V&A South Kensington is open seven days a week. General admission is free and you don’t need to book.
Please check the latest government guidance in advance of your visit. You might also like to look at our Digital Map – or one of our trails.
For self-guided formal education group visits, including schools, colleges and nurseries, please see our schools page.
Getting here
- Nearest Underground stations: South Kensington (5-minute walk), Gloucester Road (10-minute walk).
- Victoria Station (35-minute walk)
- Bike-hire is available at Exhibition Road and Thurloe Place
- Several bus routes stop at V&A South Kensington – see tfl.gov.uk for details
Find out about parking around the V&A
Access
Entrance and exit
The Grand Entrance is open, and our Exhibition Road entrance is step-free and wheelchair accessible.
If you'd like to reserve a wheelchair, email us at hello@vam.ac.uk 24 hours in advance of your visit.
Galleries
Over seven miles of inspiring galleries are waiting for you. Use our interactive map to explore, or pick up a paper map on entry. We've also created a series of online trails to help guide your visit around the galleries.
The Theatre and Performance galleries are temporarily closed until early September 2023.
Exhibitions and displays
Find out about our new exhibitions and displays programme in What's On.
Please see our Membership page and reopening FAQS for more information on visiting exhibitions.
Members
Support for the V&A is more important than ever – we'd like to thank all of our members for continuing to support us.
Please remember to bring your Membership card and identification.
Facilities
Toilets
Our toilets are open throughout the building and are regularly cleaned throughout the day.
Cloakrooms
Open 10.00 – 17.30 daily (10.00 – 21.30 on Fridays). Luggage is charged per item.
£3 – Coats, small bags (smaller than an average cabin bag), umbrellas, child scooters
£5 – Cabin bags (56 × 45 × 21cm)
£7 – Larger bags, folding bikes and adult scooters
Luggage with wheels, and bags larger than 56 × 45 × 21cm, are not allowed in the galleries. As part of our security procedures we may ask to search your bag.
Buggy park
A buggy park is available near the Exhibition Road entrance and Cromwell Road Entrance.
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 open 10.00 – 17.30 daily (10.00 – 21.45 on Fridays). You may prefer to shop online. The V&A is a charity and every purchase made in our shops helps to support us.
Cafés and Garden
The Main Café is open from 10.00 – 17.00 Monday to Sunday, serving a range of hot and cold meals, cakes and pastries, hot and cold drinks, teas and coffee.
The Garden Café is a hidden oasis in the centre of the building and is open all year round (only open on weekends during winter period).
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:
COMO Metropolitan London & COMO The Halkin
The Doyle Collection
Edwardian Hotels
The Egerton House Hotel
Maybourne Hotel Group
FAQS
See our reopening FAQs and Membership visiting FAQs for further information.
If you can't find the answer to your question, please email us: hello@vam.ac.uk