Visiting exhibitions: V&A Members, Director's Circle and Young Patrons' Circle

Yes. As a Member, you get free unlimited visits to all exhibitions even when tickets have sold out.

Do Members need to book tickets to visit special exhibitions?

No. Your Membership card is your ticket to enter exhibitions.

V&A South Kensington and Young V&A are open seven days a week, and Members do not need to book tickets for general admission or our special exhibitions. As a V&A Member you can drop in anytime to enjoy free unlimited access to all our special exhibitions.

V&A South Kensington is open from 10.00 – 17.45 Monday – Thursday and Saturday – Sunday. On Fridays we are open from 10.00 to 22.00.

Young V&A is open daily from 10.00 – 17.45.

When is the best time to come to Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto?

As a Member, you can see the exhibition whenever we're open – and you don't have to book in advance. At busy times, we may ask you to wait for a few minutes to make sure that the space is not too full. If your schedule is flexible, we recommend:

Last entry to Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto is 17.00, Monday – Thursday and Saturday – Sunday. On Fridays the last entry is 21.00.

Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto will also be open late on selected evenings during December and January:

16.30 – 22.00 (last entry 21.15):
2, 16, 18, 20, 21, 28, 30 December
2, 3, 4, 6, 8 January

16.30 – 20.00 (last entry 19.15):
10, 17 December
7 January

Can I visit without my Membership card? Do I need to show my Membership card to enter exhibitions?

You need to have a valid Membership card to enter exhibitions. This can be your plastic or digital Membership card, or a temporary Membership card if you do not have access to your plastic or digital card when visiting.

If you are visiting without your plastic or digital card, you can collect a temporary Membership card from the Membership desk or Members' Room at South Kensington when you arrive, or the admissions desk at Young V&A.

Digital Membership cards

For questions on digital membership cards, please see our FAQs page.

We recommend booking for Members' Previews if you wish to enter an exhibition at a specific time, but it is not essential. You can book for Members' Previews (from the first of the month in which an exhibition opens) on the Membership Events page.

You must book a ticket to visit on a Members' morning view as these are outside of public opening hours.

The Membership team regularly arranges Members' morning views for all exhibitions. These are listed as 'events' on the respective exhibition webpages, and can also be found on the Membership Events programme page. Tickets need to be booked in advance online.

When is the Members' Room open?

Opening hours are 10.00 to 17.30 from Monday to Thursday, and at weekends. Last food orders are at 15.30, last seating is 16:45 and last drinks orders are at 17.00.

On Fridays, the Members' Room is open until 21.30. Last food orders are at 20.00 and last drinks orders are at 21.00.

Can I take guests into the Members' Room?

You are welcome to bring as many guests as your Membership level allows. All Members can bring up to four children under 16 in with them.

Can I book a table in the Members' Room?

There is no reservation system for the Members' Room.

Young V&A is open seven days a week. General admission is free and you don't need to book. There may be some queues to get in to the museum at busy times through the summer, including weekends and school holidays.

Will the Membership desk be open? Will I be able to talk to someone about my Membership when I am in the building?

The Membership desk at V&A South Kensington is open from 10.00 to 17.00 every day. If you have any specific queries regarding your Membership, you can also contact us at membership@vam.ac.uk and we will do our very best to help. Patrons, please direct any queries to directorscircle@vam.ac.uk or ypc@vam.ac.uk

Where can I buy or renew a Membership?

You can buy or renew your Membership or a Membership gift online on the Membership page, or at the Membership desk if you are coming to V&A South Kensington. Pay by Direct Debit to receive a £10.00 discount.

Is the cloakroom open?

The cloakroom facilities are open. Bags larger than 56 × 45 × 21cm and bags with wheels are not allowed. Only small sized bags are permitted in the galleries, and as part of our security procedures we may ask to search your bag.

Members can leave one coat and one small bag in the cloakroom at South Kensington free of charge.

At Young V&A, there are free storage lockers located on the lower-ground floor.

How do I find out about the Members-only times to visit exhibitions?

New dates are announced regularly by email. If you are not already receiving Membership emails, please contact membership@vam.ac.uk to be added to the email list.