London: Victoria and Albert Museum
Operating Hours:Saturday - Thursday: 10:00 - 17:45. Friday: 10:00 - 22:00
The Vibe:The world's design library, ranked by material.
The world's largest museum of decorative arts and design holds 2.3 million objects spanning 5,000 years. Textiles, sculpture, ceramics, fashion and furniture fill seven miles of galleries in South Kensington.
Polished stone floors echo under cast-iron ceilings. Light spills into the Cast Courts where copies of David and Trajan's Column dwarf visitors. In the galleries, silence; in the café, clinking cups.
- • Founded in 1852 as a design reference for manufacturers, now one of the world's largest cultural institutions
- • Holds 2.3 million objects across every decorative-arts discipline
- • Free admission to permanent galleries; ticketed major exhibitions
- • Home to the 16th-century Raphael Cartoons and the world's largest fashion collection
Persona Fit
- 👨👩👧 Families: Cast Courts and Jewellery Gallery appeal to all ages
- 💕 Couples: Friday Late openings with drinks and live music in the courtyard
- 👵 Seniors: Step-free throughout via lifts; seated benches in most galleries
- 📸 Photographers: Cast Courts and Medieval & Renaissance galleries for atmospheric shots
Highlights
- Cast Courts — life-size plaster copies including Michelangelo's David and Trajan's Column
- Raphael Cartoons — seven 16th-century tapestry designs, monumental in scale
- Jewellery Gallery — thousands of pieces from ancient to contemporary
- Fashion Gallery — 400 years of dress and textile design
- The Morris, Gamble and Poynter Rooms — the original Victorian refreshment rooms, still in use — Hidden Gem
- John Madejski Garden — central courtyard with shallow pool, perfect for a break
1 Curated Booking Option
Starts From
(Per Person)
Sarah Riches
Our London Local Expert
Table of Contents
Once You Reach
Similar Options you'd love
