Victoria & Albert Museum
The V&A's flagship museum of art, design and performance on Cromwell Road, free to enter, with Schiaparelli until 15 November and late opening on Fridays.
About Victoria & Albert Museum
V&A South Kensington on Cromwell Road is the flagship of the Victoria and Albert Museum, the national museum of art, design and performance. Its collections span thousands of years and every continent, and more than 1.25 million objects can be searched online. General admission is free, though some exhibitions and events carry a charge.
Among the objects worth seeking out are Tippoo's Tiger, the mechanical organ made in Mysore around 1793; the Great Bed of Ware from about 1600; the plaster cast of Trajan's Column; and fashion from Dior and Chanel, including costumes Chanel designed for Le Train Bleu in 1924. The autumn programme is strong. Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art runs until 15 November 2026 and has been selling out, Rising Voices brings contemporary art from Asia, Australia and the Pacific, Freddie Mercury: Splendid Things opens as a free display on 24 October, and Constantinople to Istanbul: One City, Two Empires opens on 7 November.
The V&A suits design lovers, fashion students, families and anyone with a few hours in South Kensington; it sits next to the Natural History Museum and a short walk from the Science Museum. On Fridays the museum opens until 10pm, with some galleries closing after 5.45pm. It is closed from 24 to 26 December, and members visit exhibitions free.