The Marilyn Monroe Exhibition London, The Fashion Icon

Ways to Kick-Start the New Year: Visit the Marilyn Monroe Exhibition

Yes, I went to the Marilyn Monroe Exhibition—and I absolutely loved it. But, I’ll admit, I walked out feeling a bit emotional, and I’ll explain why in just a moment.

The Exhibition:

Curated by Ted Stampfer, the exhibition takes you on an unforgettable journey through Marilyn Monroe’s life—from her humble beginnings to her tragic end. It features some of her real, personal possessionsfrom various stages of her career, offering a rare and intimate glimpse into the world of this iconic woman. (P.S. See pictures below, or skip them if you plan to go yourself!)

The location, Arches London Bridge (8 Bermondsey St, SE1 2ER), is just a short walk from London Bridge station. A standard ticket costs£21.90, with a 30-minute time slot. Personally, I didn’t think that was nearly enough time, so I’d recommend opting for a flexi ticket. Luckily, the staff were incredibly kind and let us stay a little longer, which we were so grateful for. They were genuinely the sweetest bunch—very welcoming and encouraging us to take pictures and videos. I went on a Monday morning when the place was quiet—just me, my mum, and one other couple. It felt almost like a private viewing,so I’d highly recommend booking an early slot. After all, Marilyn Monroe is definitely worth waking up early for! The exhibition runsuntil February 23rd, so if you’re thinking about going, book soon! (Also, shoutout to my mum for buying me the tickets!)

By now, you’d have to be living under a rock not to know who Marilyn Monroe is! She’s universally known as a fashion icon and a sex symbol—but she was so much more than that. She influenced the world in ways we often overlook, and her presence still resonates today, just as powerfully as it did 60 years ago. Marilyn Monroe was an incredibly talented woman—far ahead of her time—and it’s tragic that she’s often reduced to the label of a mere sex symbol.

Did you know that Marilyn Monroe was the first woman to establish her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions? Instead of being celebrated for this groundbreaking achievement, she was attacked and threatened by 20th Century Fox. 

Walking home from the exhibition, I felt my heart sink. Icons like Marilyn Monroe are often elevated to such legendary status that we forget they were real people, with real struggles—just like anyone else. Seeing her personal belongings gives you a shiver because it forces you to acknowledge how real she was, so tangible, so human—and it made me reflect on everything she fought for in a society that seemed designed to silence and suppress everything she stood for and everything she wanted in life.

If you visit the exhibition, you’ll learn that Marilyn Monroe’a rise to stardom was anything but smooth. Her career and personal life were fraught with challenges—many of which are often glossed over in the stories we tell about her. While her life was undeniably tragic, I find it deeply inspiring. In just a few decades, she accomplished more than most of us do in a lifetime—and her success helped pave the wayfor the female empowerment we have today, in ways that still often go unacknowledged.

Random Fact: Did you know that Marilyn Monroe’s ex-husband, Joe DiMaggio, whom she was planning to remarry just before her death, arranged for fresh long-stemmed roses to be delivered to her crypttwice a week until he died in 1999? He never remarried, and on his deathbed, his last words according to his sources were, “I’ll finally get to see Marilyn again.” Isn’t that both beautiful and heartbreaking?

One more thing: On the evening of Saturday, August 4th, Marilyn began to write a letter to Joe, but she was apparently interrupted and never finished it. That unfinished note was later found, folded in her address book. Here’s what it said:

Dear Joe,If I can only succeed in making you happy, I will have succeeded in the biggest and most difficult thing there is—that is to make one person completely happy. Your happiness means my happiness.

Reading that note was absolutely heart-wrenching. Behind all the glamour and fame she carried, Marilyn Monroe was simply a disguise for Norma Jeane—a woman, just like all of us, desperately trying to find love and happiness in this world.

Marilyn Monroe’s story is far more complex and layered than we often realise. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to learn more about her.

You can also see a preview of my visit here.

If like me, you find yourself wanting more Marlyn Monroe content after the exhibition then I would suggest watching the BBC documentary Reframed Marilyn Monroe.