I’ve been fascinated by Ancient Egypt since I was a child myself, from the myths to the mysteries of hieroglyphics, so what better choice for the new Young V&A exhibition – and no surprise I was first through the door to write this Making Egypt review.
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Invited along for a sneak peek before the exhibition opens to the public, I quickly discovered it was perfect to indulge my own inner child as well as having plenty to keep older kids, teens and adults interested.
With a mix of information about ancient Egypt and displays on the way it has influenced modern culture, art and design, the big focus is on creativity, including storytelling and creative works from comics and movies to Minecraft, Lego and fashion.
There are also plenty of chances for kids to get hands on, with lots of interactive displays, activities and audio too.
It’s all designed to appeal to different ages too, with a trail for younger kids, opportunities to colour and draw, encouragement to roar like a hippo and clues on how to read hieroglyphics.
But there’s just as much to get older kids thinking – asking if emojis could be a modern version of language without words, learning how ancient symbols are being used during modern protests, and marvelling at the age of some of the pieces, many of which date back thousands of years.
Around 80% of the exhibits are from the V&A’s collection, with some of the pieces on display for the first time here.
The Making Egypt exhibition takes you on a series of journeys, starting with a voyage along the banks of the Nile, but also through time and mythology as you go, with the exhibition’s three rooms themed around storytelling, communication and making.
From the start, you’re introduced to various Ancient Egyptian gods, including a challenge to spot all the various pieces of Osiris’s body, linked to the story of his fight with his brother Seth.
But you can also compare creation myths, with the Ancient Egyptians believing several different things, as well as a chance to sit down and listen to some of the stories.
Along the way, there’s information on the various animal forms the gods took or which symbolised them, plus some quirky questions to keep everyone engaged – would you rather roll the sun over the sky or be a dung beetle rolling a ball of poo each day? Tricky…
And complementing the information about the ancient world and beliefs, are displays and items showing how they still influence us today, including films including The Mummy and Black Adam, and a string of comics with plots using elements from Ancient Egyptian myth.
It’s also a great opportunity to see how modern Egyptian makers are also still drawing their own creative inspiration from their country’s ancient past.
The Making Egypt exhibition includes jewellery inspired by traditional symbols such as lotus flowers, next to original examples, and fashion using designs such as the Eye of Horus.
Plus kids (and adults!) are encouraged to try their own hand at drawing and designing, with examples of how artists would have used grids to create their pieces, as well as practising with sketches which still survive today.
Of course, there’s not just artwork – ask any budding Egyptologist what they know about Ancient Egypt and they’ll almost certainly mention hieroglyphics.
A mystery for centuries as people tried to work out what the symbols meant, there are tips on how to read them, how the system of writing worked and plenty of interactive displays where you can try your own hand at translating.
The room is also home to one of the oldest artefacts in the exhibition, the astonishing and intricate inner sarcophagus of Princess Sopdet-em-haawt, over 5,500 years old.
But there’s also more to get your thinking, including the symbolism of everything from different colours – and information on how they would have been made – to grave goods buried with the rich and influential.
A blue faience ‘shabti’, one of the figures designed to symbolise workers in the afterlife is displayed next to a similarly blue plastic robot to get kids thinking about whether our views on help around the house might not be too far away from the people who lived millennia ago.
In the next room, which focuses on Making, there’s another link from past to present with a series of ‘Nu-shabti’, udpated versions of the statues created by modern-day artist Zahed Tajeddin, who asks the question of what these workers might do if they woke up today, to find no-one left to work for?
Instead of their original purpose, they’ve been placed at a series of locations, enjoying a bit of downtime by going sightseeing and shopping, but also joining in protests.
The exhibition finishes with some final chances to get hands on – and a few modern ways likely to appeal to kids feeling inspired by Ancient Egypt.
Alongside touchable carvings letting visitors feel the difference between raised and sunken carvings, and a table allowing you to design your own amulet, there’s also a Lego pyramid and a display showing how people have built pyramids in Minecraft.
A perfect example of the museum’s focus on the important of learning through doing – and why interactive definitely doesn’t always need to be digital.
Easily one of my favourite exhibitions I’ve seen recently (and not just because I’m already an Ancient Egypt fan), this is so well designed for kids of all ages.
There’s plenty that will capture the attention of even younger visitors, but lots to get older kids and teens thinking, while it’s packed with information and some astonishing historic artefacts, but also very accessible for those who might normally prefer Lego, Minecraft, movies and graphic novels over museum visits.
Young V&A Making Egypt review: Need to know
The exhibition runs from February 15 until November 2, 2025. It’s free for kids aged under four, otherwise tickets cost £10 per person, allowing unlimited visits until the end of the run.
Prebooking tickets for Making Egypt is advised for weekends and school holidays in particular. Members don’t to book and can enter for free.
The exhibition is aimed principally at kids aged 8-12, but there is something for all ages, including the Osiris trail (which I saw completed by a three-year-old) and drawing/creative activities like making an amulet, which great for younger kids but equally tempting for their parents!
Entry to the Young V&A Museum, a few minutes from Bethnal Green underground station, is free for all ages and you don’t need to prebook tickets. Parking nearby is very limited but there are also buses stopping near the museum, as well as overground trains – find out how to get to the museum here.
There’s a cafe in the main hall, with highchairs, bottle-warming facilities and a microwave if you want to bring your own food, as well as lunchtime meal boxes for kids (and some very good cake and coffee for adults). You can also bring your own packed lunch to eat in the Town Square area or the Museum gardens next door if the weather’s good.
There is also a buggy park just inside the main doors, as well as 24 free storage lockers, large enough to fit a cabin bag (there’s no space for large luggage, which cannot be brought inside the museum).
You’ll also find baby changing in both male and female toilets and if you prefer privacy to breastfeed, you can use the Reading Room (or Community Room during weekends and school holidays), although breastfeeding is welcome in all areas of the museum.
Disclosure: My entry to the write this Making Egypt exhibition review was free but all opinions and lifelong fascination with Ancient Egypt are my own. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Images copyright MummyTravels
