Backpacks

Borrow a V&A Backpack and embark on an adventure across the Museum. Our award-winning Back-Packs are full of brilliant hands-on activities, including jigsaws, stories, puzzles, construction games and objects to handle. Activities last approximately 45 minutes and are suitable for children aged 5-12. For younger children, there are activity sheets which complement each Back-Pack so you can all have fun together.

Borrowing a Back-Pack

Back-Packs are free to borrow and do not need to be booked. They are available every day from the Sackler Centre and can also be collected from the Main Entrance during most school holidays. The last Back-Pack of the day is issued at 16.00.

A form of printed ID such as a driving licence or debit card is required to borrow a Back-Pack.

Choosing a Back-Pack

Choose from the following bags (subject to availability and daily gallery closures):

• NEW! - Discovering Architecture (Available from Monday 8 April)
  Created with Architect Mike Davies from Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, learn about architectural drawings, colour, 'connecting spaces', light and materials, then construct a model and draw your own building.
  Created with support from Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
  
• Emperor's Party
  Imagine you are an Indian Emperor preparing for a spectacular party.
• Fancy Furnishings
  Learn what life was like for a rich lady and gentleman in Georgian Britain.
• Magic Glasses
  Explore the colour, design and shape of decorative glass.
• Middle Eastern Marvels
  Explore amazing geometric patterns and discover special treasures from palaces and mosques.
• Time Traveller
  Find out about everyday life in Medieval Europe including what people wore, how they wrote and what they ate and drank.
  Part of the Arab World Family Learning Programme supported by the Saïd Foundation.

Recommended for Early Years

• Agent Animal
  Search the museum to find 6 animals hiding in the Japan, China and South Asia Galleries. Agent Animal contains audio buttons and four fabric sensory jigsaw cubes.
  Agent Animal was funded by Westminster Council and developed in partnership with the Westminster Sure Start programme and five families from the Knightsbridge and Belgravia Parents Forum.

'The activities in the Backpacks were very, very good because there were surprises when you looked inside them.' Romilly (6), Paul (father)