Young V&A museum opening after £13m revamp

Formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood, the Young V&A will open on Saturday after being closed for three years.

The free museum features over 2,000 objects dating from 2300BC to today across three new galleries - Play, Imagine and Design.

The site in Bethnal Green in east London, which dates back to 1872, caters for children up to age 14.

Director of the V&A Tristram Hunt said: "The V&A believes in the transformative power of creativity, and it's critical we work to support and develop the next creative generation.

"The optimistic and transformative power of creativity radiates through Young V&A and we cannot wait to unleash it upon our teenagers to toddlers."

The museum has a range of of zones that include an open design studio, a games design space for teenagers and an interactive Minecraft installation in the Play zone.

Here, it's perfectly acceptable to crawl across the (beautifully renovated 19th Century mosaic) floor - or trot from one display to another dangling your toy bunny.

In the Q&A at the revamped, renamed Young V&A, one child asked, "What is there to play with?" Well, lots, actually - a whole section dedicated to it.

Even the teenagers dropped their guard and had a bit of fun.

There are over 2000 artefacts to spark nostalgia among the grownups or conjure creative thoughts among the young - with curious juxtapositions: a 16th Century elephant sculpture from India - right next to a Paddington Bear and Spice Girls figurines.

A child skipped happily back into the bright, welcoming courtyard, her mum reassuring her, "Of course we'll be back - it's free so we can come as much as we want!"

A programme of free events and family-friendly exhibitions will run throughout the year.

The first exhibition, Japan: Myths to Manga, will open on 14 October and takes viewers on a journey through Japanese history to explore how landscape and folklore have influenced popular culture, technology, and design.

-bbc