We collect and curate ordinary items discovered during journeys around the world, celebrating their extraordinary ability to reveal histories, traditions, craftsmanship and lived experiences. Alongside these objects, we document the people, makers and communities behind them, recognising that every object has a human story at its heart.

We believe material culture has the power to connect people across borders. Every item, however humble, carries a unique narrative waiting to be discovered, questioned, preserved and shared.

Our collections are presented through a blend of physical exhibitions and digital experiences, complemented by publications, talks, workshops and private or public displays in London and internationally. By combining analogue and digital storytelling, we invite audiences to see familiar objects through fresh perspectives and discover the richness of cultures from around the world.

Founded in 2020 by curator and world traveller Jill Tsai, Travel Things Museum grew from a lifelong fascination with the remarkable artisans, makers and local communities encountered through travel. Inspired by their creativity, knowledge and craftsmanship, Jill began collecting the objects that captured her imagination—items that together form a living archive of cultural exchange and everyday life.

Travel Things Museum aims to enrich London's multicultural cultural landscape by creating meaningful encounters between people, places and objects. Through exhibitions, research and storytelling, we encourage curiosity, celebrate cultural diversity and preserve the voices embedded within the things we bring home from our journeys.