Discover ‘Secrets of the Thames’ at the London Museum Docklands and get an immersive experience of mudlarking, without the mud!
Twice a day, every day, the salty water of the River Thames in London flows back out to sea, and reveals the muddy foreshores on north and south banks of the river through the heart of London.
Among the mud, stones, exposed chains and wharf timbers lie ‘treasures’ hidden until the mudlarks find them. China dolls, old clay pipes, a Tudor buckle and Roman pottery sherds. The silty mud hides military buttons popped off coats, old shoes, gemstones and coins fallen from a pocket with a hole in it!
Traces of life from every era of London’s rich past are now displayed in this superb exhibition ‘Secrets of the Thames’ thanks to dedicated mudlarks who patiently walk the foreshores in slow and gentle pursuit of objects the river reveals with each tide.
The exhibition features over 350 objects, from intimate personal items to historical relics, with many on display for the first time. Step into the shoes of a mudlark and explore the foreshore, uncover artefacts and learn how they identify and curate their personal collections.
The journey ends with a space for reflection on the mysteries of the moon and the tides that make mudlarking possible, leaving visitors with a powerful, contemplative memory of their time uncovering the secrets of the Thames.
Blending archaeology with contemporary art and digital experiences, ‘Secrets of the Thames’ offers fresh perspectives on London and all its people – past and present.
‘Secrets of the Thames’ is open now until March 2026 https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/secrets-thames/
