V&A South Kensington is open seven days a week. General admission is free and you don't need to book.
Please check the latest government guidance in advance of your visit. You might also like to look at our Digital Map – or plan a trail.
We recommend that visitors wear face coverings, particularly within exhibition galleries and our more confined public spaces.
V&A Museum of Childhood will remain closed while it's being transformed into Young V&A. Find out more about the V&A Museum of Childhood transformation.
For self-guided formal education group visits, including schools, colleges and nurseries, please see our schools page.
Getting here
- Nearest Underground stations: South Kensington (5-minute walk), Gloucester Road (10-minute walk).
- Victoria Station (35-minute walk)
- Bike-hire is available at Exhibition Road and Thurloe Place
- Several bus routes stop at the museum – see tfl.gov.uk for details
Find out about parking around the V&A
Staying safe
If you or anyone you live with has COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have recently been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, we ask that you please postpone your visit to the museum.
The wearing of face coverings is recommended, particularly with exhibition galleries and our more confined public spaces. Hand sanitiser is available at the entrance.
We have installed protective screens at shop and café points and are regularly cleaning all areas of the museum throughout the day.
Access
Entrance and exit
The Grand Entrance is open, and our Exhibition Road entrance is step-free and wheelchair accessible.
If you'd like to reserve a wheelchair, email us at hello@vam.ac.uk 24 hours in advance of your visit.
Galleries
Over seven miles of inspiring galleries are waiting for you. Use our interactive map to explore, or pick up a paper map upon entry. We've also created a series of online trails to help guide your visit around the galleries. Room 99 of the Photography Centre is closed temporarily. The Tapestries galleries reopen in Spring 2023.
Exhibitions and displays
Find out about our new displays programme in What's On.
Please see our Membership page and reopening FAQS for more information.
Members
Support for the V&A is more important than ever – we'd like to thank all of our members for continuing to support us.
Please remember to bring your Membership card and identification.
Facilities
Toilets
Our toilets are open throughout the building and are regularly cleaned throughout the day.
Cloakrooms
Open 10.00 – 17.30 daily (10.00 – 21.30 on Fridays). Luggage is charged per item.
£3 – Coats, small bags (smaller than an average cabin bag), umbrellas, child scooters, prams and pushchairs
£5 – Cabin bags (56 × 45 × 21cm)
£7 – Larger bags, folding bikes and adult scooters
Luggage with wheels, and bags larger than 56 × 45 × 21cm, are not allowed in the galleries. As part of our security procedures we may ask to search your bag.
Buggy park
A buggy park is available near the Exhibition Road entrance and Cromwell Road Entrance.
Find out about visiting the V&A as a family.
Lifts
Lifts are operating throughout the building.
Shops
The V&A Main Shop, Fashion Shop and Exhibition Road Quarter Shop are open during museum opening hours. You may prefer to shop online. The V&A is a charity and every purchase made in our shops helps to support us.
Cafés
The Main Café is open from 10.00 – 17.00 Monday to Sunday, serving a range of hot and cold meals, cakes and pastries, hot and cold drinks, teas and coffee. The Garden Café is open all year round (weather dependent in December and January).
Garden
The Garden Café is a hidden oasis in the centre of the museum and is open all year round (weather dependent in December and January).
Places to stay
Stay at our neighbouring hotels during your stay in London, conveniently located for you to enjoy your visit to the V&A. The V&A is grateful to our Hotel Corporate Members for their support:
The Doyle Collection
Starhotels UK
Baglioni Hotel
Edwardian Hotels
The Egerton House Hotel
Firmdale Hotels
FAQS
See our reopening FAQs and Membership visiting FAQs for further information.
If you can't find the answer to your question, please email us: hello@vam.ac.uk