Victoria and Albert Museum
The world's leading museum of art, design and performance, free to enter, with seven miles of galleries in South Kensington.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The museum began in 1852 as the Museum of Manufactures, set up after the Great Exhibition of 1851 to improve the design of British goods by giving students and manufacturers examples of fine craftsmanship. It moved to its present area of South Kensington in 1857 and grew rapidly through purchases, gifts and loans from around the world.
In 1899 Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of a new building, and the museum was renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum in memory of her and her husband. The large building designed by Sir Aston Webb opened in 1909 and still forms the main frontage on Cromwell Road.
The collection now covers around 5,000 years of art and design from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and beyond, including ceramics, textiles, furniture, fashion, sculpture, jewellery, photographs and theatre. The Cast Courts hold plaster copies of famous monuments, and the John Madejski Garden is a courtyard at the centre of the building.
The Exhibition Road Quarter, opened in 2017, added a new entrance, a courtyard and underground exhibition space. Entry to the permanent collection is free.
Highlights
- Cast Courts with plaster copies of famous sculpture and monuments
- Collections of fashion, textiles, jewellery and ceramics
- Art and design from Asia and the Islamic world
- John Madejski Garden with a paddling pond (currently closed)
- Free entry to the permanent galleries
Permanent exhibition
- Cast Courts – Two large halls of plaster casts of famous sculptures and monuments, made in the nineteenth century.
- Founded
- 1852
- Operated by
- Victoria and Albert Museum
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Disabled visitors get discounted exhibition tickets, and a free companion or carer ticket can be added to each. |
|---|
Admission to the permanent collection is free and booking is not needed. Some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge, and Members enter exhibitions free.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description
The Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road entrances are step-free, but the Tunnel entrance is not wheelchair accessible. The building is old and extended, so accessible routes differ between areas; staff can recommend the best route. Wheelchairs and walking sticks can be borrowed at the Grand Entrance information desk, booked at least 24 hours ahead. There are 13 accessible toilets; the nearest Changing Places toilet is at the Science Museum. Audio descriptions, large print, tactile resources, sensory backpacks, a quiet space and a visual story are offered, along with BSL events, dementia-friendly tours, relaxed views and touch tours. Blue Badge parking can be arranged nearby. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
The Learning Centre offers free family activities every day, and digital family trails and online games are available. Children's meal deals and highchairs are offered in the cafés. Buggy parks are near the Exhibition Road and Cromwell Road entrances, baby changing is in most toilets, and breastfeeding is welcome throughout. Packed lunches can be eaten in the garden and courtyard.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
South Kensington station · 5-min walk
South Kensington Underground station is a 5-minute walk and Gloucester Road a 10-minute walk. Step-free stations are Knightsbridge (14-minute walk, 0.6 miles) and Victoria (1.3 miles). Several bus routes stop at the museum, and bike hire is available on Exhibition Road and Thurloe Place.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park; Blue Badge parking spaces nearby can be booked through the museum.
- Accessible parking
Taxi ranks are on Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road. Planned Piccadilly line upgrades in 2026 and 2027 may disrupt journeys.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
- Coat check
Main Café, Patisserie and Garden Café. Cloakrooms at the Cromwell Road and Exhibition Road entrances charge £3 to £7 per item. Wheeled luggage and bags larger than 56 × 45 × 21 cm are not allowed in the galleries. Visitors may carry bottled water.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Venue hire is offered by the museum.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
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| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Trails and a digital map help visitors plan a visit. Bags may be searched at entry. Some tours and events, including dementia-friendly and touch tours, are listed in the What's On programme. |
