LONDON.- Africa’s largest mask, George Washington’s false teeth, a marine iguana from Darwin ’s expedition to the Galapagos Islands, the purse of the suffragette who threw herself under King George V’s horse and the oldest tunnel in the London metro system: these are just examples of the myriad treasures waiting to be discovered along CultureLine, launched this past Friday May 21.

CultureLine is a group of 10 museums and galleries which can be found along the length of the new London Overground East London Line, which officially opens this Sunday, 23 May. The line runs from Dalston in North-East London to New Cross, Crystal Palace and West Croydon in the South-East. CultureLine museums are (North to South on the line):

Hackney Museum • Geffrye Museum • Wesley’s Chapel • The Royal London Hospital Museum • Whitechapel Gallery • The Women’s Library • Brunel Museum • Horniman Museum • Crystal Palace Museum • Museum of Croydon

CultureLine attractions, which are all within walking distance of stations along the line, range from the family-friendly exhibitions and gardens of the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill to elegant English domestic interiors at the Geffrye Museum in Shoreditch, a celebration of local people at the Museum of Croydon and an international programme of contemporary and 20th century art at the Whitechapel Gallery. Housed in beautiful historic buildings, many with impressive gardens, these museums offer an exciting alternative to central London hotspots and a chance to discover a different side of the capital.

David Dewing, Director of the Geffrye Museum , comments: “The new Overground line is here at last! After years in the planning and talking phases it was wonderful to watch it being built, and now it’s open and operating smoothly it seems like a miracle! Hoxton station is right outside the Geffrye Museum and we are already noticing visitors using the new service. We anticipate a significant increase in numbers coming to the museum as a result of the new line and we have no doubt it will have a massive impact on the economy of this part of east London .”

Janet Vitmayer, Chief Executive of the Horniman Museum , adds: “We’re delighted that the CultureLine has linked us to so many of our fellow cultural venues such as the Geffrye Museum and the Whitechapel Gallery. The CultureLine has created a corridor of exciting destinations that will be a real draw for visitors and which offers huge scope for many diverse itineraries that will appeal to a wide range of people. It will now be very easy to spend the morning at the Whitechapel followed by an afternoon at the Horniman. The line has opened up 10 fantastic venues to new communities and we look forward to welcoming many new visitors as Londoners and tourists take the opportunity to hop on and off the CultureLine.”