The Fan Museum is the only museum in the world devoted entirely to every aspect of fans and fan making.

The entrance of The Fan Museum, Greenwich

The Fan Museum is home to a collection of more than 3,500 predominantly antique fans from around the world, dating from the 11th century to the present day. Its collection and fans on loan from other collections are displayed in changing themed exhibitions in which fans are presented in their historical, sociological and economic contexts.

Visitors can enjoy the designs of these unique items which have served many purposes over the centuries: as cooling & winnowing devices, ceremonial tools, fashionable accessories, status symbols, commemorative presents or advertising giveaways.

A World Heritage Site

The Fan Museum is situated in the heart of historic Greenwich England and is within the World Heritage Site.

In the year of its opening in 1991, The Fan Museum had the distinction of awards from both the National Art Collections Fund and the English Tourist Board for "outstanding contributions to the Arts and to tourism".

Fans may be commissioned to individual requirements and the design of a client from our own workshops for a wide variety of purposes; e.g. publicity, banqueting, weddings, anniversaries, presentations, etc.

Our education and study facilities cater for every level, from primary school children to post-graduate researchers.

The Fan Museum has a fully qualified conservation service for the preservation and protection of cherished fans.

A member of "Unique Venues of London", the Museum provides an exquisite setting for elegant functions, both corporate and private, such as corporate hospitality, seminars, product launches, weddings, anniversaries, christenings, cocktail parties, etc.

The gift shop at The Fan Museum contains a fascinating range of high quality items, all of which have a fan them and make ideal and highly unusual gifts.

This elegant logo consists of a coin backed by two ancient Egyptian-style fans.

This silver Tetradrachm of Cleopatra VII shows an unique portrait of that legendary queen of Egypt. With Shakespeare's image of Cleopatra in her barge on the Nile fanned by beautiful youths in mind, what could be a more appropriate logo for this tiny, yet in every way exquisite, museum?

Unique Qualities of The Fan Museum

The Fan Museum holds an internationally significant collection of fans, fan leaves and associated material which numbers over 4000 objects. A programme of temporary exhibitions - changing about every four months - offers a chance to view a selection of the world's rarest and most exquisite fans.

The buildings at 10-12 Crooms Hill in Greenwich that house The Fan Museum are themselves of great interest and beauty. A pair of Grade II* listed buildings, constructed in 1721, have been lovingly and authentically restored to retain their original character and elegance.

An Orangery, faithful to the architecture of the period, has been added, with a spectacular overall mural which provides a most elegant, unusual and exclusive setting for small intimate functions.

The Orangery overlooks a "secret" garden in the Japanese manner, with a fan shaped parterre, pond, stream and oriental architectural features - described by visitors as "an oasis of tranquillity".

'Plighting Their Troth', c.1860 The Fan Museum, HA Collection