Today’s discovery: Fan museum
Left. Right. Up. Down. Open. close. The sun is blazing what’s the first thing you look for. A fan.
A paper one like you made in school. A wooden one that folds down into a thin arc.
But have you ever considered the history of a fan. Today I set off with a sense of curiosity and excitement. I was heading to the fan museum and I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be big or small? “How much can you tell about a fan.” I thought. A lot is the answer.

The museum is split into two sections the base room which has an optional interactive audio system that can talk your through the making of fans from traditionally fixed fans to more contemporary fans and curiosities. You’ll be surprised to find out that the earliest fans date back to around 3000 BC.

Upstairs is where the fun begins. The intricate fans that are usually patterned or textured; are almost transformed into book pages that tell stories that illustrate the map of London to bible stories and my personal favourite the peace and happiness fan.

You can find the fan museum in the heart of Greenwich. It’s a beautiful museum and quite small so could be done in a lunch break and for £5 it’s worth the money. So definitely check it out! What are you waiting for fellow runners get discovering?


If I had a fan I would have a vibrant green and blue fan to represent nature, peace and tranquillity. What story would you paint on your fan?
Nadine x
I’ve loved fans since I was a child, this would’ve been a fascinating visit for me! Thanks for sharing, I’ve already put it on my list. Your ideal fan sounds beautiful 🙂
How cool! I love exploring little museums and historic sites. They never get enough love but their staff is always so passionate!
Those are some gorgeous fans! Thank you for sharing this. 🙂