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Sure, London might not be perfect – see: the most expensive public transport in the world, astronomic rents and house prices – but boy, do we have a tip-top roster of brilliant museums. And it’s not just us here at Time Out that think so: one of the capital’s museums has just been crowned the best in all of Europe.
As part of the European Museum of the Year Award, the 2026 Council of Europe Museum Prize is dished out to celebrate museums that centre democracy, cross-border dialogue and human rights. London’s Young V&A, a free museum for kids in Bethnal Green, won this particular award.
Young V&A was celebrated for ‘connect[ing] design and play with real-world themes such as sustainability, belonging and empathy’ as well as actively including disabled children and those with special educational needs.
Luz Martinez Seijo, a committee representative for the prize, said the V&A’s children-oriented sibling was outstanding thanks to its ‘mission to engage visitors with the themes of human rights, equality, participation and cultural democracy.’
The European Museum of the Year Award isn’t the only place gushing about the Young V&A. In 2024 the institution was named Art Fund Museum of the Year, and Young V&A features in Time Out’s definitive ranking of the finest museums in London.
An offshoot of the Victoria and Albert Museum, Young V&A is a free museum for children. With plenty of hands-on activities, installations and historic artefacts, it’s a perfect playground for kids (and nostalgic adults).
Previously known as V&A Museum of Childhood (it reopened after a revamp under a new name in July 2023), the museum houses the largest collection of childhood-related objects in the UK. In November, it announced a huge Aardman and Wallace and Gromit exhibition for 2026, which you can read all about here.
Responding to the prize, Dr Helen Charman, director of learning and national programmes at Young V&A, said: ‘This award signifies and strengthens the vital role of YV&A as a place where all young visitors and their families are warmly welcomed, inspired and empowered to become active citizens who are creatively confident.’
Find out everything you need to know about visiting the Young V&A here.
More London museums with Time Out
Whether you’re looking to brush up on history at the British Museum, nerd out at the Science Museum, or find your latest fascination at Sir John Soane’s Museum and the radical V&A East Storehouse, check out our guide to London’s best museums.
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