V&A East Storehouse: Know Before You Go (Free Entry & Tips)

You turn up to a giant warehouse expecting to see racks of boxes and find yourself surrounded by 250,000 objects that tell the story of design history. That’s the premise of London’s newest cultural space—a place that flips the idea of museum storage on its head.

Size: Bigger than 30 basketball courts ·
Levels: 4 ·
Admission: Free ·
Average visit duration: 90 minutes

Eight facts to get you oriented before we go deeper.

“Behind-the-scenes access to objects usually kept in storage”

— Rick Steves travel community

What is the V and a storehouse?

A new kind of museum storage

Most museums keep 90 percent of their collections in off-site storage, hidden from public view. V&A East Storehouse breaks that model by placing the entire archive on display. According to the V&A (the UK’s national museum of art and design), the Storehouse is a purpose-built public space spanning four levels, bigger than 30 basketball courts, and home to more than 250,000 objects, 350,000 library books, and 1,000 archives.

Visitors can walk through open shelving units filled with furniture, fashion, ceramics, sculptures, and design pieces. The experience resembles a library stack system but with museum-grade objects instead of books. You scan a QR code with your phone to access digital stories about each item—a feature that turns a storage facility into an interactive exhibition.

Location and design

The Storehouse sits inside the Here East building on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London. The V&A official site confirms the main entrance is on Parkes Street, E20 3AX. Architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, known for the High Line in New York and the Broad Museum in Los Angeles, designed the space. The design includes a glass viewing floor that lets you see objects stored on levels below.

Part of the V&A East project

The Storehouse opened on May 31, 2025, according to a travel guide from Insight Vacations. It represents the first phase of a larger V&A East cultural district. A second venue, V&A East Museum, is scheduled to open in the coming years. Together, they will form one of the largest museum complexes in London.

Is the V&A storehouse worth visiting?

What makes it unique

The Storehouse’s core appeal is transparency. You don’t walk through curated galleries with wall texts telling you what to think. Instead, you explore a working storage facility where objects are organized by category—all furniture in one aisle, all ceramics in another. The Rick Steves travel community describes it as “behind-the-scenes access to objects usually kept in storage.” An article from The British Travel List notes that you can explore the collection yourself and book an object viewing by appointment.

The “Order an Object” service sets the Storehouse apart from any other London museum. You request a specific object from the collection, and staff bring it to a viewing table for you to examine up close. The V&A states that appointments must be made at least two weeks in advance.

Visitor reviews and ratings

Early TripAdvisor reviews report an average visit duration of 90 minutes and praise the free admission. One reviewer notes: “We were there about 90 minutes and got to see so much. You use your mobile to scan…” However, some visitors find the experience “underwhelming or difficult to navigate,” according to the same platform. For design and art enthusiasts, the open-storage format offers a level of access no other London museum provides. Casual visitors may prefer traditional galleries with clear themes and curated narratives.

How it compares to other London museums

London has no shortage of free museums—British Museum, National Gallery, V&A South Kensington all charge nothing for entry. What the Storehouse offers that none of those do is unfiltered access to the full collection. You decide what to look at and for how long. There are no velvet ropes blocking sections, no “staff only” signs on storage doors. For £0, you get the closest experience to being a curator’s assistant.

Is V&A Storehouse free entry?

General admission policy

Yes. The V&A official site (tier 1 source) states that general admission is free and that visitors do not need to book. You walk in, look around, and leave—no ticket required. This policy makes it one of the few major new cultural venues in London to offer entirely free entry from day one.

Special exhibitions and paid events

While general admission remains free, some special events or object ordering may require booking or carry fees. The V&A has not published pricing for these ancillary services as of this writing. For the standard visit, you will not pay a penny.

Booking requirements for free entry

No booking is needed for a standard visit. However, if you want to use the Order an Object service, the V&A (the museum’s official website) advises making appointments at least two weeks in advance. Group visits may also require advance notice.

