Young V&A

Young V&A in Bethnal Green is the Victoria and Albert Museum's dedicated museum for children and families, reimagined and relaunched in 2023 after a major redesign. The museum spans three floors and three distinct worlds — Play, Imagine, and Design — each built around hands-on engagement rather than passive display. In the Play gallery, younger children encounter toys, games, and interactive installations spanning centuries of childhood.

In Imagine, kids engage with creative and artistic processes through making, drawing, and building activities. In Design, older children explore how everyday objects are conceived and created, including the design process behind things they use daily. The whole museum is engineered for curiosity — virtually every object invites touching, testing, or activating.

The 2023 redesign particularly nailed the balance between learning and playing: children absorb enormous amounts of context and history without realising they're doing it. The building is fully accessible with wide stroller routes throughout, and the cafe is well-designed for families with young children. Being in Bethnal Green rather than central London, the museum is less crowded than the main V&A in South Kensington, making weekday visits particularly relaxed.

Getting there is simple via Bethnal Green Underground station on the Central line.