Located in London's Museum Corner, the Victoria and Albert Museum (known as the V&A London) is a place not to be missed.
Today, we're going to discover this place.
V&A London: article summary
V&A London: how to get to this museum?
Thanks to London's well-developed public transport network, you have several options for reaching this museum.
By metro, head for South Kensington via the District, Circle or Piccadilly. You can also use one of the many buses serving the area.
What are the opening hours?
You can visit us on site:
- Every day 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- Friday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
V&A London: what is the Victoria and Albert Museum?
Founded in 1852, the Museum of London was known as South Kensington, then renamed Victoria and Albert in tribute to Queen Victoria and her husband Albert.
The museum focuses on arts such as theater, design, photography, architecture and much more.
It also houses much more than just British collections. The museum is regularly abbreviated as the V&A Museum or simply V&A London.
A true world tour
If you want to open your mind and travel around the British capital, then this is the place for you. If you'd like to discover other cultures, this London museum is home to numerous collections from the four corners of the globe.
The Tipu Tiger collection
The gallery features objects representing the history and culture of the Indian subcontinent south of the Himalayas, including:
- India
- Pakistan
- Nepal
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
- Afghanistan
Silverware, so grandiose in the showcases, and refined jewelry, stand out throughout this exhibition. In addition, paintings and texts tell the story of the region, including South Asian religions and relations with Great Britain.
Discover the Middle East
Move on to the next gallery, featuring objects from North Africa and the Middle East. Intricate designs and fine mosaic ceramics fill the cabinets.
Don't forget to take a look at the incredible marble basin dating from 1277. It's near the enormous carpet in the center of the area, which you can't miss.
V&A London: a tour of China
There are amazing tea vessels in every gallery. China is no exception. There are various metal and textile works from many dynasties, including Han, Ming, Qing and Tang, to ponder and read about.
What stands out, however, are the sculptures, which are so realistic that you think they might jump out at you at any moment.
Discover the land of the rising sun
This gallery features interesting objects from Japan. Armors, lacquers and textiles stand out first to the contrast of early types of mobiles, computers and radios.
There are some beautiful kimonos on display and next to them is a cupboard full of inrōs. An inrō is used as a kind of bag when wearing kimonos, as they have no pockets.
Finally, the only display that definitely stands out is the Hello Kitty section. What museum would be complete without this famous cartoon?
V&A London: discover the world of theater
Posters, magazines, scripts, drawings, songs, album covers and quotes are sprinkled throughout, giving context to the subject of censorship. Some of the most memorable items include:
- A copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover, banned in 1929.
- Excerpts from underground magazine OZ.
- Poster for the Hair production.
- God Save the Queen album cover.
There's so much more to see at this interesting London museum that you could spend a good three days exploring it in depth. If you're on a budget and want to discover many works of art, it's the perfect visit.