World & places · Evidence-backed
Young V&A: London's Interactive Children's Museum
Discover London's dedicated museum for children and young people, where creativity meets play in a beautifully restored historic building.
Young V&A, formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood, is a Bethnal Green museum reimagined for children and families, featuring interactive galleries, free admission, and a focus on design, play and creativity. It reopened in July 2023 after a major redevelopment of the Grade II* listed building.
Free Admission for All Visitors
The Young V&A offers free entry to all visitors, making it an accessible cultural destination for families, school groups and anyone interested in design and childhood objects. There is no admission charge for adults or children to explore the permanent collections.
Three Permanent Galleries: Play, Imagine, Design
The museum features three permanent galleries named Play, Imagine and Design, which guide visitors through different aspects of creativity and making. The galleries are designed to help children understand the museum through these thematic lenses written in redolent materials.
Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024 Winner
In July 2024, the Young V&A was awarded the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year prize, recognising it as the UK's most significant museum experience of the year. The award celebrates the museum's innovative redesign and public impact.
Historic Grade II* Listed Building
The Young V&A is housed in a Grade II* listed building that originally served as the V&A Museum of Childhood. The historic structure has been carefully redeveloped while preserving its architectural character, with the central Town Square now a generous civic space for the local community.
Interactive Exhibits and Open Studio
Young V&A features interactive displays, workshops and an Open Studio where visitors can get hands-on with creative activities. The Imagine area includes an amphitheatre-style stage for performance skills, while exhibits encourage exploration of design, art and innovation through play.
Collection Spans 16th Century to Present
The museum houses a diverse collection of childhood-related objects including toys, games, furniture and clothing ranging from the 16th century to the present day. The collection demonstrates the evolution of childhood and design across centuries.
Located in Bethnal Green, East London
The Young V&A is situated on Cambridge Heath Road in Bethnal Green, East London. The museum is easily accessible by public transport, with Bethnal Green tube station on the Central line and Cambridge Heath railway station nearby.
Formerly Known as V&A Museum of Childhood
The museum reopened in July 2023 after extensive renovations, having previously operated as the V&A Museum of Childhood. The rebranding to Young V&A reflects its new focus on inspiring creativity in children and young people aged 0-14.
Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024 Shortlist Nomination
The Young V&A was shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024 award alongside other major UK museums, demonstrating its standing among the country's top cultural institutions. The shortlist nomination recognised its innovative approach to museum design for families.
Collaborative Design Process
The Young V&A redevelopment was led by AOC Architecture in collaboration with base build architects De Matos Ryan and a highly skilled design team. The project transformed the former Museum of Childhood into a 21st century creativity hub.
Every numbered claim above was required to carry source evidence before this topic could be published.