The Young V&A, formerly known as the V&A Museum of Childhood, is located in Bethnal Green, London. It is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum that focuses on children, young people, and families. The museum is designed to inspire creativity through interactive exhibits and galleries that encourage play, imagination, and design. It reopened in 2023 after a significant three-year renovation.
Website Ratings:
Google: 4.3/5
TripAdvisor: 4/5
10 Must-Do Activities:
1. Explore the Imagination Playground
Why it’s a must: This interactive space is all about free play—children can use large foam blocks, tubes, and other materials to build their own structures, encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Tip: Let your kids take the lead! This is a great opportunity for them to express their imagination and get hands-on experience with designing and building.
2. Discover the "Design" Gallery
Why it’s a must: The Design Gallery features exhibits that encourage children to explore the world of design and making. It showcases how everyday objects are created and invites kids to think about being designers themselves.
Interactive exhibits: Children can engage in activities like sketching, constructing models, and learning about 3D printing.
Tip: Encourage your children to participate in the various hands-on activities, like designing their own products or playing with digital design tools.
3. Create in the "Play" Gallery
Why it’s a must: The Play Gallery is all about fun and experimentation. It includes exhibits on toys, games, and storytelling, offering insight into the history of play across cultures and generations.
Highlights: Interactive displays allow visitors to engage with classic toys and games from different eras, while also learning about game design and the evolution of play.
Tip: Don’t miss the rotating toy exhibitions that showcase iconic toys from the past—great for a nostalgic trip for adults too!
4. Take Part in Creative Workshops
Why it’s a must: The museum regularly hosts creative workshops where children can take part in art, design, and craft projects led by artists and educators. These sessions focus on hands-on learning and encourage children to express themselves through various mediums like painting, sculpting, or digital art.
Tip: Check the museum’s schedule ahead of time to see if there are any workshops that align with your visit.
5. Discover Historical and Modern Toys
Why it’s a must: One of the museum’s highlights is its extensive collection of historical and modern toys from different cultures and time periods. From wooden dolls and tin soldiers to LEGO and video games, the displays show how toys have evolved and what they reveal about childhood across the world.
Tip: Look out for rare and iconic toys, like Teddy bears from the early 1900s, vintage board games, and Star Wars action figures.
6. Engage in Interactive Digital Installations
Why it’s a must: The museum incorporates digital technology into many of its exhibits, making learning more engaging for tech-savvy kids. Interactive screens and digital installations allow children to participate in activities like virtual storytelling, game design, and digital drawing.
Tip: Older children and teens will especially love the digital exhibits, as they combine creativity with technology in a fun, accessible way.
7. Visit the "Storytelling" Space
Why it’s a must: The Storytelling Space is a cozy area where children can listen to stories, watch puppet shows, or even participate in live storytelling sessions. It’s a calming and imaginative environment that sparks creativity and fosters a love of narrative.
Tip: Check the scheduled storytelling sessions for your visit, or bring your own favorite storybook to share with your children in this magical setting.
8. Explore the Early Years Area
Why it’s a must: Designed for the youngest visitors (ages 0–5), this area focuses on sensory play and early learning, offering safe, interactive environments where toddlers can explore textures, sounds, and movement.
Highlights: Soft play areas, musical instruments, and sensory toys make this a fun experience for little ones.
Tip: The Early Years Area is a great spot to take a break while letting toddlers explore freely in a supervised environment.
9. Learn About Childhood Around the World
Why it’s a must: The museum includes exhibits that focus on childhood experiences from different countries and cultures, offering a global perspective on how children grow, play, and learn. It’s an enlightening experience that promotes empathy and understanding of diverse cultures.
Tip: Use this opportunity to discuss the differences and similarities between childhoods across the world with your children—it’s a great way to build cultural awareness.
10. Shop for Unique Gifts and Toys
Why it’s a must: The Young V&A gift shop offers a delightful selection of educational toys, children’s books, and creative kits that align with the museum’s focus on design and play. It’s a great place to find unique, design-led gifts for kids.
Tip: Pick up a souvenir or an art kit to continue the creative fun at home. The shop also stocks educational books that tie into the museum’s themes.
Official Website: https://www.vam.ac.uk/young/
"This image is for illustrative purposes only and may not accurately represent the actual location."
Main Positive Reviews:
Fantastic place for kids! Lots of interactive exhibits that keep the little ones engaged.
The renovation has done wonders. The new galleries are so well designed for children.
It’s free, fun, and educational. A perfect day out for families."
The play area is a big hit with my children. They didn’t want to leave!
A great mix of old and new. My kids loved seeing the vintage toys and then playing with the modern ones.
The museum is well-organized, and the staff is very friendly and helpful.
Perfect for a rainy day in London. Plenty to see and do indoors.
The new design and layout make it much more engaging for young visitors.
My children were fascinated by the interactive design gallery. It’s a place where they can learn by doing.
A gem in East London. We spent hours here, and the kids were entertained the whole time.
There are many different activities on 2-3 floors. A wonderful day out; I recommend spending 2-3 hours to see everything.
Well-equipped facilities - off-road parking, lockers for storing luggage, a small shop, and a café. The building is beautiful, bright, and airy.
The museum has a stroller park, and the toilets are convenient and clean.
There are lots of things to see and do, with free crafts available! The staff are very friendly and helpful.
Main Negative Reviews:
It can get very crowded, especially on weekends and school holidays.
Some of the exhibits weren’t working, which was disappointing.
Not as much to see for older kids or adults; it’s very much aimed at young children.
The café was overpriced and didn’t have many child-friendly options.
The museum is smaller than expected. We finished quicker than anticipated.
The noise level was quite high, making it hard to enjoy some of the exhibits.
It was hard to keep track of my kids in the busy areas; more supervision is needed.
The museum shop was expensive, with limited affordable souvenirs for kids.
We preferred the old layout.
It’s cleaner and more stylish than before, but it has lost much of its charm. There are fewer things for kids to do. It feels smaller and less accessible for large groups of children. It feels more like an adult museum now, rather than the wonderful and fun resource it used to be for children. Before the renovation, you could easily spend at least four hours here; now, an hour is enough, and if you've traveled a few miles to get here, it feels like it’s not worth it.
Overall Analysis
Cost:
Admission: Free (General admission is free, and no booking is required)
Activities:
Some special workshops or events may have fees (typically £5-£15, depending on the activity).
Dining: Local cafes or restaurants nearby may cost around £10-£20 per person.
Overall: A very budget-friendly outing, especially for families looking for educational and entertaining experiences for children.
Young V&A has received generally positive reviews on both Google and TripAdvisor, with average scores of 4.3/5 and 4.0/5, respectively. The highlights of the museum are its interactive exhibits, family-friendly environment, and free admission. However, some common issues include crowding, especially during peak times, and occasional maintenance problems with the exhibits.
Is it Worth Visiting:
Young V&A is a highly recommended destination for families with young children visiting London. The museum offers a unique combination of educational and entertaining experiences, making it a valuable outing despite some minor drawbacks.
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