The V&A Museum of London

History of the Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum

In 1855 Prince Albert proposed the construction of an iron framed building in South Kensington to house parts of thee Great Exhibition of 1851. this was the first step in establishing the V&A.

A new museum for Bethnal Green

Local philanthropists has been lobbying for some years for a trade museum in Bethnal Green. Henry Cole, the first director of the V&A, believed in bringing good design to ordinary people's lives. These efforts combine resulted in a new East End branch of the V&A, in Bethnal Green.

The building 

The iron structure of this building was part of the original V&A building in South Kensington. It was transported to Bethnal Green and reconstructed here in the late 1860s. A new red brick exterior was built around it. The original design of the building, largely by architect J. W. Wild, was not actually completed owing to shortage of money.

The fish scale marble floor was made by women prisoners from Woking gaol.

The opening 

The Prince and Princess of Wales - later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra - opened the Bethnal Green Museum in 1872. by the end of the  first year of opening the museum had attracted 1.5 million visitors.

Collection

When thee museum opened in 1872 three main collections were display - food, animal products, and French art from the 1700s. Throughout the museum's early history many important collections were also housed here temporarily, before they found permanent homes. These included the Wallace, National Portrait and Pitt Rivers collections.

Arthur Knowles Sabin was the Officer-in-charge at Bethnal Green from 1922-1940. He started to direct the museum towards children. All the paintings were re-hung at child's eye level. Children's visits and activities become an important educational part of museum. He also started to develop a childhood collection with the help of generous donors, one of whom was Queen Mary.

V&A Museum of Childhood

It was not until 1974 that the V&A childhood collections were moved to Bethnal Green, renaming the Museum the V&A Museum of Childhood.

Today, the museum's mission continues to encourage everyone to explore the themes of childhood past and present, and develop an appreciation of creative design through the inspirational collections and programmes.

The Museum today

Between 2001 and 2006 the Museum underwent a major two-phase redevelopment. Working in partnership with local architects Caruso St. John an award winning new entrance, front room gallery and enlarged learning centre have been created. The new exterior was inspired by the original building drawings of 1871 by Wild.

The re-presentation of outstanding childhood collection under new themes has greatly increased the quantity of objects now on display.

V&A Museum of Childhood

Welcoming over 400,000 visitors through its doors every year, the V&A Museum of Childhood in London's Bethnal Green houses the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection of childhood-related objects and artefacts, spanning the 1600s to the present day.

The collection includes toys - including dolls, dolls' houses, puppets and teddy bears - games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography. In addition, the Museum runs a dynamic programme of temporary exhibitions and displays, a wide variety of activities, events and workshops for adults and families, outreach projects in hospitals and the local community, and an award-winning programme for schools.

Getting there

V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9PA
United Kingdom

Switchboard +44 (0)20 8983 5200
Shop +44 (0)20 8983 5231
Fax +44 (0)20 8983 5225

 

FREE admission

Open daily 10.00-17.45 (last admission 17.30)
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January

Underground, Central Line, Zone 2 

The Museum is less than five minutes walk from Bethnal Green Underground station. Unfortunately Bethnal Green Underground has no lift.

Overground

The Museum is a short bus ride or 20-25 minute walk from Shoreditch High Street (Bus 8 or 388) and Whitechapel (Bus 254 or 106) Overground stations.

 

Rail

The Museum is less than 10 minutes walk from both Cambridge Heath and Bethnal Green railway stations. The nearest main line station is Liverpool Street, which is less than a five minute Underground journey from Bethnal Green.

 

Bus

D6, 106, 254, 309 and 388 stop outside the Museum and 8, 26, 55 and 48 stop nearby.

 

Bike

The Museum is less than a five minute cycle ride from Regents Canal. Bike stands are available in the Museum grounds. A Barclays Cycle Hire docking station is situated across the road from the Museum.

 

Coach

A drop-off point and parking for two coaches is available outside the Museum on Cambridge Heath Road.

 

Parking

Free on-site parking can be arranged for visitors with specific access needs. To book a space, call 020 8983 5200. The nearest pay and display bays can be found on Cambridge Heath Road. The Museum is not in the congestion charging zone.

Eating and drinking

Packed lunches

For visitors wishing to eat their own packed lunch, outdoor picnic tables are located in the Museum's grounds. Additional facilities may be available at weekends and during school holidays in the Summerly Room on the Lower Ground Floor, but please check availability in advance of your visit.

Highchairs

Highchairs are available from benugo café.

Baby changing

Baby changing facilities are available in both the Male and Female toilets on the Lower Ground Floor and in the Quiet Room.

Buggy park

A buggy park is located near the stairs in the Front Room Gallery. Items are left at the owner's risk.
- See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/facilities#sthash.CdNLk9y9.dpuf

The cafe is a open plan, meaning that visitors can enjoy a snack whilst soaking up the ambience of the space. the cafe offers a wide selection of sandwiches and salads, hot dishes, cakes and pastries and hot and cold drinks.

They do have vegetarian option every day as well  as children's portions and a kids 'pick and mix' menu.

Access and Facilities

the staff are trained to meet the needs of all visitors and the facilities are equipped with necessary equipments such as level access ramps and/or lifts, designated disable parking close to the main entrance, all routes suitable for limited mobility users to assist disabled people to access the required service.

Packed lunches are welcome for visitors that wish to do so, rooms and gardens in a good weather are available.

A buggy park is located near the stairs in the Front Room gallery.

Baby changing rooms are available in both Male and Female toilets in two floors. A Quiet Room is also available, this room has multiple uses: as a prayer room, a space for nursing mothers, or a chill-out space for families with children with autism.

Free WiFi is available throughout the Museum.

Groups and Tours 

If you are planning a visit for a group of 10 people or more, you are advised to book advance to enhance the experience.

Adult tours - a range of guided tours for adult groups are available, looking at particular theme related to childhood, for a price.

Galleries

 The Museum is arranged into four main galleries

Visitor map of the Museum 

Moving Toys 

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is divided into four sections – Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look See. - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/galleries#sthash.x0NvUU1t.dpuf

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is divided into four sections – Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look See. - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/galleries#sthash.x0NvUU1t.dpuf

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is a four sections - Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look see.

The Museum's Moving Toys Gallery is divided into four sections – Pushes and Pulls, Springs and Cogs, Circuits and Motors and Look See. - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/galleries#sthash.x0NvUU1t.dpuf

 

 

Creativity Gallery

The Museum's Creativity Gallery is divided into four sections -  Image, Be Inspired, Explore and Make it Happen.

Childhood Galleries

The childhood Galleries are arranged into the following themes: Babies, Home, What We Wear, Who Will I be? and Good Times.

 

Front Room Gallery

The Front Room showcases the Museum's community projects, which involve established and emerging artists working with community groups.

 

The café is open plan which means that visitors can enjoy a bite to eat whilst soaking up the lively ambience of the space - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/eating-and-drinking#sthash.Q1YxajZ7.dpuf

The café is open plan which means that visitors can enjoy a bite to eat whilst soaking up the lively ambience of the space - See more at: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/visit-us/eating-and-drinking#sthash.Q1YxajZ7.dpufall these content has been supplied by V&A Museum of Childhood