Is the Twist Museum worth a visit with kids?

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If you’ve been looking for something a bit different to do in London with the kids (especially on a rainy day), you may have come across the Twist Museum – so is it worth a visit? I’ve put together a practical guide for family visits to the Twist Museum with everything you need to know! As well as photos of our visit to the Twist Museum, and detailing what there is to see and do, I’ve added where it is, who it’s suitable for, practical info, pricing, what’s nearby and whether it’s worth a trip. Let’s dive in!

What is the Twist Museum?

The Twist Museum is an immersive museum focused on optical illusions, perception, colour, sound and how the brain interprets the world around us. Rather than a traditional museum with glass cases and information boards, everything there is designed to be interactive and hands-on. Think mirrors, warped rooms, light tunnels, perspective tricks and exhibits that make you question what your eyes are seeing. The Twist Museum is very much a ‘walk through and experience it’ attraction rather than something you read your way around – it’s very visual and playful which really helps to engage the kids.

Where is the Twist Museum located?

The Twist Museum is located on Oxford Street, right in the heart of central London. It’s extremely easy to reach by public transport – Oxford Circus station is just a couple of minutes’ walk, and Tottenham Court Road station is also nearby. The location of the Twist Museum makes it easy to combine with shopping, food or other attractions nearby – more on that further down.

What is there to see and do at the Twist Museum?

The museum is spread across multiple themed rooms, each focusing on a different type of illusion or sensory experience. It’s very Instagram-friendly so you’ll see lots of people taking photos and videos – some of the illusions need to be photographed to appreciate them and everyone will enjoy trying to work out how each illusion works! There’s also enough variety that it doesn’t feel repetitive, which is important when visiting with kids, and it’s not a short experience either – the Twist Museum is actually filled with plenty of different things to see and do. You’ll find things like:

Optical illusion rooms where size, distance and perspective are distorted.
Mirror rooms and infinity effects.
Light and colour installations.
Sound and perception experiments.
Interactive displays you can touch, step into and photograph.

Is the Twist Museum for kids, and what age is it best suited to?

Yes it’s definitely suitable for kids, we had a great time visiting as a family, but age does matter. Though you could certainly visit the Twist Museum with toddlers and younger children for a sensory experience, I think it’s best suited to kids age 7+. This isn’t because younger ones wouldn’t enjoy it – they’d likely find the mirrors and colourful rooms amusing – but to really engage with and understand the illusions it’s probably better for older kids and teenagers. Part of the fun of the Twist Museum is getting curious and trying to work out the concepts behind the illusions – I think it’s best suited to curious teens and tweens who’ll enjoy the cool photo opportunities and interactive nature of it all. It’s also a good option if you’re travelling with a mixed-age group, as it’s interesting for adults too – we found it as fascinating as the kids did!

How long does the Twist Museum take?

I think most families would need to allow one – two hours for a visit to the Twist Museum. It’s surprising how many different things they’ve managed to pack in and, to really appreciate it, I think you’ll likely be there a good 90 minutes or so. You can move at your own pace, and there’s no set route, so it works well if you want to linger in certain rooms or move quickly through others. The time chosen when booking is your entry time but you can stay for as long as you like once inside. It’s not a full-day attraction, but it’s a solid half-day activity when combined with lunch or shopping nearby, and a good option for entertaining older kids on a rainy day in London!

What else do I need to know before visiting?

There are toilets and lockers when you first go down the stairs and into the museum area – definitely make use of the lockers. They’re completely free, you just enter a code to use them, and then you can move freely around the museum without coats and bags. This is so important for really enjoying the experience – it’s very interactive and hands on so carrying things and having to worry about your belongings would likely hinder your visit. Keep your phone with you to capture the coolest illusions but leave anything bulky at the start. The museum is also nice and warm so you can shed your layers and really enjoy it.

What else is there to do nearby?

One of the biggest advantages of the Twist Museum is its location in central London – which opens up a whole host of fun if you’re visiting for a day or two with the kids. Nearby, you can shop on Oxford Street and it’s just a few minutes walk from Hamleys toy shop – we also had a trip to Selfridges as Lola wanted to look at the Jellycats! It’s very easy to build the Twist Museum into a wider London day out without lots of extra travel – it’s just a short walk or tube ride to other central London museums and galleries. Check out my London guides for lots of ideas to suit the season, the kids’ ages and your budget – I’ve got it all covered:

What are the opening and closing times?

The opening times vary slightly by day, but generally it’s open daily from around 10/11am until 7-9pm. It’s worth booking in advance to make sure that you can get your preferred time slot – particularly if you’re planning to visit on a weekend or a school holiday. We visited in December, a few weeks before Christmas on a Saturday, and fortunately there were only a couple of families inside so that made the experience really pleasant.

How much is the Twist Museum?

If you fancy a visit with the kids, tickets for the Twist Museum are pricier than some traditional museums – especially as it’s a paid attraction rather than free like some of the others in London. Having said that, it offers a very different experience – it’s far more fun and interactive. The prices vary slightly but, with fees included, tickets are typically around £20-£25pp. Under threes are free so if you’re visiting the Twist Museum with a toddler you won’t need to pay for them. To keep costs down, check for offers and look out for extra perks like magic shows (which they often host on weekends) to make it even more worth your while.

Is the Twist Museum worth a visit with the kids?

It’s definitely a ‘treat’ activity rather than a budget-friendly day out but we were actually really surprised by how much we enjoyed our visit to the Twist Museum – it’s not like your typical museum experience at all. If your kids enjoy hands-on experiences, illusions and taking photos, it’s likely to be a hit. The Twist Museum is fun, interactive, visually impressive and particularly good if you’re heading to London with older kids and teens. With mind-bending illusions, optical tricks and lots of interactive exhibits – if you’re looking for a unique indoor activity in central London, especially on a rainy day, the Twist Museum is well worth considering.