Free museum in South Kensington
The best Victoria and Albert Museum tours
A group highlights tour and a 3-hour private tour for up to 6. Here is which to book, and when a tour is worth it in a free museum.
See our 2 picks
Entry to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is free, so you only need tickets for a guided tour. Group tours here start from €24 per person, and a private tour for up to 6 starts from €236.
Both have free cancellation. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
Our 2 picks for the V&A
Just two tours: one group tour and one private tour. Both can be cancelled for free.
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from €24 per person Our top pick 1 h 30 min 3.9 (54) reviews on GetYourGuide
V&A highlights group tour
A 1.5-hour guided tour in English. The listing names the Fashion Galleries, the Raphael Cartoons, the Jewellery Gallery and the Cast Courts. Groups can be up to 30 people.
Best for Visitors who want a quick guided overview
Check availability: V&A highlights group tour on GetYourGuide - from €236 per group up to 6
Your own guide, 3 hours
Private V&A tour
3 hours 5.0 (19) reviews on GetYourGuide
Three-hour private V&A tour
A private tour for your own group of up to 6. Your guide shapes the route around your interests, from fashion to jewellery and ceramics. Paid exhibitions are not included.
Best for Art and design lovers, families and small groups
Check availability: Three-hour private V&A tour on GetYourGuide
V&A tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V&A highlights group tour | €24 per person | 1 h 30 min | Visitors who want a quick guided overview | The cheapest guided option, but its rating is lower, at 3.9 from 54 reviews. |
| Three-hour private V&A tour | €236 per group up to 6 | 3 hours | Art and design lovers, families and small groups | Your own guide for 3 hours, with 5.0 from 19 reviews. |
€24 per person1 h 30 min 3.9 (54)
Details
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want a quick guided overview
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest guided option, but its rating is lower, at 3.9 from 54 reviews.
€236 per group up to 63 hours 5.0 (19)
Details
- Who it suits
- Art and design lovers, families and small groups
- Why we picked it
- Your own guide for 3 hours, with 5.0 from 19 reviews.
- Neither includes hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point.
- Both offer free cancellation.
- Private option: Three-hour private V&A tour.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Victoria and Albert Museum prices: free entry, paid tours
Entry to the V&A is free, and you do not need to book. Like the British Museum, the V&A charges nothing to walk in.
It is one of several free museums in London, in South Kensington.
Some exhibitions cost extra and need a timed ticket. A guided tour adds a guide and a plan, not entry. The group tour is from €24 and the private tour from €236 per group.
The museum's own free tours
The V&A runs free guided tours too, including "Highlights of the V&A". The museum lists them until 31 December 2026.
A paid tour is worth it if you want a set time, a private guide or a longer visit.
What the tours cover
The group tour visits set galleries, and the private tour follows your interests. Here is what each listing says.
The group tour lasts 1.5 hours. It names the Fashion Galleries, with clothes from 400 years. It also names the Raphael Cartoons, the Medieval and Renaissance rooms, the Jewellery Gallery and the Cast Courts.
The private tour lasts 3 hours. It focuses on the most important treasures, with time for what you like best. Its listing says it does not suit visually or hearing-impaired visitors.
We left off a third V&A tour. It had a rating of 2.5 from 103 reviews.
The best things to see at the V&A
The tour listings point to the same big rooms. Start with these if you go on your own.
- Raphael Cartoons: large designs by the painter Raphael.
- Cast Courts: huge copies of famous sculptures and buildings.
- Fashion Galleries: clothes from about 400 years.
- Jewellery Gallery: glittering pieces from many centuries.
- Sculpture galleries: marble figures and altarpieces.
Before you go
The V&A is open daily from 10.00 to 17.45. On Fridays it stays open until 22.00, though some galleries close at 17.45.
On 29 and 30 October 2026 the museum is mostly closed because of industrial action. The café, the shop and some ground-floor galleries stay open.
On a rainy day, the V&A pairs well with other things to do in London indoors.
Getting there
The address is Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL. South Kensington Tube station is about 5 minutes away on foot.
From the station, an underground tunnel leads to the museum. The tunnel entrance is not wheelchair accessible; use Cromwell Road or Exhibition Road instead. Piccadilly line works through 2026 and 2027 may slow your trip. See getting around London.
Eating at the V&A
The café is inside the museum; check prices on the day.
Before you book
Free cancellation on both
Both tours show free cancellation on GetYourGuide. Check the exact cut-off time on the listing.
Find the start
The group tour meets at Cromwell Gardens, by the museum. The private tour meets at the museum on Cromwell Road.
Paid exhibitions are extra
Neither tour includes paid exhibitions. Book those on the V&A site if you want them.
Check the strike days
Avoid 29 and 30 October 2026, when most galleries are closed.
V&A FAQ
Is the V&A free, like the British Museum?
What exhibitions are on at the V&A?
How long do you need at the V&A?
What are the best things to see at the V&A?
Can I just walk into the Victoria and Albert Museum?
More V&A tours
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See all of these with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideSources (6), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in London editorial team.