This November, the London Museum Docklands invites visitors to explore the rich tapestry of Romani art, culture, and history with its latest display, By Appointment Only: Romani Art, Culture and Heritage. Opening on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, in The Reflections Room, this thought-provoking exhibition is co-curated by British Romani artist Corrina Eastwood and showcases the work of three talented British Romani artists. See the exhibtion through their art, the display highlights Romani visual activism, identity, and the community’s invaluable contributions to British society.
Honoring Romani Creativity and Craft
Inspired by the trade and industry of London’s Docklands, the exhibition features three key works that honor the creativity, craft, and resilience of Romani communities:
- Sugar Coated (2025) by Corrina Eastwood: A deeply personal piece reflecting on Eastwood’s heritage and memories of her late father, incorporating 3D-printed casts of his hands.
- Tap Your Heels Together Three Times (2025) by Delaine Le Bas: This work explores themes of belonging and exclusion, drawing on family history and Romani traditions like totting and rag-and-bone.
- What Makes a Home? (2025) by Dan Turner: An installation that examines the relationship between Romani and mainstream British culture, featuring objects crafted using traditional Romani techniques.
Accompanying these works is a historic timeline created by Romani author, archaeologist, and filmmaker John-Henry Phillips, tracing Romani history from the year 500 to 2022. Visitors can also view Phillips’ award-winning film, Searching for Romani Gypsy Heritage (2024), and an oral history piece that contextualizes the timeline and celebrates the resilience of Romani communities.
Challenging Stereotypes and Fostering Connection
The exhibition’s title, By Appointment Only, reflects the challenges faced by Romani people throughout history, including discrimination and exclusion. Until the 1990s, signs reading “No travellers or Gypsies allowed” were common in pubs and restaurants, later evolving into the phrase “Travellers by Appointment Only.” This display seeks to challenge these stereotypes, offering a space for recognition, dialogue, and understanding.
Co-curator Corrina Eastwood describes the project as both personal and transformative:
“Working on the display has felt like a really important personal and professional journey for me. The Reflections Room provides a beautifully human, alternative space for the acknowledgment of important, often unspoken histories.”
Jean-Francois Manicom, Senior Curator at London Museum Docklands, adds:
“We are proud to invite people to a display dedicated to the stories of British Romani communities. The artists convey compelling histories, memories, and perspectives that the museum is proud to present and celebrate.”
The Reflections Room: A Space for Stories
The Reflections Room, opened in 2024, is a dedicated space for exploring human experiences connected to London’s history. Following its inaugural display, Exodus by Zak Ové, which highlighted migration and population movements, By Appointment Only continues the gallery’s mission to foreground underrepresented voices and perspectives.
Plan Your Visit
By Appointment Only: Romani Art, Culture and Heritage is free to view as part of general admission to the London Museum Docklands.
- When: Opens Tuesday, 25 November 2025
- Where: The Reflections Room, London Museum Docklands, West India Quay
- Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM, 7 days a week
For more information, visit London Museum Docklands.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with the art, history, and stories of British Romani communities, and to reflect on their enduring impact on London’s cultural fabric.