Go behind the scenes and take your own path through the worlds of art, design, performance, fashion and more.
Explore a working museum store with mini displays, large-scale objects, and opportunities to see museum professionals at work.
Workshops
Develop the creative confidence of your students through in-person school and college workshops at V&A East Storehouse, led by artists and museum practitioners.
Through first-hand encounters with collections and creative making activities, students explore objects, stories and processes while developing creative thinking, collaboration and practical skills that support the national curriculum and Gatsby benchmarks.
Workshops are 120 mins long, for a maximum 30 students, available for KS3-5. Please see below:
- KS3-4: Who are we?
- KS3-4: What is Waste?
- KS4-5: Imagined Cities: Designing Urban Futures
- KS4-5: Create a Storehouse Display
As part of V&A East's commitment to supporting local schools and colleges, we offer free workshops on Tuesdays for East London-based schools and colleges. To enquire, please email the team directly.
We do not currently accept bookings from home schools or agencies. Our offer is not suitable for mixed-age groups.
For paid workshop bookings, please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to cancel your session. In some cases, we may be able to re-schedule your session if we have a minimum three weeks’ notice (subject to availability). Sessions cancelled within three weeks of the visit will be liable for a cost.
Self-guided visits
We welcome self-guided school visits. Due to the nature of Storehouse and open access to the collections, booking online in advance is essential for all group visits.
Admission to V&A East Storehouse is free. A separate charge may apply to our workshops. We accept bookings for our Schools and Colleges programme from registered schools only.
Our self-guided visits are recommended for Years 5+, up to a maximum of 30 students. Please refer to adult/student ratios and how to split your groups to support planning for your visit.
We do not accept third-party provider bookings. We do not currently accept bookings from home schools or agencies.
Please call +44 (0)20 7942 2100 as soon as possible if you need to change or cancel your visit, or if you anticipate being late for your time slot.
Teaching resources
We are currently developing a range of free teaching resources for you to use before and after your visit to V&A East Storehouse.
In the meantime, you can explore V&A East Museum's online resources.
Please note that V&A East Museum is a separate location, a short walk from V&A East Storehouse. This page has guidance on how to travel between the two venues.
Further V&A resources
We also support your teaching with the following resources:
Explore the Collections
Explore the Collections to find a wide range of fashion art & design objects to support your lesson plans.
YouTube
Our V&A YouTube channel features a range of useful and inspiring content about creativity, art, design and performance.
Order an Object
Order an Object is a revolutionary free service where you can book time with objects from the collections. These free appointments allow you to select up to five objects, with experienced handling staff on hand to help you. Although we cannot currently offer Order an Object as part of a schools booking activity, we would encourage you to use the service at another time to inspire and support classroom learning, your own creative practice or research. Appointments can be made for individuals aged 16+, up to two weeks in advance and you can bring one guest.
Your visit
For details of how to get to V&A East Storehouse, our facilities, and what to expect when you arrive, please refer to our plan your visit page.
There are no coach-parking facilities at V&A East Storehouse. We recommend visiting us by public transport.
If you need to travel by vehicle for reasons of accessibility, please email the team for guidance.
Schools based within the Greater London Area may be eligible for free or discounted travel via public transport. Visit the TfL website for more information.
Arrival
On arrival, please check in with a member of our Front of House team at the main entrance on Parkes Street. Please ensure the lead teacher in the group goes to the front of the queue and informs Front of House staff that their group has arrived.
Our team will confirm your booking and assist with access to lockers for schools and colleges. As this is a working storehouse, bags and coats must be put away in the lockers before entering the Collections Hall.
Before entering the Collections Hall your group will be briefed by V&A East staff on guidelines for navigating the space.
Please arrive promptly for your visit. Please note that if you are late your visit may have to be shortened.
Staying safe: adult/student ratios
V&A East Storehouse is a live, open access, working museum store with mini displays, large-scale objects and opportunities to see museum professionals at work. We are committed to ensuring that all visitors can experience the space safely and comfortably.
Please follow the guidance below for group visits, including adult-to-student ratios and recommendations for splitting groups.
Adult supervision is required for primary groups at all times, and appropriate adult oversight is required for secondary and college groups.
