Victoria & Albert Museum
World's largest museum of decorative arts and design, with 5,000 years of creativity across fashion, textiles, ceramics, sculpture and more
World's largest museum of decorative arts and design, with 5,000 years of creativity across fashion, textiles, ceramics, sculpture and more
The V&A holds over 2.3 million objects spanning 5,000 years of human creativity — from Raphael's tapestry cartoons and samurai armour to Alexander McQueen gowns and David Bowie stage costumes.
Set inside a magnificent Victorian building in South Kensington, the museum is a treasure trove for anyone drawn to fashion, furniture, photography or sculpture. Friday Lates bring DJs, pop-up bars and late-night gallery access on the last Friday of every month, turning the museum into one of London's best evenings out.
The V&A grew out of the Great Exhibition of 1851, when Prince Albert and Henry Cole used the profits to create a museum that would educate designers and manufacturers. It opened in 1852 as the Museum of Manufactures at Marlborough House before moving to South Kensington in 1857.
The grand Aston Webb facade along Cromwell Road was completed in 1909. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone in her last major public appearance, and the museum was renamed in her honour and Albert's. Today it spans 145 galleries across seven floors, with the Exhibition Road Quarter, designed by Amanda Levete, added in 2017.
The permanent galleries are arranged by material and region. Highlights include the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art in Room 42, the Japanese and Korean galleries on Level 2, and the jewellery gallery in Rooms 91–93 — one of the finest collections of its kind in the world.
The Cast Courts are worth the trip alone. These double-height rooms house full-scale replicas of Europe's greatest sculptural works, collected in the Victorian era so students could study them without travelling abroad. Standing beneath a plaster Trajan's Column is surprisingly moving.
The British Galleries on Levels 2 and 4 trace 600 years of design through furniture, textiles, silverware and entire period rooms. The Great Bed of Ware — a 3.3-metre-wide Elizabethan bed mentioned by Shakespeare — is a particular favourite.
The museum runs temporary exhibitions that regularly rank among London's best, from Dior couture to ocean photography. Shows last three to four months, and booking ahead is recommended as popular exhibitions sell out at weekends.
Friday Lates run on the last Friday of every month from 18:30 to 22:00, transforming the museum with live music, talks, workshops and pop-up bars. The atmosphere is unlike any other museum night in London — check the V&A website for upcoming themes.
The John Madejski Garden in the central courtyard is a destination in its own right. In summer the shallow pool is open for paddling, and a cafe serves drinks among the clipped hedges and Italianate architecture.
Under 12s free for all exhibitions when accompanied by an adult
Rooms 46a and 46b are best visited when the morning light floods in through the glass ceilings — arrive at opening for the most dramatic effect.
The last Friday of every month the museum stays open until 10pm with free entry, live music and bars. It is one of the best free nights out in London.
An underground walkway connects South Kensington station directly to the museum — follow the signs inside the station and you will arrive without crossing a road.
The museum spans seven floors and 145 galleries. Grab a map from the main entrance desk so you can plan a route around the collections you care about most.
Most visitors stick to the ground floor. Head upstairs to the ceramics galleries on Level 6 for panoramic views across South Kensington and far smaller crowds.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: February 27, 2026
