Useful information for your visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum
With over 2 million objects to see in the museum, it is easy to spend the whole day and still not see everything. The following tips should help you maximise your time in this fascinating museum.
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1. Guided tours
The V&A has a wide range of tours ranging from introductory tours showing visitors the highlights of the collection, to specialist tours concentrating on set periods of history. These tours are free of charge. If you prefer to see things at your own pace, there is a range of audio tours which can be collected from the ticket office.
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2. Entrance fees
There is no entrance charge for the permanent collections at the V&A. Some of the termporary exhibitions may charge separately. There are also additional charges for bespoke tours.
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3. Don't miss
Experts will always argue about the most important items in any collection, but two of the stand-out exhibits are Tippoo's Tiger, a bizarre Indian automaton and the painting of Hampstead Heath by Constable.
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4. App
Download the V&A app onto your smartphone or tablet and use the museum's Wi-Fi to access features such as the interactive map and more detailed information about the exhibits and the people who created them.
Best things to do near the Victoria and Albert Museum
Booking hotels near the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington put you at the heart of everything London has to offer. Good connections by tube make exploring the city centre simple.
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1. Other South Kensington Museums
The V&A is just across the road from the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. As with the V&A, there is no entry charge for the permanent exhibitions.
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2. Hyde Park
A short stroll up Exhibition Road from the Kensington museums brings you to Hyde Park, London's most famous green space.
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3. Harrods
London's most famous shop is a destination in itself. From the food hall selling the finest produce from the UK to the toy department, you can easily spend an afternoon browsing for souvenirs in this iconic store.
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4. Buckingham Palace
Visit during the summer months and you have the opportunity to get into the State Rooms while the Queen is absent. Whatever the season, time your visit for 11am to catch the Changing of the Guard ceremony.