{{Short description|Museum in Bethnal Green, London}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Use British English|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox museum | name = Young V&A | image = V&A Museum of Childhood.jpg | map_type = United Kingdom London Tower Hamlets | coordinates = {{Coord|51.529|N|0.055|W|type:landmark_region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | established = {{Start date and age|1872|df=yes}} | collection_size = | location = Bethnal Green<br />London, E2<br />United Kingdom | visitors = 604,900 (2025)<ref name="ALVA">{{cite web |title=ALVA – Association of Leading Visitor Attractions |url=https://www.alva.org.uk/details.cfm?p=423 |website=www.alva.org.uk |access-date=20 March 2026}}</ref> | director = Dr Helen Charman | public_transit = {{rint|london|underground}} {{lus|Bethnal Green}}<br />{{rint|london|overground}} {{rws|Cambridge Heath}} | website = {{official URL}} | embedded = {{Infobox designation list |embed = yes |designation1 = Grade II* |designation1_offname = |designation1_type = |designation1_criteria = |designation1_date = 27 September 1973 |delisted1_date = |designation1_partof = |designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1357777|short=yes}} |designation1_free1name = Area |designation1_free1value = {{cvt|1.5|acre|m2}}, 145 galleries }} }}
'''Young V&A''', formerly the '''V&A Museum of Childhood''', is a branch of the Victoria and Albert Museum (the "V&A"), which is the United Kingdom's national museum of applied arts. It is in Bethnal Green in the East End of London, and specialises in objects by and for children. In 2024 it was awarded the Museum of the Year prize.<ref>{{citation|mode=cs1|url=https://museumsandheritage.com/advisor/posts/young-va-named-art-funds-2024-museum-of-the-year|title=Young V&A named Art Fund's 2024 Museum of the Year|date=10 July 2024|publisher=Museums + Heritage|access-date=11 July 2024}}</ref>
==History{{anchor|London Museum Site Act 1868}}== {{Infobox UK legislation | short_title = London Museum Site Act 1868 | type = Act | parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom | long_title = An Act to provide for the Acquisition of a Site for a Museum in the East of London. | year = 1868 | citation = 31 & 32 Vict. c. 8 | introduced_commons = | introduced_lords = | territorial_extent = | royal_assent = 28 February 1868 | commencement = | expiry_date = | repeal_date = | amends = | replaces = | amendments = | repealing_legislation = | related_legislation = | status = | legislation_history = | theyworkforyou = | millbankhansard = | original_text = | revised_text = | use_new_UK-LEG = | UK-LEG_title = | collapsed = yes }} [[File:Opening of the Bethnal Green Museum 1872 ILN.jpg|thumb|right|The official opening of the Bethnal Green Museum by the Prince of Wales in 1872.]] The museum was founded in 1872<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art41998 |title=V&A Reopens Its Museum of Childhood at Bethnal Green | Culture24 |access-date=10 May 2018 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327064722/https://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/art41998 |url-status=live }}</ref> as the '''Bethnal Green Museum'''. The iron structure was a prefabricated building originally constructed at Albertopolis, South Kensington in 1856–7, which was displaced by the construction of early phases of the present V&A complex. The exterior elevations of the building were designed by James William Wild{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=65}} in red brick in a Rundbogenstil (round-arched) style very similar to that in contemporary Germany and using a cast iron structure manufactured by Charles Denoon Young and Company. The similarity to contemporary industrial structures led to the disparaging name of the building as the "Brompton Boilers".<ref name="nhle">{{NHLE |num=1357777 |desc=Bethnal Green Museum |grade=II* |access-date=3 October 2025 }}</ref> This effect is modified by mosaic panels along both long elevations illustrating agriculture, the arts and sciences; these were from designs by F. W. Moody and made by female students of the South Kensington Museum mosaic class.<ref name="nhle"/>
In Bethnal Green, the building was used to display a variety of collections at different times. In the 19th century, it contained food and animal products, and various pieces of art including the works which can now be seen at the Wallace Collection.<ref name=grauniad>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2006/dec/10/art.museums |title=Much more than a doll's house |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 December 2006 |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514190819/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2006/dec/10/art.museums |url-status=live }}</ref> It was remodelled as an art museum following World War I, with a children's section which subsequently grew in size.
For many years some of the collection of the V&A's sculptures by Auguste Rodin, including those donated by the artist, were exhibited at Bethnal Green, alongside childhood-related dispays.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-rodin-gift-to-the-va|title=The Rodin Gift to the V&A |website=Victoria and Albert Museum}}</ref>
A white painted iron statue cast by John Bell in 1851, was displayed at Bethnal Green from 1927 to 2017.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=65}} It came originally from the Great Exhibition of 1851. ''The Eagle slayer'' shows a marksman shooting at an eagle which has slain the lamb that lies at his feet. This is now on long-term loan to the Coalbrookdale Museum since it was cast in the Coalbrookdale Foundry.
