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 4.8 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating There are plenty of museums in London with free admission. I knew that, but what I didn't know was how amazing they are. Believe me, I've paid good money for far less impressive experiences! 😁 ​The museum is huge yet not overly crowded. The rooms are dedicated to specific time periods or countries — for instance, I got completely absorbed in the 'China' room because the exhibition was fantastic. ​The galleries are spacious and take time to explore. If you're a history lover, you'll adore it here. Just make sure you leave plenty of time, as one day definitely isn't enough. ​There's a lovely cafe in the courtyard to grab a drink and a snack (or eat your own food), as well as a museum shop, lifts, and — absolute bliss — benches to rest on.
Julia Maakar - a month ago

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4 Star Rating Highlights ● One of the finest museums in London ● Free entry ● Vast collection covering art, design, fashion, sculpture and world cultures ● Stunning architecture and beautiful galleries throughout ● Incredible variety of exhibits ● Easy to spend an entire day here ● So much to see that it can feel overwhelming ● Impossible to do the museum justice in a single visit ● Café located in spectacular historic rooms ● Café becomes extremely busy and noisy at peak times ● Arrive early if you want a more relaxing dining experience Review The Victoria and Albert Museum is an absolutely outstanding museum and one of London’s must-visit attractions. The sheer scale of the collection is staggering, covering everything from fine art and sculpture to fashion, design, furniture, jewellery and artefacts from around the world. What immediately stands out is just how much there is to see. The museum is packed with exhibits to such an extent that it can actually feel overwhelming at times. Unless you’re prepared to spend an entire day here, it is virtually impossible to do the collection justice in a single visit. Every gallery seems to lead to another fascinating display, and there is always something unexpected waiting around the corner. The building itself is every bit as impressive as the collection it houses. The galleries are beautiful, the architecture is stunning, and the museum manages to feel both grand and welcoming at the same time. One area that was slightly disappointing was the café experience. The dining rooms are absolutely gorgeous and well worth seeing, but at busy times the café becomes incredibly crowded. The combination of the noise and being packed in so tightly can detract from what should be a relaxing experience in such a beautiful setting. My advice would be to arrive early if you plan to eat there. Overall, the V&A is an exceptional museum with a world-class collection and enough exhibits to keep visitors returning time and time again. It is one of the best museums in the country and a place that every visitor to London should experience at least once.
MilPoPo - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Honestly, this is now one of absolute favorite museums. We visited 2 years in a row and I still want to go back. Such an interesting array of items. I always learn something or see something that makes me actually gasp. (Also, great gift shop!) Lovely outdoor space. It's just fantastic. Costumes, art, sculpture, furniture, musical instruments, tapestries, jewelry, there's something for everyone.
Lisa Schnettler - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating Had an absolutely unforgettable visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum for the Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art exhibition. The entire showcase was beautifully curated and truly captured the surrealist imagination, bold creativity and theatrical elegance of Elsa Schiaparelli’s work. Every gallery felt immersive and cinematic, with stunning lighting, thoughtful pacing and detailed storytelling that allowed each couture piece to shine like a masterpiece. What stood out most to me was the incredible craftsmanship and artistic detailing behind the iconic Elsa and Rose Berry creations. Seeing the intricate gold embroidery, sculptural jewellery elements, exaggerated silhouettes and whimsical surrealist motifs up close was breathtaking. The pieces worn and reinterpreted by Roseberry felt both respectful to Schiaparelli’s heritage while bringing a daring contemporary edge that made the exhibition feel fresh, modern and exciting. The lobster references, celestial motifs, dramatic corsetry and surreal accessories were especially memorable and showcased how fashion can transcend clothing and become wearable art. I also loved how the exhibition explored the relationship between fashion, sculpture, performance and fantasy. It was inspiring to see how Schiaparelli continuously challenged conventional beauty and pushed creative boundaries in such a fearless and imaginative way. Even visitors who may not usually follow couture or high fashion would appreciate the level of artistry and innovation on display. The museum staff were welcoming, knowledgeable and passionate, adding to the overall experience. This was easily one of the most inspiring fashion exhibitions I have visited — a must-see for anyone interested in design, craftsmanship, creativity and the intersection between fashion and art.
Rodney Loh - 3 months ago

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5 Star Rating A truly wonderful place, I absolutely loved this museum, the exhibits are great, I found the building inside awesome, and the cafe is truly beautiful, i read somewhere once the the cafe in the V& A was the best architectural one in Europe, I was not disappointed, I took some photos but far better in the 'flesh'. Good amenities, clean and easily accessible. The shop has some lovely things in it too. They have various rooms with different exhibitions, such as a Chinese one, British, Japanese etc, all full of interesting artifacts. Lovely marble sculptures. The museum is free to enter, but there are some exhibitions on inside that you need tickets for, but to be honest if it's not something you particularly want to see there us so much to see for free. There us a quadrant outside, lovely seating area and pool, the children were paddling when we visited.
M - 2 months 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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