Private Victoria & Albert Museum Tour: Greatest Collection of Arts and Crafts

London, England

The Royal Victoria and Albert Museum The World Greatest Collection of Arts and Crafts

3 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Explore London’s V&A (aka the Victoria and Albert Museum) and Apsley House with art-history expert as your guide. This private tour is a great way to learn about the art inside these two prestigious museums. Browse highlights of the world’s largest collection of decorative arts inside the V&A, and hear tales of the Duke of Wellington and all his finery at historical Apsley House.

In-depth private tour of London's Victoria and Albert Museum
Guided walk along Knightsbridge
Tailor the tour to suit your own interests with a professional art historian guide
Choice of morning and afternoon times

What's Included

Private tour
Professional art historian guide

Gratuities
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, UK
Departure Point: Tour departs from V&A, main entrance in Cromwell Road Directions: Meet outside the Entrance to the Museum, your guide will be there holding a notice with client's name General Museum Address: Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL, UK

End point

1 Cromwell Gardens, South Kensington, London SW7 2SL, UK
Return point: Concludes at the Victoria & Albert Museum exit in Cromwell Road SW7

What To Expect

Start your private tour at London’s V&A Museum, the city’s center of arts and crafts that is dedicated to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Today the museum is home to art from all styles, eras and countries, with its main collection a series of British oil paintings and watercolors. Explore rooms full of sculptures and architecture, and hear fun facts about one of the world’s finest collections of applied art.

Head inside the Raphael Cartoons collection that the Renaissance master Raphael created for Pope Leo X, add discover the highlights of the Medieval and Renaissance galleries.

Leave the V&A for a stroll through Knightsbridge where Harrods and other prestigious shopping establishments can be found. In the heart of the upmarket neighborhood is Apsley House, aka No 1 London.

Hear how the house was built for Baron Apsley before it fell into the hands of the Duke of Wellington. The duke lavished it further with a Corinthian temple besides other features, turning it into his very own grand mansion.

Head inside to explore and catch sight of the marble Canova statue of Napoleon in the guise of Apollo, and admire an array of treasure: sets of porcelain and silver, jewels, snuff boxes, stately furniture and more. Hear the history of the house as you head upstairs, and marvel at the duke’s collection of paintings. Pieces of art from the Royal Spanish collection, which were found in Giuseppe Bonaparte’s coach when he fled Madrid, were gifted to the duke by the King of Spain. Among the notable pieces are paintings by Goya, Murillo, Ribera, Rubens and Velázquez.

Your private tour finishes outside the house.

Please note: If you have any particular interests, for example art, history or architecture, please make a note in the ‘Special Requirements’ field when you book. Your guide will prepare your tour with those interests in mind.

V&A - Victoria and Albert Museum

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infant seats available

Transportation is wheelchair accessible
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Reviews

4.0

15 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-7 of 15 reviews

Private tour but not worth the extra money

Nell_C, Jun 2023

We had a private tour with Mark. Nice enough guy. Duration 3 hours. He may have been knowledgeable but he was boring and unengaging. It wasn’t worth the money for a private tour.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

I am very sorry for this. It is strange because Mark is one of our most praised - and most asked for Guides . It must have been one of his bd days. I am sorry for this an apologise,.

V&A Private Museum tour

Margaret_M, Apr 2023

My husband and I had never visited the Victoria & Albert Museum, despite many visits to London. Our guide, Mark Bishop was extraordinary! His knowledge of both the history and the art and design features of the collections was detailed and delightful. His ability to give both historic overview and insight of each collection really brought the collections to life.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear Margarite, Thank you very much for your kind and sensitive appreciation of Mark presentation of the Museum. I will pass on your comments to him which I am sure will please him very much. Best regards, Rosa Maria

Insightful and wonderful tour

Jessica_R, Sep 2022

Wonderful tour with fabulous information on both the history and purpose of the museum coupled with specific exhibits to illustrate.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Thank you for your beautiful comments to your visit at the Victoria &Albert. Their collections are vast; be their jewellery, silver, paintings, the whole Constable collection of drawings and paintings because of his donation and so are their tapestries and furniture . Something that needs to be seen and never forgotten.

We had a great tour!! We...

Patrick_F, Sep 2022

We had a great tour!! We absolutely loved our guide and felt she did a tremendous job! We saw a great amount of the museum and many highlights!!

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Thank you very much. I know that your guide enjoyed ¥our expenrience as much as you did. Interaction between Guide and client is essential to a good tour. Regards Artstur A

I thought the private tour was...

Robert V, Nov 2015

I thought the private tour was rather expensive for what we received. The tour giude focused on Italian artwork and there was so much more to see. I wish that the tour guide had been more informative about the museum in general.

Rosa Maria is an OUTSTANDING guide...

Patricia F, Aug 2015

Rosa Maria is an OUTSTANDING guide !!! ... We enjoyed the tour immensely !!!

I was totally embarrassed that I...

Rebeca E, Jun 2011

I was totally embarrassed that I arranged this tour; the guide was not only late, he did not have any sign identifying himself or reaching out to our group; although he was very knowledgable of art history, he ran us around only to tell us mid tour that we would not be doing the walking tour of Apsley House, because it was closed. His appearance was dis-shoveled, and he kept checking his cell phone???? I wish I could recommend this tour;