Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum has the largest collection of decorative arts and design in the world

Inside one of the 145 Galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum
Inside one of the 145 Galleries of the Victoria and Albert Museum cc licensed photo by gailf548

With a collection exceeding 4.5 million different items, London's Victoria and Albert Museum is unrivalled in its category. In spite of having 145 galleries spread over 51000 square metres, only a portion of the massive collection of fine arts can be displayed at any one time. Items go back as far as 5000 years and cover nearly every medium of art.

Here you will find a vast collection of items including, sculptures, textiles, glass and ceramics, jewellery, silver, iron works, furniture, textiles, costumes, prints, photographs and drawings from every corner of the world.

The Victoria and Albert museum is named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The first building on the site was constructed in 1857. Subsequent expansions and updates have resulted in today's large museum and its variety of architecture. Another feature is a central garden area with a water feature and summertime cafe. Inside there is a cafe offering hot and cold meals that is open year round.

Since this is a public museum, admission to all of the permanent galleries is free, making it a great place to visit even when travelling on a budget.

This museum is located on Exhibition Road adjacent to both the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum, so you may want to consider visiting them while in the area.

To learn more about the Victoria and Albert Museum as well as special exhibitions and hours you can visit their official website linked above.



Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No

Victoria and Albert Museum Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:45 PM

Address: Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, UK

Phone: 020 7942 2000

Official Website: Victoria and Albert Museum

Victoria and Albert Museum Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating It’s an extraordinary museum, each room is brilliantly curated but don’t miss the ceramic staircase which is spectacular as are the dining areas. I personally love the glass and ceramic galleries which tend to get overlooked. I’m really looking forward to the fashion galleries reopening too. The shops are full of covetable posters jewellery and books. The temporary exhibitions are fantastic ( currently Marie Antoinette) and well worth the price of a membership to have access without booking. There are plenty of cafes and food options and toilets everywhere which is just as well as it’s huge.
Alison Medd - 4 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating There aren’t enough words to describe this beautiful museum. I purchased a membership just to be able to see the Marie Antoinette’s exhibition and ended up anjoying so much more! I spent almost 3 hours there and couldn’t leave. Be ready that the museum is huge and the cloak room and restroom are not always conveniently located. The shops are beautiful and so is the cafe.
Dana Bashi - 3 weeks ago

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3 Star Rating The museum is absolutely huge. You think you are done at a floor and yet somehow it carries on. The museum has some amazing items and some not so interesting to me personally. I feel like that’s most museums especially large ones such as this one. The Roman area is interesting but also somewhat what you’re expected or seen before but still nice. It also has China, Japan, Buddhism and Islam. I feel these areas were mixed, some times more interesting than others. The jewellery and gems area was really cool especially the crowns. The paintings area was great, most of the paintings were generally good with some I really enjoyed. One area with black metal gates, I think floor 3 didn’t make a whole lot of sense it me. Looked a bit like a garden centre and wasn’t my favourite area. The 4th floor has so many ceramics and was really interesting and beautiful
Rob - a month ago

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5 Star Rating I've visited most of the major museums in London. And this was the best! I definitely recommend it. The collections are beautifully displayed. The jewelry collection is stunning. The Trojan Column is breathtaking. Plus delicious food and very nice toilets ;D currently my most favorite museum in London!
Marysia W. - a week ago

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5 Star Rating Aside from the British Museum and the British Museum, this is my personal favorite. The collection is incredibly rich and diverse, showcasing treasures from different regions and eras. You could easily spend a whole day here if you're willing to dedicate the time. Besides the museums, I highly recommend enjoying a leisurely lunch in the café, surrounded by a Victorian atmosphere.
Zen Cheung - a month ago

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Directions

Tube Line Nearest Station Walking Time
District, Circle and Piccadilly LinesSouth Kensington Station5 MInutes

How to get to Victoria and Albert Museum by Tube

From South Kensington Station exit onto Thurloe Street and walk to your right (east) ½ block to Exhibition Road and follow it north then right on Cromwell Gardens to the entrance on your left side.

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