Picture perfect: the best photo locations at V&A South Kensington

Looking for the best spots in V&A South Kensington to capture snaps of your visit? Want the perfect shot for your socials? We've scoured the galleries and corridors to find the ultimate locations to frame your photos. And if you need some inspiration, there's plenty in our Photography Collection.

Medieval and Renaissance Galleries

Location: Medieval and Renaissance, Room 50a, The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery

Dramatic sculptures, natural light and stunning architecture makes this a great gallery for staging your shoot.

Photograph of a sculpture gallery — Medieval & Renaissance Galleries at the V&A. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Location: Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64b, The Simon Sainsbury Gallery

Contemporary meets medieval in this full-height, beautifully lit space. A great space to play with perspective.

Photograph of a brightly lit sculpture gallery with large wooden staircase — 'Daylight' Gallery at the V&A. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Cast Courts

Location: Cast Courts, Room 46b, The Weston Cast Court

Featuring life-size copies of some of the world's most significant works of art, including Michelangelo's David, Trajan's Column, and Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, the Cast Courts offer multiple opportunities to capture something spectacular.

Photograph of the Cast Courts at the V&A South Kensington — Cast Courts at the V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

John Madejski Garden

Location: John Madejski Garden

In the centre of the museum, our iconic garden boasts incredible facades, a reflective elliptical pool and seasonal planting, making it a perfect location year-round.

Photograph of the John Madejski Garden, V&A South Kensington — John Madejski Garden, V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

The Norfolk House Music Room

Location: Britain Galleries, Room 52, The George Levy Gallery

Dating from the mid-1700s, this opulent panelled room, decorated with gold leaf, mirrors, and highly detailed plasterwork, exudes luxury – perfect for creating period drama in your shots.

Photograph of the Norfolk House Music Room, V&A South Kensington — Norfolk House Music Room, V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Ceramic Staircase

Location: Access to stairs from Silver, Room 70a or V&A Café, Room 13

With a choice of arched windows, heavily decorated walls, ceiling tile paintings, mosaic floors and steps, there's no end of photographic opportunity in this location.

Photograph of ceramic staircase, V&A South Kensington — Ceramic staircase, V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

View down the ceramic staircase, V&A South Kensington — Ceramic staircase, V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Photography Centre

Location: Photography Centre, Room 108

A popular photo opportunity, the landing outside the Photography Centre offers lots of potential for the perfect selfie. The vast arched windows offer natural light and a leafy backdrop, while the cases of meticulously displayed cameras and tripods provide detail and interest.

Photograph of the entrance to the Photography Centre, V&A South Kensington — Entrance to the Photography Centre, V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Location: Photography Centre, Room 98, The Kusuma Gallery

A stunning library filled with photography inspiration for the perfect composition, as well as providing an ideal backdrop.

Photograph of The Kusuma Gallery, V&A South Kensington — The Kusuma Gallery, V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Jewellery

Location: Jewellery, Rooms 91 – 93, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

This seriously impressive space, filled with glittering gems and jewellery, offers a challenging but incredible location for your perfect snap.

Photograph of the Jewellery Gallery at the V&A South Kensington — Jewellery Gallery at the V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

V&A Chandelier by Chihuly

Location: Cromwell Road entrance, Dome

There's no missing this incredible blown-glass chandelier hanging from the Dome just inside the Cromwell Road entrance. Wherever you are on the ground floor and on the balconies above, you'll find intriguing shadows cast on the cathedral-like walls and ceilings and endless views of its complex construction.

Photograph of the Chihuly Chandelier in the Dome at V&A South Kensington — Chihuly Chandelier in the Dome at V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Ceramics

Location: Ceramics, Room 141, The McAulay Gallery

A bold and imposing space with striking large-scale objects, geometric herringbone floor and impressive vistas – the perfect spot for a more dramatic photo.

Photograph of the Ceramics Galleries at the V&A — Ceramics galleries at the V&A. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Sculpture

Location: Sculpture, Room 24, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries

Head and shoulders above many photo opportunities, the Sculpture gallery runs along a bank of windows looking out onto the garden and allows visitors to mingle amongst the characters on display.

Photograph of down the length of the sculpture galleries at the V&A South Kensington — Sculpture, Room 24, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries at V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Theatre & Performance

Location: Theatre & Performance, Room 106

Featuring large-scale costumes and props centre-stage, this room is a great spot to capture something more playful on camera.

Photograph of the Theatre & Performance galleries at V&A South Kensington — Theatre & Performance galleries at V&A South Kensington. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

The Globe

Location: Europe 1600 – 1815, Room 4

This stunning structure, specially commissioned for this room, makes a striking photographic location.

Photograph of a large round wooden structure with slatted walls — The Globe, by Marco Antonio Castillo Valdes and Dagoberto Rodríguez Sánchez of Los Carpinteros. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Photograph of two men stood inside a round wooden structure casting shadows on the floor — The Globe, by Marco Antonio Castillo Valdes and Dagoberto Rodríguez Sánchez of Los Carpinteros. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

The Globe, by Marco Antonio Castillo Valdes and Dagoberto Rodríguez Sánchez of Los Carpinteros. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

V&A Café, the Gamble Room

Location: V&A Café, The Gamble Room, Room 14a

The most beautiful café in the world? We think so. Old-world glamour combines with impressive lighting on a grand scale in the Gamble Room.

Photograph of a grand cafe with very large round, glittering lights — Cafe at the V&A. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Don't forget to tag us on socials and let us know if you find a picture-perfect location we've missed off the list.

Happy snapping!