Beneath the absinthe parlour at 11 Mare Street in Hackney, this compact museum gathers natural-history specimens, art and unsettling curiosities in a single underground room. Expect taxidermy, shrunken heads, skeletons, unusual memorabilia and objects that leave you to make your own connections: the displays have little classification or labelling. A spiral staircase leads down from the bar, where you can order an absinthe drink before or after exploring. It suits curious visitors who enjoy the macabre, but graphic or sexual material may not be for everyone.
A museum below the absinthe parlour
The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities is at 11 Mare Street in Hackney, beneath the Last Tuesday Society’s absinthe parlour. Visitors descend a spiral staircase to a small basement room. The museum and bar make it possible to combine a close look at the collection with a drink upstairs.
The room is compact, but its displays bring together objects from natural history, art and the macabre. The collection includes taxidermy, skeletons, shrunken heads, voodoo objects and unusual memorabilia. Among the stranger specimens mentioned are a two-headed kitten and two-headed lambs. The objects are crowded together, so allow time to look closely rather than expecting a large museum with separate galleries.
Make your own connections between the objects
The displays are not arranged into a clear system, and many objects are not labelled. That is part of the visit: instead of following a set route or reading a sequence of explanations, you encounter an eccentric mixture and decide what catches your attention. The collection ranges from natural-history specimens and unusual artefacts to artworks and curious personal memorabilia.
This approach will appeal most if you enjoy oddities and are happy to explore without much context on each item. If you want a conventional museum visit with detailed labels and a clear chronological route, the loose arrangement may be less satisfying. Staff can offer insight into the exhibits, and talks and tours cover subjects connected to the collection.
What to expect from the displays
The collection includes material that is strange, macabre and, at times, graphic or sexual. It may feel intense if you are sensitive to those subjects. Consider that before booking, especially if you are visiting with children or would rather avoid unsettling displays. The venue is described as suitable for children, but the subject matter is not light throughout.
The underground room is small, and the staircase down from the parlour is spiral. Visitors who have difficulty with stairs, or who feel uneasy in enclosed spaces, should take that layout into account. Wheelchair-accessible facilities are listed at the venue, but the museum’s spiral staircase is a practical access constraint.
Drinks and events at the Last Tuesday Society
The parlour upstairs serves absinthe drinks and cocktails, including the Absentini and Devil’s Botany absinthe. It gives you a place to pause before or after seeing the collection. The venue also hosts talks and tours, and themed events are another reason to time a visit around a particular date. Halloween is one suggested period for a visit.
Book your museum entry ahead of time, as advance tickets are recommended for the small space. If you want more context about what you see, ask staff about the collection or whether a talk or tour is taking place.
Preguntas frecuentes
Where is the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities?
It is at 11 Mare Street in Hackney, London, beneath the Last Tuesday Society’s absinthe parlour.
What can you see in the museum?
The collection includes taxidermy, skeletons, shrunken heads, voodoo objects, artworks and unusual memorabilia. The displays are not arranged in a clear classification system.
Is there a bar at the museum?
Yes. The absinthe parlour upstairs serves absinthe drinks and cocktails, including the Absentini and Devil’s Botany absinthe.
Is the museum accessible by wheelchair?
Wheelchair-accessible facilities are listed, but the museum is reached by a spiral staircase. That staircase may make the basement collection difficult to access.
