For something different to do on a Friday night, late night at the Victoria & Albert Museum. We went in search of the after-hours experience at the V&A Museum and found some interesting and also unexpected things..
How late does the late night at the V&A museum stay 0pen to?
Friday evenings the V&A Museum doors stay open until 22hrs yes 10 pm.
What to expect Late night at the V&A
The museum is open to browse, as you would on a normal visit, there are themed evenings which are usually run on the last Friday of the Month, with a few exceptions – end of December and May.
When there is no theme night there seems a quieter ambience around the museum, it is more relaxed and the lighting seems more subdued in places. The night time experience is one for browsing, peeking down the corridors to view the splendour in terms of their interior design and showcases.
Drinks and a Live DJ meet you in the foyer of the V&A
This is where people were congregating for drinks, and a live DJ was there with a sound system that bellowed throughout the larger halls behind the front desk area.
Important to note, not all the galleries are open after 17.30hrs on a Friday, for the late night at the Museum.
During our trip, the free sections of Jewellery were closed and is never a late night shift contender, sadly. There is still plenty to see
Excellent Customer care volunteer stewards
There are lots of volunteer stewards dotted around on a late night opening, with an extensive knowledge what is out of bounds, and how to get from one section to the other. They also know about themed events and can make suggestions.
All the volunteer stewards attempted to find us and others, a good experience or make the most of what was open.
The areas we noticed open at the late night at the V&A
The Free Fashion Gallery was open. The Silver section, Stained glass, Ironworks, Miniature portraits, the new photography gallery to name but a few. It also seemed like the ticketed exhibition Fashioned from Nature was also open.
The Silver section at the V&A
This gallery was opulent and had sections of historic time and designs of silver from that period.
Bouquet of cutlery found in the Silverware gallery
Stained Glass windows section
Photography Gallery
The Sir Paul McCartney Family donation room at the V&A
Featuring work of Linda McCartney and her daughter Mary who also went on to become a Photographer. Linda was the first female to shoot a rolling stone cover and had met many rich and famous in her time photographing. There are around 13 photographs with information about each.
Amazing collection of Brownie film Cameras at the V&A museum was open during the Friday night late night opening at the V&A
Interior of some glorious corridors in the Victoria and Albert Museum
Fashion Gallery
Sackler Courtyard
This interesting looking feature contained a water pond base to it but gave interesting illusions of depth and reflection on its black shiny surface that make it look like a flat level, rather than a sided ditch or rectangle with depth.
Trajan Casts