The museum is a Grade II* listed building.<ref name="nhle"/>
==Recent history== Young V&A has the largest collection of childhood related objects in the United Kingdom. In 1974 the director of the V&A, Sir Roy Strong, defined it as a specialist museum, re-displayed as The Museum of Childhood.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=65}}
The mission of the museum today is stated as "To enable everyone, especially the young, to explore and enjoy the designed world, in particular objects made for and made by children." It has extensive collections of toys, childhood equipment and costumes, and stages a programme of temporary exhibitions.
The museum closed in October 2003 for extensive renovations of the roof structure, re-display of the collections, construction of learning centre at lower ground floor and the creation of a new entrance, costing £4.7 million. The entrance was designed by Caruso St John Architects "patterned elevations of red quartzite and brown porphyries, to gives the Museum the formal front and outward aspect that it previously lacked".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://carusostjohn.com/projects/victoria-and-albert-museum-childhood/#more|title=V&A Museum of Childhood|date=19 November 2019|website=Caruso St John Architects}}</ref> It reopened in December 2006.<ref name=grauniad/>
In 2019 a further transformation of the museum began. "Over 30,000 objects which had been on display or in storage at the museum" were audited and packed.<ref>[https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/young-va-transforming-the-building Young V&A: transforming the building] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718004227/https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/young-va-transforming-the-building |date=18 July 2022 }}, vam.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2022.</ref> After temporary storage at South Kensington, they were to join the rest of the V&A East Museum at Stratford Waterfront "in a few years time".<ref>[https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/moving-house-decant-of-the-museum-of-childhood-stores-2 Moving House: Decant of the Museum of Childhood Stores] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422144539/https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/museum-life/moving-house-decant-of-the-museum-of-childhood-stores-2 |date=22 April 2022 }}, vam.ac.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2022.</ref>
The museum reopened on 1 July 2023, rebranded as Young V&A.<ref name=Rufo>{{cite news |last=Rufo |first=Yasmin |date=26 June 2023 |title=Young V&A museum opening after £13m revamp |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66021355 |work=BBC News |access-date=26 June 2023 |archive-date=26 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626225127/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66021355 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2023, museum director Tristram Hunt instructed the removal of two books on gender and sexual orientation and a poster from the charity Stonewall that read "Some people are trans, get over it!", from the museum ahead of its reopening.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=EXCLUSIVE: Young V&A removes trans poster and LGBTQ+ books |url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/exclusive-young-va-removes-trans-poster-and-lgbtq-books |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=ArtsProfessional |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710212314/https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/exclusive-young-va-removes-trans-poster-and-lgbtq-books |url-status=live }}</ref> The V&A Staff LGBTQ Working Group and trade unions PCS and Prospect opposed the removals. Union representatives appealed the decision in a meeting with Hunt, who rejected their request to have the items returned to the museum.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/06/young-v-and-a-removes-age-inappropriate-lgbt-books/ |title=Young V&A museum removes 'age inappropriate' LGBT books |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=6 July 2023 |last1=Stephens |first1=Max |access-date=10 July 2023 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710133646/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/07/06/young-v-and-a-removes-age-inappropriate-lgbt-books/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66122342.amp | title=Young V&A criticised for removing trans poster |date=7 July 2023 |access-date=10 July 2023 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710133646/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66122342.amp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/07/04/rowan-ellis-young-va-lgbtq-trans/ |title=Author 'beyond angry' as London children's museum removes trans and queer books |date=4 July 2023 |access-date=10 July 2023 |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710133646/https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/07/04/rowan-ellis-young-va-lgbtq-trans/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Awards and recognitions==
