Victoria & Albert Museum

UK Museums: Victoria & Albert Museum, London

V&A Museum, Kensington, London

The Victoria & Albert Museum in London. — © Hiro Taniguchi; the Victoria & Albert Museum - simply one of the best museums in the world

The Victoria & Albert Museum in Kensington, London is quite simply one of the best museums anywhere in the world.

It is also one of the biggest art museums anywhere with a collection of more than 2.27 million objects.

Covering more than 12 acres, if you were to spend just 5 minutes in each of its 145 galleries it would take you more than 12 hours to see everything, which is why it is best to plan on at least a day for a visit, if not more.

The focus of the museum's collection is on applied and decorative arts and sculpture. It tries not to overlap too much with other major collections, for instance objects from the classical world of the West and the Ancient Near East will be found at the British Museum, and Western paintings will be at the National Gallery.

The exhibitions cover all of history from 5,000 years ago up until contemporary times, and cultures from most parts of the globe are included.

The ceiling of the original refreshments room. — The ceiling of the original refreshments room, the first such museum facility in the world

History

The museum began as an outgrowth of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and was called the Museum of Manufactures. Renamed the South Kensington Museum it was moved to its current site in 1857 and officially opened by Queen Victoria.

Gradually the scientific exhibits were moved out into what eventually became the Science Museum. The museum was expanded with the construction of an extension designed by Aston Webb and when Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone in 1899 the museum was renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The museum introduced refreshment rooms within the museum and extended opening hours by the use of gas lighting, both features being world firsts.

One of the 145 galleries that comprise the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. — One of the 145 galleries that comprise the Victoria & Albert Museum in London

Collections

The museum has been expanded and remodeled many times over the years, with the last major one being completed in 2017. The Exhibition Road Quarter expansion added a further 6,400 square meters of exhibition space.

The official title of the museum was changed in the 1980's to include The National Museum of Art & Design.

It is hard to know where to begin to list what can be seen at the V&A. The collections fall into 4 categories, 1) Asia, 2) Furniture, Textile, & Fashion, 3) Sculpture, Metalwork, Ceramics, & Glass, 4) Word & Image.

The V&A features the largest collection of post classical sculpture in the world, and its collections of metalwork and ceramics from East Asia is second to none. Furthermore its Islamic collection is among the largest in the West.

As well as the objects themselves, the architecture and interiors display some of the best work of leading architects and designers of the past century and a half from the UK and abroad.

The decorations and design of the V&A buildings. — The decorations and design of the V&A buildings themselves are as fascinating as the exhibits

In 2005 the redesigned central garden reopened and provides a great space to take a break in the sun and or eat food and drink from the cafes.

As well as the permanent collection the V&A puts on a continually changing series of themed temporary exhibitions covering a wide range of topics. Some may include an entrance fee.

The museum also operates the Museum of Childhood in East London, and the V&A Dundee in Scotland.

The National Art Library is only open to members. — The National Art Library is only open to members, but anyone can join

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

The garden at the V&A is a focal point of the museum and is a great place to meet, relax, and enjoy the changing art installations. — The garden at the V&A is a focal point of the museum and is a great place to meet, relax, and enjoy the changing art installations

Cafes

The V&A Cafe has both indoor and outdoor spaces. Within the main building the cafe has spaces designed by William Morris, James Gamble, and Edward Poynter.

Delicious breakfasts and traditional English afternoon tea are some of the gastronomic highlights to be enjoyed.

The menu reflects the museum's main themes so please savor cucumber sandwiches as once prepared by Mrs Beeton, fruit sconelets and Indian ham sandwiches.

Not an exhibit at the V&A but part of the building. — Not an exhibit at the V&A but part of the building

Access - Getting to the V&A Museum

Cromwell Road
Knightsbridge
London SW7 2RL
Tel: 020 7942 2000
www: vam.ac.uk

Hours: Open 11 am to 7 pm. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays. Also closed 24-26 December.

Covid Info: Entry is free but because of Covid restrictions tickets must be booked in advance.

The nearest underground stations to the museum are South Kensington and Gloucester Road on the District, Piccadilly and Circle lines. Victoria Station is a 35 minute walk away.

South Kensington Tube Station is 5 minutes away, and Gloucester Road 10 minutes.

Many London buses pass near the museum including numbers #14, #49, #70, #74, #345, #360, #414, #430 and #C1.