Young V&A
Cambridge Heath Rd London E2 9PA
10.00-17.45 daily
Tube: Bethnal Green
2 - 3 hours
0-14 year olds
Very accessible. Accessible toilets.
FREE
Based on 9 reviews
I find this museum scary. It's creepy and all the toys look dusty
I love this museum! We go a lot and there are always arts and crafts for children to get involved and make things. It's great looking at all the old fashioned toys in glass cabinets but I wish I could touch them. Mummy and daddy love it because they see old toys from when they were kids about 100 years ago. I think real dinosaurs were around when they were little..
lots of fun arts and crafts activities on offer on weekends and holidays. my kids love this place. take 20ps for the different antique slot machines.
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About Young V&A
If your kids love to touch everything (and let’s face it, they do), Young V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is an absolute winner. This newly revamped East London gem is all about play – no grumpy guards, no boring signs, and definitely no “do not touch” rope barriers. Just a glorious mix of colour, chaos, and creativity.
It’s completely free (yes, really!), ideal for kids aged 0–14, and packed with things to build, draw, dress up in, sit on, crawl through, and create. Grown-ups will love the retro toys (“I had that!”) while kids go full throttle in immersive play zones, workshops, and design spaces.
It’s buggy-friendly, snackable (café + picnic area = winning), and minutes from Victoria Park if you want to let the wildlings loose post-museum. Rainy day? Sorted. Weekend energy burn? Nailed it.
Top tip from the KidRated Team:
Go early on weekends or school holidays – the play zones fill up fast, and you’ll get first dibs on the building blocks and the best café tables.
Yep – not a single pound coin needed. Which means more cash for emergency snacks, coffee, or a tactical gift shop bribe.
Perfect for ages 0–14. There’s crawling space for tiny tots, play zones for big kids, and enough cool stuff for tweens to almost forget they’re too cool for everything.
100%. It’s a buggy paradise – lifts, ramps, and loads of space. You won’t be doing the awkward three-point turn around priceless exhibits here.
Yes – there’s a family-friendly café, plus a designated picnic zone if you prefer to BYO carrot sticks and crisps.
A couple of hours is a safe bet, but if your kids hit “turbo explore mode,” cancel your afternoon plans. You’ll be here a while.
Oh yes. This is indoorsy heaven – dry, warm, and full of stuff to prod, play with, and pretend you understand (“Mum, this is design thinking!”).
Nope! Just show up and let the fun unfold. It can get busy during holidays, though – early birds get the quietest play zones (and best café tables).
Oh, it’s not just for the littlies. Older kids can flex their creative muscles with digital design, fashion exhibits, build-your-own worlds, and loads of Instagrammable moments. Think cool, not cutesy
Absolutely. It’s warm, spacious, buggy-friendly and packed with stuff to keep kids busy while you supervise from a comfy seat with a coffee. Grandparent win.
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i dont like this museum its scary and the toys are dusty!