National Art Library
The National Art Library (NAL), located on Level 2, V&A, South Kensington is a major public reference library, open to all visitors. The collection covers the fine and decorative arts, design and art history and contains books, periodicals, auction sale catalogues, exhibition catalogues, electronic resources and other formats of material. Amongst the many treasures are artists' books, illustrated books, fine bindings and rare and unique manuscripts.
Prints and Drawings Study Room
Visitors can study and enjoy over 750,000 objects not on display in the galleries, including designs, fine art prints, watercolours, old master drawings, photographs, commercial graphics, greetings cards, playing cards, fashion plates, posters, wallpapers and much more!
Some items that are light-sensitive and fragile can only be viewed under certain conditions and by special appointment.
Opening times
Wednesdays, 10.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
Thursdays 10.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
The Prints and Drawings Study Room will close for the Christmas period at 17.00 on Thursday 19 December 2024 and will re-open at 10.00 on Wednesday 8 January 2025.
Location
Prints and Drawings Study Room, Level 3, V&A South Kensington
Viewing objects is by appointment only
We require a minimum of one week's notice for an appointment. Slots are booked up quickly, so please book as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.
Individuals can have up to 5 objects, or boxes of objects, per visit. A group can have up to 10 objects, or boxes of objects, for a visit. The limit for a group is 10 people at a time.
To book an individual or group appointment, email:
aapd.enquiries@vam.ac.uk.
In your booking request, please provide:
- First and second choice of visit date
- Accession number and collection location of the object(s), which can be found on an individual object's record in Explore the Collections.
We have lockers in the print room lobby for small bags and coats only. Please use the main museum cloakroom for any large bags or other items.
Filming is not allowed in the print room without prior approval from the Print Room Manager. Still photography is normally permitted.
If you are unable to make your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible.
Collection Selection Boxes
You can also request up to five Collection Selection Boxes for individual study or group teaching. These contain original prints, drawings and photographs that introduce a particular period, style, material, or technique.
Disability access
Royal Photographic Society (RPS) collection
We are currently cataloguing the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) collection, which was transferred to the V&A from the Science Museum Group in April 2018. As we progress, you will be able to see the records for individual objects appearing on Explore the Collections.
Cataloguing the entire collection will take a few years and so we are sharing our working lists of the contents of each box of photographic prints and glass-based photographic material. These lists provide an overview of the collection contents and will help researchers in arranging to view objects.
RIBA Architecture Study Room
The V&A and RIBA work in partnership to provide access to the world's most comprehensive architectural resource. The collection includes over 1 million drawings, 1.5 million photographs and 1.5 million archives, including architectural diaries, travel journals, letters, notebooks, essays, papers and office archives.
Find out more about the V&A + RIBA Collections
Opening times
Wednesdays, 10.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
Thursdays 10.00 – 13.00 and 14.00 – 17.00
The RIBA Architecture Study Room will be closed on Wednesday 11 December. It will then close for the Christmas period at 17.00 on Thursday 19 December 2024 and will re-open at 10.00 on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
Location
Access
Access is by appointment only.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7307 3708
Email: drawingsandarchives@riba.org
Disability access
Find out about access to and facilities for people with disabilities in the RIBA Architecture Study Room and our other study rooms.
Ceramics Study Room
The Ceramics Study Room allows you to view up close the objects on display in Rooms 136 to 139. Click on the links below to view objects that can be found in these galleries.
Location
Opening times
Monday – Friday, 10.00 – 12.00 and 14.00 – 16.00
Access
Access is by appointment only.
Western ceramics
Tel: +44 (0)20 3949 4731
Email: ceramicsstudyroom@vam.ac.uk
Asian ceramics
Tel: +44 (0)20 3949 4515
Email: ceramicsstudyroom@vam.ac.uk
Please note that appointments are subject to availability and the suitability of the objects to be shown in this manner.
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Clothworkers' Centre for the study and conservation of textiles and fashion
The Clothworkers' Centre is currently closed and will reopen at the new V&A East Storehouse in 2025. The Clothworkers' Centre provides access to the Museum's outstanding collection of textiles, fashion and costume. The collections include over 1040,000 objects, ranging from tiny fragments of Egyptian textiles to large tapestries and carpets, from accessories and underwear to intricately embroidered 18th-century court dresses.
The Archive and Library Study Room
The Archive and Library Study Room contains material related to four V&A archives:
- Archive of Art and Design - Contains the archives of individuals, associations and companies involved in any stage of the art and design process.
- V&A Archive - The institutional archives of the V&A and its predecessor organisations date from 1837 to the present day, providing a rich resource for the study of the history and influence of the Museum.
- Theatre and Performance Archive - Includes extensive archives from performing arts companies and other organisations, as well as from individuals such as performers, stage designers and private collectors.
- Beatrix Potter Collections - The V&A holds the world's largest collection of Beatrix Potter's drawings, watercolours, literary manuscripts, correspondence, photographs and related materials.
Location
We are currently working to relocate all our archive collections. Access is not available until 2025 when we will be opening the new V&A East Storehouse in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Separate arrangements are being made for access to the V&A Archive, which houses the historical records of the museum, at V&A South Kensington.