Christmas
Features
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Unboxing Christmas baubles
Watch as we take a look at a selection of delicate Christmas baubles from Germany
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A V&A Collections Christmas dinnerIs it possible to make a three course Christmas dinner using only objects from the collections as ingredients?
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The first Christmas card
The very first Christmas card was designed for the V&A's founding director, Henry Cole
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The Christmas cracker
This popular paper novelty was invented by an enterprising East-End baker, Tom Smith, over 150 years ago
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Make your own V&A-inspired Christmas tree decoration
Create something new for your tree this Christmas
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Biscuit tins – a bite-sized historyNovelty biscuit tins in all shapes and sizes
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Victorian Christmas traditions
The Victorians created Christmas as we know it – from Christmas cards and crackers to the decorated Christmas tree
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Make your own V&A inspired Christmas crackers
Have a go at crafting your own crackers this Christmas
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Make your own V&A inspired wrapping paper
Get creative and print your own wrapping paper
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Make a Beatrix Potter Christmas card
Spread some festive joy this season by downloading our free template to create your very own Beatrix Potter Christmas card
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Christmas tree installations
Relive the magic of V&A Christmas tree installations
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The Christmas story in opus anglicanum
Christmas imagery appears throughout medieval art and particularly on richly-worked and intricate English medieval embroidered textiles, known as opus anglicanum
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The story of pantomime
The familiar trappings of the classic British panto owe much to the innovations of Victorian entrepreneurs, performers and designers
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V&A family trail: Christmas
Discover Christmas highlights in this trail for families
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Sacred stained glass
Like huge and colourful picture storybooks, stained glass has been used to spread messages for centuries
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Laying a wacky and whimsical Christmas table
How wacky is your Christmas table? Discover some of our favourite festive fare, with a twist
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Festive bake-off challenge: gingerbread architectureJoin us for a Christmas baking special with a modern architectural twist!
Christmas 2026
Collection highlights
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Toy Olaf from the opening scene of Frozen the Musical, designed by Christopher Oram, created by Young Anna and Young Elsa. -
Pantomime cow's head costume, by S.B Watts & Co. Ltd., 1989, Manchester, England. Museum no. S.483&A to C-1990.V&A East Storehouse -
Poster advertising the Grand Christmas Pantomime at the Surrey Theatre, 1878, Britain. Museum no. S.16-2010.V&A East Storehouse -
Christmas pudding plate, designed by Eric Ravilious, manufactured by Wedgwood, 1938, England. Museum no. CIRC.309-1961.V&A South Kensington -
Christmas decorations, Krebsglas, about 1990, Lauscha, Germany. Museum no. C.334-1993.V&A South Kensington -
Christmas card, late 19th century, England. Museum no. E.378-1971.V&A South Kensington -
Christmas pyramid, 1960s, Germany. Museum no. MISC.683&1 to 29-1988.V&A East Storehouse -
Greetings card (inside), designed by Beatrix Potter, Hildesheimer and Faulkner, 1890, colour lithograph. Linder Bequest BP.565(a). -
Christmas Cake for Children, tin, made for W & R Jacob and Co., 1936, England. Museum no. M.487&A-1983.V&A South Kensington -
Mechanical toy turkey, by Blomer and Schüler, 1948 – 1952, Germany. Museum no. MISC.25-1978.V&A East Storehouse -
Mechanical reindeer, 1975 – 79, China. Museum no. B.138-1996.V&A East Storehouse -
Cup, by Georg Rühl, 1598 – 1602, Nuremberg, Germany. Museum no. LOAN:GILBERT.60:1,2-2008.V&A South Kensington -
Mistletoe brooch, by George Fouquet, about 1903, Paris, France. Museum no. M.19-1979.V&A South Kensington
Gifting at Christmas
What better place to find gift inspiration than the V&A? Get your festive shopping all wrapped up with these ideas for the perfect present!
- Surprise someone with gift membership
- Gift a course or workshop led by V&A experts
- Book a day out at an exhibition
- Find everything on their wish list in our shops
