Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum, universally known as the V&A, is the world’s largest museum of applied and decorative arts and design, and one of London’s most beloved cultural institutions. Established in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the museum occupies a magnificent complex of buildings in South Kensington, just minutes from Hyde Park and the Natural History Museum. Its vast collection of over 2.8 million objects spans more than 5,000 years of human creativity, encompassing ceramics, glass, textiles, costumes, silver, ironwork, jewellery, furniture, medieval art, sculpture, prints, drawings, and photographs from cultures across the world. Signature highlights include the Cast Courts with monumental plaster reproductions, the Raphael Cartoons, the Ardabil Carpet, the Tipoo’s Tiger, and extraordinary holdings of Renaissance and Islamic art. The V&A runs a dynamic programme of major temporary exhibitions, evening events, family activities, and educational workshops that complement its permanent galleries. The museum also encompasses Young V&A in Bethnal Green, dedicated to children and families, and the new V&A East Storehouse on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Entry to the permanent collection at V&A South Kensington is free, with paid tickets required for blockbuster special exhibitions. The museum’s Contact Centre is open seven days a week and the team responds to email enquiries within seven working days. The V&A is wheelchair accessible with lifts and step-free routes throughout the building.