The world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London, will close its Fashion Gallery on May 7, 2025, for a two-year renovation. The project is a collaboration with the iconic British luxury brand Burberry, which has left a lasting mark on UK history. After the revamp, the gallery will be renamed the “Burberry Gallery.” Burberry’s CEO, Joshua Schulman, calls it “a milestone moment for British arts and culture.” When it reopens in 2027, the museum will unveil a collection spanning 500 years of fashion history, featuring exhibits from various brands.
Founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, the V&A boasts an impressive collection—over 2.8 million objects (some estimates say up to 4.5 million)—covering 5,000 years of art, from ancient Egyptian artifacts to cutting-edge modern designs.
Past standout exhibitions include “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” in 2015, brought over from New York’s Metropolitan Museum, and “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” in 2019, one of the most visited exhibitions in V&A history. This year, on April 6, 2025, the museum wrapped up a display of supermodel Naomi Campbell’s personal collection, showcasing iconic looks like her black leopard-print Alaïa bodysuit and the sky-high Vivienne Westwood platforms she famously fell in on the runway.
Before the renovation kicks off, there’s one last chance to visit:
Starting April 12, 2025, the Fashion Gallery will host a Cartier jewelry collection. Tickets cost £27 on weekdays and £29 on weekends.
The museum is located in South Kensington at Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL.