The following adult-to-student ratios apply when visiting V&A East Storehouse:
- 4 to 8 years – 1 adult: 6 children
- 9 to 12 years – 1 adult: 8 children
- 13 to 15 years – 1 adult: 10 children
- 16 to 18 years – 1 adult: 15 children
How to split your groups
Before entering the Collections Hall your class will be asked to split into groups of 6 or fewer (including teachers and students). These groups will need to be maintained when exploring the Collections Hall.
For example, a class of 30 Year 9 students will need three adults supervising their visit. They will need to split into five groups of six with accompanying adults monitoring the groups, ensuring they access the space safely.
Secondary and college students are able to explore independently in their groups, with teachers maintaining oversight within the Collections Hall.
Due to the size of the space, we can only allow 15 students per group inside the Collections Hall.
Primary school visits (Years 5 – 6), require closer supervision and will need to maintain a 1:5 ratio. For example, a class of 30 Year 5 students will need six adults supervising their visit. They will need to split into six groups of six, with accompanying adults monitoring the groups, ensuring they access the space safely.
Primary students must be supervised by adults at all times for their own wellbeing and safeguarding.
Teachers are the lead supervisor for their group and must ensure that students behave in a way that minimises the likelihood of accidents or damage.
In case of an evacuation and you are not able to re-enter the building, we will arrange for belongings in lockers to get back to you.
Access
If anyone in your group has any additional access needs and requires assistance, please let us know at the time of booking.
For information about access, please see our Access at V&A East Storehouse page, or call +44 (0)20 7942 2100.
Please note, in the centre of the Collections Hall there is a section of glass flooring with a view of the Agra Colonnade and working store below.
Each level has public walkways so you can explore more of the collection and see the museum at work. The walkways are a minimum of 1.6 metres wide with a metal grating floor and glass railings, allowing you to see all the way down to the basement level below.
We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and flat shoes. The metal grid flooring is not suitable for stilettos or kitten heels.
We advise you to review the accessibility guidance ahead of your visit. This includes a visual guide and a pre-visit video to prepare you and your students for your visit.
If you think any of your students may need a break while in the Collections Hall, please ensure you have enough staff to maintain student to staff ratios in the Collections Hall at all times.
Please note that V&A East Storehouse is a working environment, and there may occasionally be loud noises. Ear defenders are available for students if required. Please speak to our friendly team on arrival if you need support.
Risk Assessment
You should carry out your own risk assessment before you visit and bring it with you on the day. Please review our health and safety information for more guidance.
To assist with creating your own risk assessment, a copy of our risk assessment is available on request. Please email the team.
Facilities for schools and colleges
- There are lunchroom facilities in the Foyle Creative Centre. A 30-minute lunch slot is automatically allocated to your group for a workshop booking. Please check your ticket for your lunch slot time.
- Lunch spaces for self-guided visits must be booked prior your visit. When booking your school's self-guided visit please add-on a lunchroom slot if one is available. Lunch spaces are not guaranteed for self-guided visits.
- Separate lockers are available for school and college groups, these are in the Foyle Creative Centre. Our friendly team will support you with using the lockers. It is the lead teacher's responsibility to ensure lockers are secure. Items are left in the locker at your own risk.
- There are gender neutral toilets for school and college groups, these are in the Foyle Creative Centre and are regularly cleaned throughout the day.
- There is a dedicated quiet room in Storehouse, available for anyone who may need a calm space during their visit. Please ask our team for directions during your visit. Students must be accompanied by a teacher.
- Water fountains can be found in the Foyle Creative Centre.
Conduct
- Teachers are responsible for students' behaviour and safety at all times. Please remind your group not to touch objects or run.
- As this is a working storehouse, bags and coats must be put away in the lockers before entering the Collections Hall.
- Photos are allowed in the Collections Hall, however no flash photography. You must use the phone lanyards supplied by staff for health and safety reasons.
- You are welcome to draw in the Collections Hall, using dry materials only, which we will provide. You cannot bring your own materials into Storehouse. These must be always attached to clipboards for health and safety reasons.
Contact V&A East Storehouse
Contact Centre
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 2100
Email: storehouse@vam.ac.uk
Learning & Engagement team
Email: va-east-engagement@vam.ac.uk