By the looks of things, the V&A is going to present an entirely new (and giant) way of showing off historic and cultural items at their brand-new East London Storehouse, which now has an official opening date: May 31, 2025.
Over half a million works across every creative discipline will open up at the V&A East Storehousewhere one minute you could be checking out the Glastonbury Festival archive to Sex Pistols items before checking out Roman frescoes and eyeing up Samurai swords.
V&A East Storehouse
Like its name suggests , the layout of the free space is very much like a storage space, just not like one you will have seen before. Instead of the usual clutter it gives off a feeling of perfectly organised, succinct chaos. There are four floors in an open space, that will allow visitors to head between one discipline to the next, and view the mini-curated displays that are planned. Taking up the space of 30+ basketball courts, it’s instantly a must-visit to gaze at one of 250,000 objects, 350,000 library books and almost 1,000 archives.
One of the main attractions that is coming to the V&A East Storehouse in its early days is the David Bowie Centre, which is set to welcome in visitors for a glimpse at the items in the Starman’s archive from September 13. But once you’re done looking at the world of Ziggy, you’ll also be able to clap eyes with PJ Harvey and Elton John’s costumes; Samurai swords; vintage football shirts; Roman frescoes; Dior and Schiaparelli haute couture; Mid-Century furniture; and much more.
In a forward-thinking new system, the V&A storehouse will give anyone the ability to use their seven-day-a-week Order An Object servicewhich will allow people to book to see any item they would like on any day they wish, meaning everyone has access to the space. It’s described as a working store space that lets users also delve into the meaning behind collecting items and how they are cared for – all in a relaxed space that holds creative workshops, events, and activities all year round.
Speaking on the opening, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The opening of V&A East Storehouse next year will be a wonderful addition to our capital’s cultural landscape. The working store will offer Londoners and visitors unprecedented free access to a wide variety of creative works, from Roman artefacts to modern-day music archives. It’s another hugely significant moment in the creation of our powerhouse for innovation, creativity and learning at East Bank, as we build a better London for everyone.”
And this is only just the start, with the storehouse being the first of two new V&A East sites. V&A East Museum is due to land in spring 2026, promising a space that works alongside young people and is rooted in the area’s heritage.
V&A East Storehouse is due to open up on May 31, 2025
