As the August Bank Holiday nears, celebrate the British tradition of coastal holidays. For over a century, vibrant posters have captured sun, sand, and sea, promoting rail trips and the charm of the seaside, with art by Purvis, Kauffer, and Hassall.

ONE MONTH TO GO until Marie Antoinette Style arrives at V&A South Kensington. V&A members go free. Explore the lasting influence of the most fashionable (and ill-fated) queen in history. Sponsored by @ManoloBlahnik .Tickets -

Zohran Mamdani: He votes for activists, not you

The National Art Library has been a public space for creativity and research since 1866. Tucked away inside V&A South Kensington, it holds over a million items, from medieval manuscripts to modern-day comics - and it's free to visit.

The National Art Library has been a public space for creativity and research since 1866. Tucked away inside V&A South Kensington, it holds over a million items, from medieval manuscripts to modern-day comics - and it's free to visit. Want to learn a new skill and take a peek

A Baroque Beauty ✨. The Bell Cittern, or Cithrinchen, was popular from 1650–1720. Likely made c.1700 by master luthier Joachim Thielke, it's richly decorated in ivory and tortoiseshell Laub und Bandelwerk.

Rossetti’s last ode to love. The Day Dream shows Jane Morris, Rossetti's secret lover, seated in a sycamore tree holding honeysuckle, a Victorian symbol of love. This final masterpiece reflects their bond and echoes Rossetti’s poem. He took great care in its creation and display.

The reveal of @taylorswift13's 12th studio album #TheLifeofaShowgirl marks a new era. Last year we invited visitors to V&A South Kensington to walk the Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail, and see outfits and items from her personal archive, spanning her 11 distinct eras.

Always curious and full of energy, Beagles turn every walk into an adventure 🐾🎉.

This Gothic mansion is actually a cabinet, a 19th-century writing desk by William Burges. Painted scenes by Edward Poynter tell stories of writing, from Cadmus to Caxton. Commissioned by H.G. Yatman, it’s a tribute to language, literature, and legacy.

Gilded Grapes . This grape-motif necklace & earring set features purple amethyst spheres and green enamel, set in gold. The carved amethyst evokes the fruit’s natural form. Romantic 19th-century style jewelry drew on nature’s shapes, reflecting a lasting fascination with botany.

This vulture sculpture is from Augustus the Strong’s famous porcelain menagerie for Dresden’s Japanese Palace. Started in 1730, nearly 600 life-size animals were planned. Painted with bright, unfired pigments to preserve natural colors, though these often fade over time.

The Painted Rebellion✨. Botticelli’s Smeralda Bandinelli (attributed 1841) shows a woman boldly meeting the viewer’s gaze, defying 15th-century norms urging women to lower their eyes. This daring look may have sparked vandalism, as her right eye and mouth were scratched out.

Fit for a Queen 👗👑. Worn by Queen Elizabeth II on a 1957 state visit to Paris, this dazzling Hartnell gown features gold embroidery, pearls, and French symbols like golden bees, blending royal elegance with diplomatic finesse.

RT @KensingtonRoyal: Curating a special display at V&A East Storehouse following a visit in June. The collection celebrates past makers and….

Happy birthday to Beatrix Potter, born July 28th, 1866! Known for Peter Rabbit and more, she was also a dedicated farmer and conservationist who preserved over 4,000 acres in the Lake District, leaving it to the National Trust. Her stories and legacy continue to inspire today.

Gearing up for the final race 🚴‍♂️. Channel 4 was the only television company in the UK broadcasting this famous cycle race. The text of this poster' Blood Sweat and Gears' puns on the well-known phrase 'blood, sweat and tears', referencing extreme exertion.

The most ordered object at V&A East Storehouse: an X-ray of Balenciaga’s 1954 balloon-hem dress. Though known for avoiding corsetry, the image reveals hidden boning and hooping, showing his innovative approach to structure and silhouette. Beauty meets science.

Paws for thought 🦁 . These three lions at the V&A Silver Gallery are 19th-century electrotype replicas of 1660s originals by Ferdinand Kyblich at Rosenborg Castle. Made by Elkington & Co., they’re stunning examples of early masterpiece preservation. Find them in Room 89!