In 2026, The Young V&A received the Council of Europe Museum Prize for its inclusive programming for children.<ref>https://pace.coe.int/en/news/10127/the-young-v-a-united-kingdom-wins-the-2026-council-of-europe-museum-prize/</ref>
==Transport connections== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Service !! Station/stop !! Stop letter !! Lines/routes served !! Distance from<br />Young V&A |- | rowspan="4" |London Buses {{rail-interchange|london|bus}} | rowspan="3" |Bethnal Green Station {{access icon}} || Stop A || 106, 254, 309, 388, D3, D6 || |- | Stop B || 8, 309, D6 || |- | Stop D || 8, 388, D3 || |- | Old Ford Road {{access icon}} || Stop G || 106, 254, 388, D6 || |- | London Underground {{rail-interchange|london|underground}} || Bethnal Green || || 100px|link=Central line (London Underground)|alt=Central line || |- | London Overground {{rail-interchange|london|overground}} | Cambridge Heath || || London Overground || 400 metres<ref>[http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=United+Kingdom+(Cambridge+Heath+(London)+Rail+Station)&daddr=V%26A+Museum+of+Childhood&geocode=FcxQEgMdSiD__yGN544aq6qNOw%3BFfBEEgMdiSb__yHdyIVwB94bVw&hl=en&mra=pd&dirflg=w&sll=51.526238,-0.055764&sspn=0.056604,0.169086&ie=UTF8&z=17 Google Maps] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222034122/https://www.google.co.uk/gen_204?v=3&s=tactile&action=application_directions&conn=onchange&ei=WQWFZfDpMvG85OUPgsO30As&cad=an%3Aapplication_init%2Ccz%3A17%2Citec%3A%2Cit%3A1%2Cpj%3Ae%2Cpr%3A1.00%2Csc%3A0%2Cdrv%3Am%2Cfps%3A44.12%2Cdup%3Amt0%7B%7B%21%7D%7Dmt1%7B%7B%21%7D%7Dsts%7B%7B%21%7D%7Drws%2Cbp%3Afffff%2Ccr%3Awccf10%2Cct%3A2%2Cjsv%3A20231213.0%2Cw%3A1400%2Ch%3A900&e=10200083%2C10202786%2C10202788%2C10203448%2C10203509%2C10204121%2C10204258%2C10204417%2C10205123%2C10205524%2C10205539%2C10206011%2C10206556%2C10206561%2C10207027%2C10207228%2C10207358%2C10207393%2C10207607%2C10207728%2C10207741%2C10207789%2C10207798%2C10207804%2C10207892%2C10207979%2C10207986%2C10208000%2C10208094%2C10208205%2C10208319%2C10208494%2C10208500%2C10208501%2C10208510%2C10208517%2C10208620%2C10203575%2C47087124%2C1381938%2C47058549%2C47057337%2C47055961%2C1381033%2C1368782%2C1368785%2C4861626%2C4592408%2C4640515%2C4897086%2C4940989%2C1375050%2C4536287%2C47054629%2C72348524%2C94201522%2C72310157&atyp=csi&opi=79508299&rt=ptns.-1514%2Cptfs.-1365%2Cptls.-1365%2Cptle.-1365%2Cptcs.-1363%2Cptce.-1332%2Cptrq.-1332%2Cptrs.-294%2Cptdl.-258%2Cp0.0%2Cptre.18%2Cs.35%2Cb0.158%2Cms0.158%2Citl0.497%2Camd0.499%2Came0.499%2Cpwd.619%2Cpvt.745%2Cpvd.745%2Cms1.821%2Cb1.821%2Cp1.821%2Cptdi.821%2Cai0.1213%2Cai1.1231%2Ccdi0.1243%2Ccdi1.1283%2Camd1.1284%2Came1.1284%2Cmt0.1583%2Cmd0.1307%2Cmrd0.1308%2Cmrd1.1457%2Cmd1.1459%2Cd0.1465%2Cddl.1516%2Cd1.1517%2Cdobs.1518%2Cobd.1546%2Cvcp0.1565%2Cmt1.1584%2Cscnd.1583%2Citl1.1703%2Cvcp1.4283%2Cffat.4322%2Cxdi0.4612%2Cxmd0.4614%2Cxme0.4614%2Citr.4819%2Cpss0.5583%2Crwd.5587%2Czwd.5605%2Cpssc.5630%2Cmms.5636%2Czsvd.5674%2Cmld.5711%2Cxmd1.5724%2Cxme1.5724%2Cfpws.5733%2Crws.5815%2Czws.5746%2Csts.5756%2Czsvs.5756%2Cslws.5758%2Cmls.5759%2Cvm0.5790%2Cvm-00.5791%2Cpa0.5865%2Cxdi1.5865%2Cpss-00.6161%2Cpss-0s.6161%2Cvm-0-00.6163%2Cvm-0-0s.6163%2Cpa-00.6164%2Cpa-0s.6164%2Cpss-01.6240%2Cpss1.6240%2Cpa-01.6267%2Cpa1.6267%2Cvm1.6271%2Cvm-0-01.6271%2Cvm-01.6271%2Cmmid.6573 |date=22 December 2023 }} Walking directions to '''V&A Museum of Childhood''' from '''Cambridge Heath (London)''' railway station</ref> |}
==See also== * Anthony Burton (former director)
==References== '''Citations''' {{Reflist}}
'''Sources''' {{refbegin}} {{London encyclopedia}} {{refend}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official}} *[http://www.revolvingpicture.com/virtual-tours/moc/ Interactive 360° virtual tour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227080907/http://www.revolvingpicture.com/virtual-tours/moc/ |date=27 December 2012 }}
{{London museums}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Young VandA}} Category:Victoria and Albert Museum Category:Museums established in 1872 Category:Children's museums in the United Kingdom Category:History of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Category:Toy museums in England Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Category:Grade II* listed museum buildings Category:Museums in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Category:Doll museums Category:History of childhood Category:Bethnal Green Category:Childhood in England