The pattern: Free entry eliminates the financial barrier, but the logistical friction shifts to planning. If you want the full experience—object ordering, guided tour—you need to think ahead.

Do you need to book for V and a storehouse?

Standard visit without booking

You can show up without any prior reservation. The V&A’s visit page confirms that no ticket is needed for a standard visit. This makes it an ideal spontaneous outing, especially for locals or tourists who want to drop in between other Olympic Park attractions.

Order an Object system

The Order an Object service requires advance booking. Appointments must be made at least two weeks in advance, per the V&A (the national museum authority). You can browse the online collection catalog beforehand and request specific items to view in person. This system lets you bypass the open-storage format and see exactly what interests you.

Group visits and guided tours

Groups large enough to require organized access should contact the venue in advance. The V&A does not specify exact group size thresholds, but guided tours are available by arrangement. Early TripAdvisor reviews mention that guided tours provide valuable context that self-guided visits might miss.

The trade-off: No booking means zero friction for casual visitors. The price of that convenience? The deeper experience requires two weeks’ notice.

How many objects are in the V&A storehouse?

Scale of the collection

The Storehouse holds approximately 250,000 objects according to the V&A official site (tier 1). That figure represents a fraction of the V&A’s total collection of 2.8 million objects. The space also contains 350,000 library books and 1,000 archives. Some sources cite larger numbers—a Rick Steves community article mentions “over 500,000 works”—but the official figure from the museum itself is 250,000 objects plus library holdings.

What types of objects are stored

The collection spans furniture, fashion, ceramics, sculptures, design pieces, textiles, prints, and decorative arts. The 30,000-square-metre space (bigger than 30 basketball courts) organizes these items across four levels by category rather than chronology or theme. A London travel article by The British Travel List notes that the four levels include a glass viewing floor, letting visitors peer down at objects stored below.

Public access to the collection

Every object on display is accessible to the public during opening hours. The Order an Object service extends that access further: you can request specific items not immediately visible in the open shelving. The British Travel List article confirms that visitors can “explore the collection themselves and book an object viewing by appointment.”

Why this matters: 250,000 objects sounds abstract until you realize that seeing a tenth of them would take multiple visits. The Storehouse rewards repeat trips—and costs nothing each time.

Is there a cafe at the V&A storehouse?

On-site dining options

Yes, the Storehouse includes a cafe. Visitor reviews on TripAdvisor (user feedback platform) confirm the presence of an on-site cafe serving light meals, coffee, and pastries. The V&A official site does not detail the menu, but the amenity exists for those needing a break mid-visit.

Nearby restaurants and cafes

If you want more options, Here East—the building complex housing the Storehouse—contains several independent cafes and food vendors. A 10-minute walk connects you to Westfield Stratford City, one of Europe’s largest shopping centres, with dozens of chain restaurants, fast-food outlets, and coffee shops. The V&A confirms that the 388 bus stops outside Here East, making it easy to pop out for a meal and return.

What to expect for food and drink

The in-house cafe serves standard museum fare: sandwiches, cakes, coffee, tea, and soft drinks. It is not a destination restaurant, but it solves the basic need for a quick refreshment without leaving the building. The seating area also functions as a rest space for visitors who need a break during their 90-minute exploration.

The catch: The cafe is functional, not special. If you are planning a longer visit or want a proper meal, budget time to walk to Stratford’s dining options.

If you’re looking for more details on free entry and booking, the V&A East Storehouse guide provides a thorough visitor guide.

Frequently asked questions

The conclusion for London visitors planning a day out: arrive with an open mind, a charged phone, and at least 90 minutes free. For design enthusiasts willing to plan two weeks ahead, the Order an Object service unlocks the real depth of the V&A’s collection. For spontaneous visitors, free entry removes all risk—show up, browse, and discover what 250,000 objects look like when a museum decides to hide nothing.

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