Days Out: Saturday Afternoon at the Young V&A

Re-opened in July 2023 after a £13m renovation, the Young V&A is beautifully curated with toys and objects that define childhood over the decades. 

I have been meaning to visit The Young V&A after its extensive five-year refurbishment. Re-opening its door to the public in July 2023, there have been nothing but glowing reviews. Friends, colleagues, neighbours have commented on how lovely and beautifully curated the exhibitions are at the Young V&A.

An Afternoon filled with Childhood Nostalgia

On a Saturday afternoon, my friend and I took the girls for our maiden visit to the Young V&A in Bethnal Green. Upon entering the museum is a light and airy main atrium where families can enjoy snacks and a drink at the cafe. Seating plentiful on the low tables as well as bench seating around the atrium. Against a white background, there are vibrant splashes of colours making this space fun and youthful. 

There are three permanent galleries and a temporary gallery as well as a Reading Room on the lower level. We started on the ground floor at the “Imagine” Gallery  where there is a wonderful miniature town and a collection of iconic toys including Barbie, Star Wars, Kung Fu Panda, Paddington Bear, and Superman. Lady Yeya even spotted SpongeBob SquarePants among the 2,000 toy collection. Each room is beautifully curated to spark creativity and imagination with many hands-on interactive activities throughout the museum. For art enthusiasts, there are wall displays from notable artists such as David Hockney. 

On the other side, the “Design” gallery showcases how designs evolve over time which is more appropriate for older kids. Back on the ground floor, the “Play” Gallery is a fun-filled place for discovery and play. A beautiful space for play enclosed by age groups with a soft play area for under 3s and a free play area for older kids. There are little nooks and playful structures as well as displays of objectives following the alphabet A to Z.

Play, Imagine, Design

A lovely afternoon in a beautiful Grade II Listed building, the Young V&A is a colourful and vibrant space for kids to play, imagine, and design. We look forward to returning in the summer and combining it with a walk around Victoria Park.