Victoria and Albert Museum 🇬🇧

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in the United Kingdom is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts, and design. With a permanent collection spanning 5,000 years—from ancient history to the present day—you will explore vast holdings across 145 galleries at the original South Kensington site in London. Entrance is free to this national British museum, which originated from the 1832 Government School of Design.

Step inside to discover comprehensive holdings of ceramics, glass, textiles, costumes, jewellery, silver, metalwork, furniture, photographs, and medieval objects. You can marvel at the largest collection of Italian Renaissance sculpture outside Italy, alongside an impressive post-classical sculpture collection. Explore East Asian ceramics and metalwork, or view one of the Western world's largest Islamic art collections.

Don't miss the soaring Cast Courts, built with 83-foot ceilings to house massive plaster replicas, including a full-scale copy of Michelangelo's David and Trajan's Column cast in two parts. You can also admire historic architectural features like the Ceramic Staircase or the grand bronze doors leading into the cafe, which holds the historical distinction of being the first museum catering service in the world.

What to see at Victoria and Albert Museum

• Largest collection of Italian Renaissance sculpture outside of Italy
• Cast Courts featuring full-scale replicas of Michelangelo's David and Trajan's Column
• Comprehensive global holdings spanning 5,000 years of design and decorative arts
• The 1871 Ceramic Staircase decorated with detailed moulded and coloured ceramics

Visiting tips

Take advantage of free entrance to explore the museum's extensive collections across 145 galleries in South Kensington.

How long: 3-4 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Victoria and Albert Museum is easy to reach on London’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Tower of London and Natural History Museum. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our London travel guide.