A museum designed for young minds — where art, design and everyday objects become an invitation to imagine, play and create.
- Design and decorative arts
- Toys and childhood objects
- Fashion and costume
- Illustration and visual storytelling
- Interactive installations
- Contemporary design
- Creative activities
- Three permanent galleries: Imagine, Play and Design
Don’t think of it as “a museum to take the kids to.” Think of it as a museum designed around how children actually experience creativity — adults interested in design and museum innovation will find plenty to observe too.
Don’t miss The Imagine, Play and Design galleries — each encourages a different way of engaging with creativity.
Nearby route ideas
Family Art London
Young V&A → V&A East Museum → Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
A strong East London cultural day mixing creativity, contemporary design and outdoor space.
East London Art + Design
Young V&A → V&A East → galleries around Hackney / East London
Best for families with older children or teenagers interested in design and contemporary culture.
Creative Kids Day
Young V&A → lunch in Bethnal Green → Museum of the Home
A manageable family day without trying to cross London between every stop.
Artlovers Family London
Young V&A + Tate Modern on another half-day
Rather than doing two large museums consecutively, use Young V&A to introduce creativity and Tate Modern later to ask children to apply that same curiosity to contemporary art.
About the venue
About
Young V&A in Bethnal Green, London is the Victoria and Albert Museum's dedicated museum of creativity for children, young people and families. Reopened in 2023 after a major transformation and named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024, the museum encourages visitors to experience art and design through imagination, play and making. Its three permanent galleries — Imagine, Play and Design — combine objects from the V&A collections with interactive experiences and contemporary creative practice. General admission is free, while major temporary exhibitions may require tickets. For families visiting London, Young V&A offers an engaging alternative to a traditional museum experience and is particularly strong for children interested in design, storytelling, animation and creativity.
Worth the trip
Because it treats children as creators rather than passive museum visitors. Art, design, toys, fashion and objects from the V&A collections become starting points for imagining, making and experimenting.
Young V&A is the V&A’s museum for children, young people and families in Bethnal Green, East London. Reopened in 2023 after a major transformation, it won Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024. General admission is free.
© Young V&A
