The V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum


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VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM

ADDRESS:
CROMWELL ROAD
LONDON
SW7 2RL

Phone: 020 7942 2000

nearest train station:

Victoria 1.2 miles (1.9 km)

South Kensington 0.2 miles (0.3 km)

The Victoria and Albert Museum (also includes the national art library) is located on the corner of Exhibition Road and Thurloe Place in South Kensington and is directly opposite the Natural History Museum. The purpose of the museum is to display a history of art and design and its collection spans some 3,000 years with over 4 million items occupying some 11 acres of space. It’s the world’s largest decorative arts museum. The Museum if often referred to in its abbreviated from of the V&A. Originally the building was known as the Victoria and South Kensington Museum and was first established in 1852. On 17th May 1899 Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of the Victoria and Albert Museum (the name changed at this point). While the main bulk of the museum is fee they have also have ever changing special exhibitions alongside the permanent exhibits for which a charge may be made.

Collections include
Architecture:
drawings, photographs, whole rooms and parts of buildings.
Asia:
Objects from East Asia, South and South-East Asia, and the Middle East.
British Galleries:
British design and art from 1500 to 1900.
Ceramics:
From ancient Egyptian artefacts to contemporary studio pottery and ceramics.
Childhood:
Dolls' houses, dolls, toys, games, fashion and more from the 16th century to the contemporary.
Contemporary:
Exhibitions, events and displays of the best of today's art, design and visual culture.
Fashion & Jewellery:
Fashionable dress, jewellery and accessories from the 17th century to the present day.
More on Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories
Furniture & Furnishings:
Over 14,000 pieces from Britain, Europe and America, from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Glass:
Explore the 4000-year history of glass, from the Middle East, Europe and the Western world.
History, Periods & Styles:
The V&A's collections cross a multitude of periods and design styles.
Metalwork:
Silver, ironwork, arms, armour, enamels, brasswork, pewter and medieval metalwork.
Paintings & Drawings:
Watercolours, pastels, portrait miniatures, oil paintings, illustrations, posters, cartoons.
Photography:
The Photography collection began in 1852 and now holds over 500,000 images.
Prints & Books:
Everything from comics and children's literature to the art, craft and design of the book.
Sculpture:
Explore the world's most comprehensive holding of post-classical European sculpture.

ADMISSION IS FREE TO MAIN BUILDING

Open
10.00 to 17.45 daily
10.00 to 22.00 Wednesdays and the last Friday of the month (selected galleries remain open after 18.00)

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