Young V&A
- Families with children
- Architecture and design enthusiasts
- Interactive experience seekers
What Visitors Say
Very cute, mainly for children, but as an adult I had fun as well. There is a paid section (the rest is free) and while the paid section is nice, it wasn't worth the money unless you want to support the musuem. The gift shops were cute, and a good chunk of the exhibits were able to be interacted with.
We visited here to see the Aardman exhibition because we are big Wallace and Gromit fans. The venue is easy to get to by central line and bus. Building is quite large with a large central area and exhibitions to the sides on the two floors. There is a large buggy park area and a full range of toilet facilities below ground level. Aardman was fantastic. Plenty of information about the history of organisation, how characters were made and shows put together. You have to buy tickets for that exhibition but the rest was free.
I visited the Wallace and Gromit exhibition and honestly… it felt like stepping right back into my childhood 🥹 The nostalgia was unreal. Seeing Shaun the Sheep and Wallace & Gromit brought to life through the original clay models was incredible the level of detail and precision is just mind-blowing. One of my favourite parts was getting to see the early sketches of the characters. It really made me appreciate how much creativity and craftsmanship goes into every little moment on screen. There’s so much artistry behind it all if you get the chance to visit, I 100% recommend going. It’s such a wholesome and inspiring experience 💛
I probably would have never stepped inside if I didnt have a kid and it would have been my loss; this place is for anyone who is into design...and big kids in general. Incredible wide open airy space designed for kids to run around. You dont even have to stress for a meal as it has a food court. On either sides are galleries and on top floor you also have workspaces for kids to tinker and draw. One of the galleries has a theater space for kids to "act out". In addition to permanent exhibit, they also hold exhibitions. A beautiful way to spend half a day or so. I even saw some toys I grew up with behind the glass cases. Because I'm Ancient. Has gift/bookstore with lots of good gifts. Literally a minute from Bethnal Green tube station. Highly recommend
East London can sometimes feel like a bit of a cultural wasteland when it comes to massive, all-day museums for kids. Most local spots offer maybe 30 minutes of entertainment tops (with the exception of the Museum of London Docklands, but trekking all the way out to Canary Wharf is often just too far). That’s exactly why the Young V&A is such a fantastic local lifesaver. The Space: First off, it is an absolutely beautiful building and a genuinely nice museum overall. They’ve done a great job renovating the space so it feels fresh and inviting while keeping that grand, classic museum architecture. There are a lot of nice little things to look at on the main floors. The Absolute Highlight: While the displays are lovely, the absolute best part of the museum is the arts and crafts area up on the top floor. If you actually want to keep your kids well-entertained for a solid chunk of time, head straight up there. Unlike some other family spots in London, it usually has plenty of space, so you aren't fighting for elbow room while your kids get creative. It is a beautiful, much-needed hub for East London families. Highly recommend checking out the top floor!
Highlights
Play Gallery
Hands-on making and movementClimb, balance and build across large-scale structures that turn curiosity into problem-solving and teamwork.
Ground floor, central hall
Imagine Gallery
Stories through toys and gamesVictorian dolls and board games sit beside contemporary icons, tracing how characters leap from page to screen to playroom.
First floor, north side
Design Gallery
How things are madeReal sketchbooks, material swatches and prototypes reveal the steps from spark to finished object.
First floor, south side
Under-Fives Space
Play designed for toddlersSoft, sensory stations focus on colour, texture and sound for calm, confident first museum visits.
Ground floor, dedicated zone
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The building’s iron skeleton reuses parts from London’s 1862 International Exhibition—industrial kit turned into a museum frame you can still see in the riveted columns.
Before reopening in 2023, the museum ran co-design sessions with school pupils and young advisors; several labels preserve children’s own wording, so you’re literally reading the curators’ junior voices.
It opened in 1872 as the Bethnal Green Museum—an East End outpost of the South Kensington Museum (the V&A’s earlier name)—to bring art and design learning closer to working families.
Some prototypes in the Design gallery are intentionally ‘imperfect’: look for 3D-printed objects left with visible build lines so fingers can feel how printing layers stack.
Victorian ‘manners’ board games in Imagine quietly doubled as etiquette lessons—penalising rudeness and rewarding ‘proper’ choices—so playtime trained behaviour as well as strategy.
Similar Museums
Nearby Places
Vagina Museum
2 min 👣
The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History
8 min 👣
Chisenhale Gallery
15 min 👣
Museum of the Home
19 min 👣
Hackney Museum
22 min 👣
Whitechapel Gallery
22 min 👣
Ragged School Museum
22 min 👣
Dennis Severs' House
22 min 👣
Jack the Ripper Museum
27 min 👣
Sutton House
28 min 👣