It’s gone. If you’re looking for the dusty, slightly eerie rows of Victorian dolls and the hushed, library-like atmosphere of the old V&A Museum of Childhood London, you are about three years too late.
The building is still there, of course. That iconic Bethnal Green structure with its red brick and 19th-century soul remains a landmark of East London. But inside? Everything changed. In 2023, after a massive £13 million renovation, it reopened as Young V&A. Some people were skeptical. I get it. We have a weird nostalgia for those cramped glass cases and the feeling of walking through a giant attic. But honestly, the old version was failing its primary audience: children. It was a museum about childhood, meant for adults to reminisce. Now, it’s a museum for children to actually do something.
The Bethnal Green Transformation
The shift from the V&A Museum of Childhood London to Young V&A wasn't just a branding exercise. It was a complete structural overhaul. For decades, the site was basically a warehouse for the Victoria and Albert Museum's overflow. It started its life in 1872, using prefabricated ironwork from the South Kensington site. It was practical. It was local. But by the 2010s, it felt stagnant.
The lighting was dim. The floorboards creaked in a way that felt more "haunted" than "historic." Most importantly, you couldn't touch anything. For a child, that’s basically a refined form of torture. You're surrounded by toys you can't play with. The new design, led by De Matos Ryan and AOC Architecture, blew the floor plan open. They stripped back the clutter to let the natural light from that glorious barrel-vaulted ceiling actually hit the floor.
What happened to the 33,000 objects?
Don't panic. The collection hasn't been tossed in a skip. The V&A still holds the national collection of childhood objects, but they've been curated with much more intent. Instead of 500 nearly identical lead soldiers in a row, you get specific clusters that tell a story.
The museum is now split into three main galleries: Imagine, Play, and Design. In the Imagine gallery, you'll find the famous dollshouses. They kept them! They are probably the most beloved part of the original V&A Museum of Childhood London collection. But now, they aren't just sitting there. They are framed in a way that encourages kids to think about architecture and home life. There’s one from 1673—the Nuremberg House—that is genuinely staggering in its detail. You can see how people lived 350 years ago, but the display now sits alongside modern interpretations of "home."
Why the "Museum of Childhood" Label Was Misleading
People used to visit the museum expecting a linear history of being a kid. It wasn't really that. It was a collection of stuff. If you were a researcher looking for a specific type of 19th-century rocking horse, it was heaven. If you were a six-year-old from Hackney, it was a bit of a bore after twenty minutes.
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The new iteration recognizes that "childhood" isn't a museum piece. It’s an active state.
Take the Design gallery. This is where the V&A’s DNA really shines. It’s not just about toys; it’s about the ingenuity behind them. You’ve got everything from the first prototypes of the Micro Scooter to the engineering behind Minecraft. It treats kids like the designers they are. Honestly, seeing a teenage girl's bedroom from the 1990s recreated as a "historical" exhibit is a bit of a gut punch for those of us who lived through it, but it works. It bridges the gap between the "old" museum's archival feel and the "new" museum's relevancy.
The Play Gallery: The Chaos Engine
If you’re looking for a quiet afternoon, avoid the ground floor Play gallery during a school holiday. It is loud. It is vibrant. It is exactly what a museum in one of London’s youngest boroughs should be.
There’s a massive "Town Square" in the center where kids just run. There’s a sandpit. There’s a construction area. It’s a sensory-heavy space designed for toddlers and early learners. This was the biggest criticism of the old V&A Museum of Childhood London—it wasn't robust enough for actual play. Now, the space is built to be climbed on, crawled through, and interacted with.
- The Fingerprint Rule: In the old museum, fingerprints on glass were a problem.
- The New Rule: If there aren't fingerprints on the interactive screens or the building blocks, the exhibit has failed.
Addressing the Critics: Is it "Too Modern"?
Whenever a historic institution like the V&A Museum of Childhood London rebrands, there is a predictable outcry. Critics argued that the "educational" or "historical" value would be lost in favor of a glorified playground.
I’d argue the opposite.
By integrating the historical objects into active zones, kids actually look at them. When a child is trying to build a bridge out of foam blocks and sees a 100-year-old construction set in a case nearby, they make a cognitive connection. They see that they are part of a long lineage of builders. That’s much more powerful than a dusty plaque.
The museum also didn't shy away from the darker side of childhood history. They still have objects that reflect the realities of child labor and the colonial histories embedded in certain toys. It’s just handled with more nuance now. It’s not a "fun-only" zone; it’s a "thinking" zone that happens to be fun.
Practical Realities of Visiting Today
If you’re planning a trip to Bethnal Green, you need to recalibrate your expectations. It’s no longer a quick 30-minute walkthrough.
Entry is still free. This is huge. In a city where a family day out can easily clear £100, the fact that a world-class institution like this remains accessible is vital. It stays true to the original mission of the museum when it opened in the 1870s: to bring art and culture to the East End.
- Timing: Weekdays after 2 PM are your best bet for a slightly calmer experience. School groups dominate the mornings.
- The Shop: It’s dangerous. They’ve curated it so well that you’ll likely spend the money you saved on entry on a "design-led" wooden robot.
- The Cafe: Actually decent. It’s run by Benugo, so the coffee is reliable, and they have plenty of high chairs. The space is large enough that you don't feel like you're sitting on top of other families.
The Architecture is the Star
One thing that hasn't changed is the building's skeletal beauty. The iron columns are painted in a striking palette of reds and whites now. The mosaic floor, which was actually laid by female prisoners from Woking Gaol in the 1870s, has been meticulously restored. You should look down. Most people don't. The floor itself is a piece of history that survived the transition from the old V&A Museum of Childhood London to the Young V&A.
The Verdict on the "New" Museum
We have to let go of the idea that museums are strictly for looking at things. The 21st-century museum is a community hub.
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The V&A Museum of Childhood London was a beautiful relic. It was a place for grandparents to say, "I had one of those," while their grandkids looked for the exit. The Young V&A is a place where those same grandkids are the ones leading the way. It’s a shift from passive observation to active participation.
Is it perfect? No. Some of the digital interactives are bound to break within a few years—that’s just the nature of putting technology in front of five-year-olds. And yes, for those of us who loved the quiet, slightly creepy doll gallery, something has been lost. But what has been gained is a museum that actually lives and breathes.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
Don't just show up and wander. To really get what the curators were trying to do, start at the top.
- Begin on the top floor (Imagine): Look at the dollshouses and the storytelling area. It’s the most "museum-like" part and sets the stage.
- Hit the Design gallery next: Look for the "Open Studio." They often have actual designers in there working on projects. It’s a great way to show kids that "designer" is a real job they can have.
- End in the Play gallery: Let them burn off the remaining energy before you head back to the Bethnal Green tube station.
The V&A Museum of Childhood London has grown up. Or maybe, it finally figured out how to stay young. Either way, it’s a mandatory stop on any London itinerary, whether you have kids with you or you’re just a design nerd who wants to see how a Victorian shell can hold a futuristic heart.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
Check the official V&A website for their current "Open Studio" schedule before you go. These workshops are often led by professional artists and are included in the free entry, but they fill up fast. If you're traveling via the Central Line, remember that Bethnal Green station has a lot of stairs; if you have a heavy buggy, it might be worth taking a bus from Liverpool Street instead to save your back.