Groups and tours

For more information or to book a group or tour, call 020 8983 5205 or email mocbookings@vam.ac.uk.

If you are planning a visit for a group of 10 people or more, please let us know in advance. To ensure maximum enjoyment,

Talks for students

A selection of talks, led by a member of our education team, are available for student (post 16) groups studying CACHE, history, post-graduate teacher training and NQTs. Sessions can be booked on the following themes: Childcare and the Victorian Nursery (30 minutes); Children in Sickness and Health (30 or 60 minutes); How Children Learn in Museums (90 minutes); and Learning Outside the Classroom (30 minutes). Talks cost £40 to £95, depending on the length of the talk. For more information email c.bloore@vam.ac.uk.

Adult tours

A range of guided tours for adult groups are available, each taking a more in-depth look at a particular theme related to childhood. 

• Available Monday-Friday, 14.30-17.30 or Saturday and Sunday, 10.15-12.15
• 60 minutes (unless otherwise stated)
• £65 for a maximum of 15 people
• All tours must be booked in advance, all bookings will receive a letter of confirmation
• Bookings cancelled with less than 10 working days notice will be charged in full

Themes

Treasures of the Museum

A guided tour of the top ten objects in the Museum's collection as selected by the curatorial team. The must-see objects include an ancient Egyptian paddle doll from approx. 1,300 BC, a 17th century Nuremberg dolls' house and an early 18th century child's wardrobe designed in the style of Kew Palace. The tour includes a talk on the history of the Museum, which charts it's opening in 1872 up to the present day.

Toys from around the World

Find out some surprising facts about the origins of some of the world's most famous toys and games, including Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly and Lego. Explore handmade toys made by African children and hear the curious tale of an 18th century Venetian puppet theatre.

The Victorian Child at Home

During Queen Victoria's 64-year reign, enormous changes occurred in the lives of children, brought on by new education and labour laws. The Victorian Child at Home compares the lives of children from the early Victorian period to those of the late Victorian period, with reference to changes in fashion, furniture, toys and games. The Museum's stunning dolls' house collection also provides a fascinating insight into the lives of the growing middle classes during this period.

The Royal Connection

The Museum has had a close association with the royal family ever since the Prince and Princess of Wales attended it's opening in 1872. Some of the star objects discussed in The Royal Connection include a dolls' house decorated by Queen Mary - the wife of King George V - and a wax doll of Queen Victoria's son, Arthur. Hear the strange history of The Old Pretender doll and find out more about the story behind the Museum's 17th century rocking horse, thought to have belonged to King Charles I.

Childhood Past and Present

Childhood is universal, and yet no two childhoods are the same. Family life, education, wealth, war, health and cultural influences shape a child's experiences. Childhood Past and Present looks at ten iconic objects related to British childhood, spanning 300 years up to the present day, from 18th century swaddling bands to 21st century computer games.