This page outlines the changes we've made to keep you safe during your visit. To provide the best possible experience, you can book tickets in advance to guarantee entry at a particular time.
V&A South Kensington is now open, Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 – 17:45
Visiting the V&A is still free. Please check the latest government guidance in advance of your visit.
- Please book tickets in advance to guarantee entry at a particular time.
- Tickets to visit the permanent collection are available on the door, but you may have to wait if we are busy.
- Face coverings, correctly worn, are recommended during your visit unless you have a specific exemption.
- Please don’t bring large bags with you at the moment, as our cloakrooms are currently closed.
We carefully monitor our capacity, and are also gradually making more tickets available for our exhibitions, which will be released each Tuesday at midday.
V&A Museum of Childhood will remain closed while it's being transformed into Young V&A – a new world-leading museum of design and creativity for children and young people. Find out more about the V&A Museum of Childhood transformation.
Book entry ticket
You can book your free ticket in advance to guarantee entry at your preferred time, or walk-up on the day, although at busy times you may need to wait. Everyone, including our members, will need a ticket for exhibitions.
Please check the latest government guidance before you come.
We will email your ticket to you, please be prepared to show it on a device, or printed out, when you arrive.
Getting here
- Nearest Underground stations: South Kensington (5-minute walk), Gloucester Road (10-minute walk). South Kensington station will be closed on the 18 – 19 September. The Piccadilly line will not be stopping at South Kensington until February 2022. Please visit TFL to find alternative routes.
- Victoria Station (35-minute walk)
- Bike-hire is available at Exhibition Road and Thurloe Place
- Several bus routes stop at the museum – see tfl.gov.uk for details
Find out about parking around the V&A
Staying safe
If you or anyone you live with has COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have recently been in contact with someone who has COVID-19, we ask that you please postpone your visit to the museum.
If you are a regular visitor you will notice signs and markers throughout the museum.
Hand sanitiser is available at the entrance and at key points around the galleries. In line with government guidance, face coverings are recommended during your visit unless you have a specific exemption.
We have installed protective screens at shop and café points and are regularly cleaning all areas of the museum throughout the day.
NHS Test and Trace
We encourage you to check in by scanning the NHS QR code at our entrances if you are 16 or over, to help support NHS Test and Trace. Further information can be found in our privacy notice.
Access
Entrance and exit
Please enter the museum on Exhibition Road and exit on Cromwell Road. Both are step-free and wheelchair accessible. The tunnel entrance/exit is currently closed.
Our cloakrooms are currently closed. Please don't bring large bags or luggage with you as these are not allowed in the galleries. Small bags may be searched on arrival.
Please be ready to show your tickets when you arrive. Timed entry for exhibitions is valid for 15 minutes – unfortunately late admittance will not be possible. Once inside, you are free to explore the museum for as long as you like. If you leave the museum and wish to re-enter, you will need to book a new ticket.
If you'd like to reserve a wheelchair, email us at [email protected] 24 hours in advance of your visit.
Galleries
Over seven miles of inspiring galleries are waiting for you. Use our interactive map to explore. We've also created a series of online trails to help guide your visit around the galleries. The National Art Library, study rooms and Sackler Centre presently remain closed for now, and the Photography Centre, Rooms 99 – 101, is closed temporarily.
Printed guides have temporarily been removed from the galleries to help keep you safe.
Exhibitions and displays
Booking for Bags: Inside Out, Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser and Fabergé: Romance to Revolution is now open.
Find out about our new displays programme in What's On.
Please see our Membership page and reopening FAQS for more information.
Members
Support for the V&A is now more important than ever – we'd like to thank all of our members for continuing to support us during this difficult time.
For the best possible experience and to guarantee entry at a particular time, we recommend that Members book tickets to visit the permanent collection. If you miss the chance to book in advance, we normally have walk-up availability on the day.
For our special exhibitions, we recommend you pre-book a ticket to ensure you can see the exhibition at your preferred time. However, we also hold back a number of daily tickets for our Members.
Please remember to bring your Membership card and identification.
Facilities
Toilets and cloakrooms
Our toilets are open throughout the building and are regularly cleaned throughout the day.
Our cloakrooms have not yet reopened. Please note only small sized bags are allowed in the galleries.
Buggy park
A buggy park is available in our Family Area under the Dome near the Cromwell Road exit.
Find out about visiting the V&A as a family.
Lifts
Lifts are operating throughout the building.
Shops
The V&A Main Shop, Fashion Shop and Exhibition Road Quarter Shop are now open during museum opening hours. You may prefer to shop online. The V&A is a charity and every purchase made in our shops helps to support us.
Cafés
The Main Café and Garden Café are open from 10.00 – 17.00 Wednesday to Sunday, serving a range of sandwiches, salads, cakes and pastries, hot and cold drinks, teas and coffees. The Main Café is also serving a range of hot and cold meals.
Garden
The John Madejski Garden is open and outdoor seating is available.
Places to stay
Stay at our neighbouring hotels during your stay in London, conveniently located for you to enjoy your visit to the V&A. The V&A is grateful to our Hotel Corporate Members for their support:
FAQS
See our reopening FAQs and Membership reopening FAQs for further information.
If you can't find the answer to your question, please email us: [email protected]