Young V&A named family friendly museum of the year

Young V&A has been named the overall winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2024.

The children's museum in Bethnal Green, east London, also won in the Best Large Museum category of the awards, which are run by the charity Kids in Museums.

Young V&A reopened in 2023 after a major redevelopment, co-designed with local children, to transform it from a museum of childhood into a museum “for children”.

Part of the Victoria & Albert Museum family, the institution is dedicated to children from birth to early teens and their families.

The award is chosen by family judges, who visit each shortlisted venue anonymously before deciding the winner. According to Kids in Museums, the judges who visited Young V&A “were blown away by the museum’s overall design, community atmosphere and numerous interactive elements”.

“Judges appreciated how the hands-on experiences allowed kids to learn and have fun simultaneously, with children keen to return to the museum in the future,” said the charity.

“Families also noted the helpfulness of the staff, who encouraged children to ask questions and interact with the exhibits throughout the museum.”

Further awards went to the National Civil War Centre in Newark, which was named Best Small Museum, and Turner Contemporary in Margate, which won in the Best Medium Museum category. The Cooper Gallery in Barnsley was named Most Accessible Museum, while Tees Valley Museums won for Best Museum Youth Group.

The gongs were handed out at a ceremony on 8 October 2024 at Craven Museum in Skipton, the winner of last year's overall award.

Young V&A was also named Art Fund Museum of the Year 2024 in July, making it the first time an institution has won both awards in the same year. It is also the first year since 2013 that a site in the Best Large Museum category has been named the overall award winner.

“Winning the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Award is the most wonderful accolade for Young V&A and we are thrilled to bits,” said Helen Charman, director of the museum's learning and national programmes.

“We set out to create 'the most joyful museum in the world' working to a design brief set by children, who know better than anyone else what a family friendly museum should be. We strive every day to create a museum that is welcoming, fun and accessible for families: a creative haven for all.

“We’re so honoured to have been shortlisted alongside such wonderful museums across the UK and my greatest thanks go to the judging panel, and to Kids in Museums, who do so much to advocate for children, young people and their families in our sector and beyond.”

Alison Bowyer, executive director of Kids in Museums, said: “I'm delighted that families chose Young V&A as the winner of the Family Friendly Museum Award 2024.

“In the way it has built roots in its local community, generously and thoughtfully designed its space and balanced learning and fun, Young V&A shows the way forward for UK museums to be better places for children, young people and families.

“The judges’ praise for the museum's atmosphere, friendly staff and many interactive elements shows the impact of valuing the views of children and families and responding to what they want a museum to look and feel like.”

The Family Friendly Museum Award has been running since 2004 and is currently funded by Arts Council England.