In the east of London, the building that today echoes with children’s voices as Young V&A was once home to one of history’s most intriguing social experiments. Opened in 1872, this museum became an almost unimaginable meeting point for Victorian London: a place where “nobles and workers” walked side by side under the same roof, looking at the same works of art.
We are in 2026, and this building still stands tall. Come, let’s take a time journey through the dusty shelves of this iconic structure in Bethnal Green.
The Journey of the “Brompton Boilers”
The museum’s story actually begins with the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in South Kensington. The V&A’s original buildings were iron-framed sheds nicknamed “Brompton Boilers” by the public due to their industrial appearance.
When South Kensington gained more magnificent buildings, these iron frames were dismantled, transported by train and horse-drawn carts to what was then London’s “dark side”: Bethnal Green. Architect James Wild clad the skeleton in red brick, giving rise to the distinctive structure we know today.
Land Where Royal Boots Had Never Trod
24 June 1872 was a historic day for Bethnal Green. The Prince and Princess of Wales (the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) arrived in a neighbourhood that newspapers described as a “den of misery and crime”—a place their royal boots or carriage wheels had never before touched.
“Bethnal Green was a place no royal boot or wheel had ever visited before. The people went wild with joy.”
This opening was not merely the inauguration of a building; for the wealthy west of London, the journey was an exploration of “terra incognita” (unknown lands). Lords and ladies from the west, for the first time in their lives, stood elbow to elbow with East End weavers, butchers, and labourers in the same hall, examining works of art together.
What Was Inside the Museum?
The museum was not limited to art. Visitors encountered an eclectic collection:
- French Art: Sir Richard Wallace’s priceless collection.
- Royal Gifts: Exotic objects brought back by the Prince of Wales from his visit to India.
- Animal Products Collection: An “educational” section demonstrating the industrial uses of agriculture, nutrition, and animal materials.
- Grand Fountain: The ornate 10-metre-high fountain in the garden was a mesmerising sight for East Londoners who thirsted for clean water.
Milestones in the Museum’s History
- 1872: Officially opened as Bethnal Green Museum.
- 1872 (July): Broke records with 700,000 visitors in the first three months.
- 1974: Ceased to be a general branch of the V&A and became the Museum of Childhood.
- 2023: Rebranded as Young V&A following major restoration.
- 2026: Remains one of London’s most popular free family destinations.
A Refuge for Children from the Very First Day
Interestingly, Victorian-era reports constantly mention the “immense number of children” in the museum. Newspapers headlined stories of dirty, ragged children — many of whom had never seen a painting before — gazing at statues and canvases as if they were fairy-tale palaces. This was one of the rare public places in the 19th century where breastfeeding was accepted as a “natural process.”
Today, operating as Young V&A, the venue continues this legacy by placing children’s imagination at its core. With design-focused play areas and interactive exhibitions, it combines the “social mingling” spirit of the past with the energy of the 21st century.
A Small Tip for Visiting the Museum
If you plan to visit in the spring of 2026, pay close attention to the original iron skeleton in the ceiling — it still bears the traces of the 1851 Great Exhibition and Victorian engineering.
A perfect excuse to combine art, history, and a little time travel in East London.
