Victoria And Albert Museum
Victoria And Albert Museum
5 minutes read•Published on 15-10-2024
The Victoria and Albert Museum, also known as the V&A, is a world-renowned museum situated in London, England. Recognized as the biggest museum for decorative arts and design, the V&A showcases a vast collection of more than 2.27 million objects, which reflect more than 5,000 years of human artistry. Its content fills 145 galleries and includes a diverse array of cultures and historical periods from across the world. The museum was established in the year 1852 and was given the name of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Victoria And Albert Museum with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
The Victoria and Albert Museum, also known as the V&A, started in London in 1852. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who were big supporters of art education, gave the museum their names. At first, it was called the Museum of Manufactures and then the South Kensington Museum. The museum's idea was to teach the public about art and design. It wanted to help British industry get better.
In 1899, Queen Victoria placed the first stone of the current V&A building and gave it a new name that was in remembrance of Prince Albert and herself. This building work was driven by the engineer, Sir Aston Webb. The museum's front is grand in the style of the Victorian era, showing a mix of classic and gothic architecture.
The number of items in the collection of the museum has increased a lot over time. Now, the V&A houses more than 2 million objects that cover a period of 5,000 years. It showcases a wide range of fields such as architecture, fashion, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, and theatre and performance.
The Victoria and Albert Museum is not just for showing off objects. From its start, the museum wanted as many people as possible to be able to see its collection. It has carried out studies, put on exhibitions, printed books and provided education. This means that the V&A is not just a place to hold objects of beauty, it's also a place where people can learn.
One reason to visit
The Ardabil Carpet
You should consider visiting the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the Ardabil Carpet. This large carpet, measuring 10.5 metres by 5 metres, comes from Iran and is a precious piece of artwork from the mid-16th century. Its exceptional craftsmanship is visible in the about 26 million knots woven into its fabric. It also boasts vivid colors like blue, yellow, and red, arranged in balanced, symmetrical patterns, making it a beautiful piece to look at. Aside from its aesthetic appeal, the carpet also holds significant historical value. It was originally placed in the Ardabil Shrine in Iran, a site of great religious significance. So, a visit to the museum isnt just a treat for the eyes, but an enriching historical experience as well.
Getting there
If you are at the South Kensington tube station, use Exit 7 and continue along the road, which is Cromwell Road. Keep walking for about 5 minutes until you reach the intersection of Cromwell Gardens and Exhibition Road. The Victoria and Albert Museum is right around the corner. The journey is about 0.2 miles and should take no longer than 5-10 minutes. Please, make sure to look for signage indicating the direction to the museum.
Starting from the Royal Albert Hall, head towards the south and turn left onto Kensington Road/A315. After 0.1 mile, take the first exit at the roundabout onto Exhibition Road. Continue on this road for about 0.3 miles and you will have arrived at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Keep in mind that some parts of the route may require dismounting because they cannot be cycled. Always follow cycling laws and stay safe on your journey!
To get to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London by public transport, you have several options. If you are traveling by tube (underground), the closest stations are South Kensington and Gloucester Road which are both on the Piccadilly, Circle and District lines. The museum is only a short walk away from these stations. You can also get there by bus. The bus lines 14 , 74, 414, C1 and finally N74 and N97 at night all stop near Exhibition road. If you are cycling, you can use Barclays Cycle Hire docking stations located on Exhibition Road. Should you decide to travel by car, there's a car park located on Kensington High Street, but keep in mind the museum is located inside the London congestion charging zone.
If you're coming from the city center, you will need to head west on the A4 towards Hammersmith. Take the third exit at the Hammersmith roundabout onto the A4 (Great West Road). Continue on the A4 and then take the slight right to merge onto A3218 (Cromwell Road) following the sign for Kensington/the museums. The Victoria and Albert Museum will be on your right hand side. Be aware that London operates a congestion charge and you will need to pay this if you are entering the zone between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Friday. There are a few parking spaces available at the museum but these are limited, you are advised to use public parking which is available near South Kensington tube station and then a 10-minute walk to the museum. Please note that London has strict parking rules so make sure your vehicle is parked legally.
