC journalist and Pollocks Toy Museum founder, Marguerite Fawdry, together with author,
artist and Pearly supporter, Pearl Binder visited and recorded interviews with all the London Pearly
families. An East End Pearly parlour exhibition was created at the museum, showing borrowed
treasures from a macaroni suit, decorated handbags, feathers and a prizewinning donkey blanket.
Pearl Binder later wrote a definitive book- The Pearlies, A Social Record.

The Pearlies at Pollock’s exhibition opens on 8 May and runs to the end of the summer.

The museum gift shop is the perfect place to treat yourself to some traditional theatres and toys.

Entry is free but donations to save the collection are welcome.