Museums · London
Young V&A
Also known as: V&A Museum of Childhood, Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood
In or near City of London.
V&A's children's museum in Bethnal Green — reopened 2023, free entry.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Best time of year
- Year-round
- Nearest railway station
- Bethnal Green · 0.1 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
Getting there & planning your visit
You can reach Young V&A by taking a train to Bethnal Green station, which is just 0.1 km away. Entry to the museum is free, and it is wheelchair accessible. The postcode for sat-nav is E2 9PA.
About
Young V&A in Bethnal Green — formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood — reopened in 2023 after a major redesign as a museum for and about children, drawing on the V&A's collection of toys, dolls' houses, children's games and design. The 1872 cast-iron building was originally part of the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A) and is itself an architectural curiosity. Free entry.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2021
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Young V&A, formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood, is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum (the "V&A"), which is the United Kingdom's national museum of applied arts. It is in Bethnal Green in the East End of London, and specialises in objects by and for children. In 2024 it was awarded the Museum of the Year prize.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
Young V&A is a museum designed for children, young people, and families, encouraging creativity through play and design. Visitors can explore various galleries and participate in creative activities inspired by the museum's collection.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Young V&A, formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood, is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum (the "V&A"), which is the United Kingdom's national museum of applied arts. It is in Bethnal Green in the East End of London, and specialises in objects by and for children. In 2024 it was awarded the Museum of the Year prize.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
in 1872.]] The museum was founded in 1872 as the Bethnal Green Museum. The iron structure was a prefabricated building originally constructed at Albertopolis, South Kensington in 1856–7, which was displaced by the construction of early phases of the present V&A complex. The exterior elevations of the building were designed by James William Wild in red brick in a Rundbogenstil (round-arched) style very similar to that in contemporary Germany and using a cast iron structure manufactured by Charles Denoon Young and Company. The similarity to contemporary industrial structures led to the disparaging name of the building as the "Brompton Boilers". This effect is modified by mosaic panels along…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.5283, -0.0556
- District
- Tower Hamlets
- Parish
- Tower Hamlets, unparished area
- Postcode
- E2 9PA
- Parliamentary constituency
- Bethnal Green and Stepney
- Established
- 1872
- Annual visitors
- ~604,900/year
- Nearest railway station
- Bethnal Green — 0.1 km
- Opening
- Daily 10.00 – 17.45; closed 24 – 26 December
- Official site
- www.vam.ac.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q644281 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Young V&A (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: V&A Museum of Childhood.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Featured in these 2 guides
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Young V&A?
- Young V&A is in London, United Kingdom (postcode E2 9PA), in the parish of Tower Hamlets, unparished area.
- What is Young V&A?
- V&A's children's museum in Bethnal Green — reopened 2023, free entry.
- How do I get to Young V&A?
- The nearest railway station is Bethnal Green, about 0.1 km away. Drivers can use postcode E2 9PA.
- When was Young V&A built?
- Built or established in 1872.
- Who owns Young V&A?
- Young V&A is owned by Victoria and Albert Museum.
- Is Young V&A a listed building?
- Young V&A is officially recognised as Grade II* listed.
- Is Young V&A free to visit?
- Yes, Young V&A is free to enter.
- How do I get to Young V&A?
- The nearest railway station is Bethnal Green, about 0.1 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode E2 9PA.