Tim Burton Exhibition London: Dates, Tickets & Status 2025

If you’ve been putting off seeing The World of Tim Burton in London, the window is narrower than you might think. The Design Museum exhibition that broke the venue’s 35-year attendance record has already been extended once—and it’s now slated to close on 26 May 2025. Here’s everything you need to know before you book.

Location: Design Museum, London ·
Dates: 25 October 2024 – 26 May 2025 ·
Adult tickets from: £19.69 ·
Visitors by Feb 2025: 171,000

The table below consolidates the essential exhibition details including venue, dates, ticket prices, and booking links.

Is the Tim Burton exhibition still in London?

Yes—and the Design Museum is making the most of it. The World of Tim Burton opened on 25 October 2024 and was originally scheduled to close on 21 April 2025. The venue announced a five-week extension in February 2025 after the exhibition surpassed the Design Museum’s entire 35-year attendance record, pushing the final date to 26 May 2025.

Current opening status

The exhibition is still running as of the extended dates. Tickets for entry through 26 May 2025 are currently available via Ticketmaster, though the Design Museum strongly recommends booking in advance because of continued demand.

Closing date details

The closing date of 26 May 2025 marks the end of what has become the Design Museum’s most successful exhibition in its history. After this date, no further UK showings are currently scheduled—the London stop is the only UK venue on Burton’s decade-long world tour, which previously visited 14 cities across 11 countries.

Why is the Tim Burton exhibition closing?

The exhibition was always planned as a limited engagement, but the closing also reflects logistical reality: this is the final stop on a world tour that has been running for approximately ten years. The Design Museum initially set the close date at 21 April 2025, but by February 2025 had logged 171,000 visitors—far exceeding anything in the museum’s prior history.

End date

The current closing date is 26 May 2025. The extension from the original April date was announced publicly and reflects how the exhibition performed well beyond initial projections. It is unclear whether any further extensions beyond May are under consideration.

Post-exhibition plans

No post-exhibition plans have been officially confirmed. As the only UK venue on this tour leg, visitors who miss the May 26 closing date currently have no domestic option to catch the exhibition. The touring collection is expected to return to Burton’s studio, but future display schedules have not been announced.

Is the Tim Burton exhibition free?

No. The exhibition requires a paid ticket—admission is not free. Prices vary by visitor category, and the Design Museum operates a tiered ticketing structure. There is a free element to the experience, but it is limited to the Snap AR (augmented reality) experience located in the museum’s atrium, which does not require booking.

Ticket prices

Adult tickets start at £19.69 and range up to £26.85 for peak dates. Children’s tickets (ages 6–15) are priced from £9.85, rising to £13.43 on higher-demand days. Concession and student tickets are available from £14.77. Under-6s enter free but must still have a booked ticket.

Any free entry options

Design Museum members receive unlimited free entry to the exhibition without needing to pre-book. This is the most direct route to free admission. Non-members have no free option for the Tim Burton exhibition specifically, though the museum’s general atrium spaces (including the Snap AR experience) are accessible without a Tim Burton ticket.

Is the Tim Burton exhibition worth it?

Visitor feedback and critical reception suggest a broadly positive answer, though “worth it” depends on your enthusiasm for Burton’s work. The exhibition draws consistently from fans of his films, illustration, and dark whimsy.

Visitor reviews

TripAdvisor users have described the exhibition as “very good” with “lots of his work on display,” while The Guardian called the show an “immersive touring experience” with “something for everyone.” The 171,000 visitor count by February 2025—achieved in roughly four months—provides a quantitative signal that the exhibition has resonated with a wide audience.

Highlights

The collection spans over 500 drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, moving-image works, and sculptural installations. Visitors can see original items from Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and the recent Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). Noted highlights include Johnny Depp’s Edward Scissorhands suit, Corpse Bride maquettes, and the Catwoman outfit. The exhibition covers more than 18 films across Burton’s career.

How long does it take to do the Tim Burton exhibition in London?

Most visitors report spending 60–90 minutes inside the exhibition, though dedicated fans or those who want to examine every drawing and installation detail may stay longer. Combined with the free Snap AR atrium experience and the rest of the Design Museum’s public spaces, a full visit can comfortably fill two to three hours.

Visit time estimate

The exhibition features over 600 displayed items across multiple rooms, including video installations and large-scale sculptural pieces. The five-decade scope means there is significant material to work through. Reddit discussions among visitors confirm the 1–2 hour range as typical, with some suggesting splitting the visit if you’re also planning to see other Design Museum spaces.

Opening hours

The Design Museum is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. During the final two months (April and May 2025), Friday and Saturday sessions extend to 20:00, giving visitors a longer evening window for those days specifically. No entry is allowed after the stated closing time.

What visitors are saying

The pattern across reviews is clear: most visitors appreciate the breadth of the collection, the atmosphere of the displays, and the inclusion of recognizable props alongside lesser-known sketches and drawings. The criticism, where it exists, tends to focus on crowding during peak hours and the non-refundable ticket policy.

The ooky, spooky Tim Burton exhibition at the Design Museum has just been given a new lease of life after smashing all attendance records.

— Time Out London

This is the museum’s busiest exhibition in its 35-year history.

— Love London Love Culture

The closing window: what it means for you

The Design Museum’s decision to extend the exhibition from April to May 2025 gave late planners an extra five weeks—but that window is now closing. With the current schedule ending on 26 May 2025, and no further extensions announced, the practical deadline for planning a visit is now. The exhibition’s performance—171,000 visitors in under four months, surpassing a 35-year attendance record—confirms it has been one of the most popular cultural events in London this season.

Booking now for the remaining dates is the only reliable path to guaranteed entry before the exhibition concludes its UK run.

Related reading: Great Pottery Throw Down 2025 · The Greatest Showman Theatre 2026 Tickets

The World of Tim Burton exhibition runs until May 2025 at the Design Museum, where detailed tickets guide highlights over 600 career-spanning items.

Frequently asked questions