Victoria and Albert Museum London: Free Entry, Schiaparelli 2026 & What to See
Entry is free. You don't book the collection — you book the exhibitions. In 2026, the only one that matters ends 1 November.
The V&A holds 2.27 million objects across 145 galleries. Entry to the permanent collection is free — like the British Museum and National Gallery, it's one of London's great free museums. In 2026 the only paid exhibition that matters is Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art — open until 1 November. The permanent rooms are as good as the show, and most visitors don't slow down long enough to find them.
In 3 minutes
- Free: Permanent collection, no booking · daily 10:00–17:45, Friday until 22:00
- Paid: Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art · £28 weekday / £30 weekend · ends 1 November 2026
- Closed in 2026: Fashion Gallery (Room 40) until Autumn 2028 · South Asia Gallery until Spring 2028
The collection and the exhibition
Founded in 1852 from the profits of the Great Exhibition, the V&A holds the world's largest collection of decorative arts and design — Islamic metalwork, Renaissance sculpture, European fashion, contemporary digital work, all in the same building. The galleries themselves are worth the visit: the Morris, Gamble, and Poynter Rooms, commissioned as the world's first museum café in 1868, are still in use.
Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art opened 28 March and runs until 1 November. Elsa Schiaparelli worked alongside Dalí and Cocteau in the 1930s; her fashion house closed in 1954. The V&A holds more than 200 pieces from her career. The first six weekends were fully booked within days of the exhibition opening. Weekday slots remain available — book before your trip.
Where to book
Our take: Book Schiaparelli directly on the V&A site — it sells out and GYG doesn't carry it. The GYG guided tour covers the permanent collection and is worth it if you want someone to explain what you're looking at across 145 galleries.
The V&A room-by-room guide — Cast Courts to Raphael Cartoons
- Exact route through Cast Courts, Raphael Cartoons, Jewellery Gallery and British Galleries — with timing for each
- The Cast Courts' fig leaf: why it's there, where to stand, and what else is in the room that most people walk past
- Friday late opening logistics — which galleries stay open after 18:00 and why it's the quietest two hours of the week
What to see at the V&A
Go to the Cast Courts (Rooms 46a and 46b). Two Victorian halls hold full-scale plaster casts of sculptures the museum couldn't acquire: Michelangelo's David at 5.2 metres, and Trajan's Column reproduced in two halves to fit the ceiling. The fig leaf on the David was added in 1857 at Queen Victoria's request — it hangs on the wall when not in use.
The Raphael Cartoons are not reproductions. Room 48a holds seven large-scale paintings by Raphael, made in 1515–16 as designs for Sistine Chapel tapestries, on loan from the Royal Collection since 1865. Most visitors assume they're copies — they're originals.
The Great Bed of Ware. British Galleries, Room 57. An oak bed from 1590, 3.4 metres wide, mentioned by Shakespeare in Twelfth Night.
The Jewellery Gallery (Rooms 91–93). 3,500 pieces across 3,000 years — one of London's strongest collections, consistently undervisited.
Friday evenings after 19:00. Closes at 22:00; most visitors leave by 18:00. Two hours of near-empty galleries.
What most visitors wish they'd known
The Fashion Gallery is closed. Room 40 — the permanent fashion and textiles collection — is shut for refurbishment until Autumn 2028. If that was your main reason to come, check the V&A's current gallery listing before you go.
Schiaparelli is a separate ticket. The exhibition is not included in any general admission or guided tour, and the London Pass doesn't cover it either. Book on the V&A website. Arrive 10 minutes before your slot — the queue for entry can be slow.
Café before 11am. The Refreshment Room (the original 1868 café) fills fast — go early or at 16:00.
- Hours
- Daily 10:00–17:45 · Friday 10:00–22:00 (last entry 17:30 / 21:30)
- Admission
- Permanent collection: free · Schiaparelli: £28 weekday / £30 weekend
- Schiaparelli
- 28 March – 1 November 2026 · book on vam.ac.uk
- Closed galleries
- Fashion Gallery (Room 40) until Autumn 2028 · South Asia Gallery until Spring 2028
- Getting there
- Tube: South Kensington (Circle, District, Piccadilly) · 5-minute walk via tunnel
- Guided tour
- GYG guided tour — permanent collection highlights
Hours and gallery closures can change — confirm on vam.ac.uk before your visit.
Last verified: April 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is the Victoria and Albert Museum free?
The permanent collection is always free, no booking required. Schiaparelli is separately ticketed: £28 weekday, £30 weekend.
How much are Schiaparelli tickets at the V&A in 2026?
£28 weekday, £30 weekend. Ends 1 November 2026. Book on vam.ac.uk — the first six weekends sold out fast.
What is closed at the V&A in 2026?
Fashion Gallery (Room 40) until Autumn 2028. South Asia Gallery until Spring 2028. Check vam.ac.uk for current status.
How long do you need at the V&A?
2–3 hours for highlights. Add 90 minutes for Schiaparelli.
What is the best time to visit?
Weekday mornings before 11am, or Friday evenings after 19:00 — the museum closes at 22:00 and empties out after 18:00.