It’s no secret that the V&A is bursting at the seams with twinkling gems to explore and admire. But one of the museum’s most valuable possessions of all doesn’t actually come in the form of an artwork, object, or artefact. The next time you culture-vultures are having a peruse around the South Kensington spot, we’d highly recommend you making a swift beeline to the back of the museum. Because that, my friends, is where you’ll find one of the London’s best-kept secrets: the oldest museum café in the world.
The V&A museum café
Having been serving up cakes, cuppas, and clotted cream-smothered scones for well over 150 years now; the refreshment room perched inside the V&A was the very first of its kind. Before the concept of having an in-house café was conjured up by Henry Cole, museum-visitors had nowhere to rest their weary legs and scoff a slice of cake between browsing collections. Can you even imagine?
Whilst managing The Great Exhibition back in 1851, Henry Cole had learnt a thing or two about the needs of visitors. One things that he worked out was that visitors being well-fed and watered was a rather high priority (something that certainly hasn’t changed). And whilst many other museums didn’t introduce an on-site refreshment room until the 20th century; Cole was ahead of the curve – and had his up and running by 1868.
In keeping with many of the other items that can be found within the walls of the V&A, the café is pretty blooming gorgeous. There’s humongous lights hanging from the ceiling, spectacular stained-glass windows, grand arches, and loads of colourful ceramic tiles adorning the walls. The V&A’s café is made up of three separate rooms; each of which was designed by a prominent artist of the time. James Gamble created the Gamble Room, Edward J. Poynter designed the Poynter Room, and William Morris was the brains behind – you guessed it, folks – the Morris Room. Every nook and cranny of the refreshment room is lavish, opulent, and – well… exactly what you’d expect from the V&A, to be quite honest.
Not a whole lot has changed in the past 150 years in terms of the decor of the V&A museum café. It’s still located in the exact same spot that it was built in back in the 1800s. The intricately ornate details and craftmanship are still there to be admired, and plenty of the original features and architecture have stood the test of time. There’s (unsurprisingly) a whole lot of artwork dotted around the space, too – so there’s plenty of gorgeous things to gawp at while you’re sipping, snacking, and socialising.
The cafe serves up a selection of sandwiches, salads, scones, coffees, and cakes. And whilst the prices are perhaps slightly higher than your average coffee shop. Considering the location, the history, and the – quite frankly – immaculate vibes; I’d personally say its worth every penny.
📍You’ll find the V&A café inside the V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL.
🚇 The nearest station is South Kensington.
