Marie Antoinette Style at V&A South Kensington: Complete Guide & Tickets 2025

What is the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition?

Marie Antoinette Style is now on view at the V&A South Kensington (20 September 2025 – 22 March 2026), exploring the French queen’s enduring influence on fashion, interiors and pop culture. With 250 objects from Versailles and global collections, the show offers immersive design, couture pieces and sensory experiences.

About the Exhibition: Marie Antoinette Style

Now open at the V&A South Kensington, Marie Antoinette Style is the first UK exhibition dedicated to the most scrutinised—and stylish—queen in history. Through theatrical staging and a dedicated scent experience that evokes the perfumes of the 18th-century court, the exhibition shows how Marie Antoinette shaped taste in her own time and how her image has been reimagined across more than 250 years of fashion, film, photography and the decorative arts.

The narrative unfolds across four chapters: the origins of the queen’s style (1770–1793); her 19th-century memorialisation and the birth of a style cult; fantasy and escapism from Art Nouveau to Art Deco; and the modern era, where designers and image-makers continue to revisit her unmistakable aesthetic. Expect exceptionally rare personal items—silk slippers, fragments of richly embellished court dress, jewels from her private collection, furnishings bearing her monogram, the dinner service from the Petit Trianon, and intimate pieces from her toilette case—displayed alongside couture and costume by Dior, Chanel, Erdem, Valentino, Moschino and Vivienne Westwood. Screen-used looks from Sofia Coppola’s Academy Award–winning Marie Antoinette (including footwear by Manolo Blahnik) highlight how cinema keeps the myth alive.

For official details and booking, visit the V&A exhibition page. Looking for more seasonal culture picks? Explore our Temporary Exhibitions hub.

Artists and Must-See Works

• Personal treasures: Marie Antoinette’s silk slippers; fragments of court dress; jewellery associated with the queen, including the renowned Sutherland necklace context.
• Petit Trianon & furnishings: Elements of her personal dinner service, porcelain and glassware, plus furniture such as an armchair bearing her monogram.
• Legend & lore: A replica of the Boehmer & Bassenge diamond necklace (the infamous “diamond necklace affair”) appearing in dialogue with V&A holdings.
• Historic couture: 19th-century Worth pieces, Art Nouveau and Art Deco eveningwear by Jeanne Lanvin and Boué Soeurs; photographs by period greats.
• Modern fashion & film: Couture by Dior, Chanel, Erdem, Valentino, Moschino and Vivienne Westwood; shoes by Manolo Blahnik and costumes from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.

Time-saver tip: If you’re short on time, begin with the “Origins” gallery for personal artefacts, then skip ahead to the contemporary couture rooms for the most photogenic fashion moments.

Planning Your Visit: Dates, Tickets & Tips

Now open — from 20 September 2025 until 22 March 2026. Time-slotted entry applies at peak times, so booking ahead remains strongly advised, especially for weekends and school holidays.

• How far in advance should I book? As soon as you’ve set your travel dates. Weekend and holiday slots sell first.
• How long to allow? 75–120 minutes for highlights; 2+ hours if you enjoy reading labels and experiencing the audiovisual and scent elements.
• Best times to visit? Midweek mornings are typically calmer; late Friday openings can be a great alternative.
• Accessibility: The museum provides step-free routes and lifts. Check the V&A website for detailed accessibility information before your visit.

Tickets: From £23 on weekdays and £25 on weekends (subject to availability). Book online in advance via the official page. Entry to the V&A’s permanent collections is free; this temporary exhibition is ticketed.

Why Visit Marie Antoinette Style?

• Once-in-a-generation loans: Rare personal items that have never left Versailles or France until now.
• Fashion meets history: See how an 18th-century queen continues to shape couture, cinema and design.
• Immersive storytelling: Theatrical scenography and a court-inspired scent experience bring the era to life.
• Picture-perfect highlights: From jewel-like accessories to dramatic gowns—photogenic displays (respect gallery rules).

Practical Information (Checklist)

• Dates: 20 September 2025 – 22 March 2026
• Opening Hours: Daily 10:00–17:45; Fridays 10:00–22:00 (check for late-opening variations)
• Location: Galleries 38–39, V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
• Tickets: From £23 (weekdays) / £25 (weekends). Book ahead via the official page.
• Getting There: Tube to South Kensington (Circle, District, Piccadilly). Signed pedestrian route via Exhibition Road; multiple bus routes serve the area.

FAQ

• Is the Marie Antoinette Style exhibition currently open?

  Yes. The exhibition is now open at the V&A South Kensington and runs until 22 March 2026.

• How much are tickets and do I need to book in advance?

  Tickets start at £23 on weekdays and £25 on weekends. Advance online booking is strongly recommended, especially for weekends and holidays.

• What are the must-see highlights?

  Personal items from Versailles (including silk slippers and jewellery), furnishings and tableware from the Petit Trianon, a replica of the famous diamond necklace, and contemporary couture plus film costumes from Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.

• How long should I allow for my visit?

  Plan 75–120 minutes for highlights. Allocate 2+ hours if you want to experience the scent installation and all media elements at a relaxed pace.

• Are guided tours available?

  The V&A does not offer private tours inside this temporary exhibition. However, you can pair your visit with our expert-led tours at other major London museums to build a seamless culture-packed day.

Conclusion

Marie Antoinette Style brings the queen’s charisma, contradictions and couture vividly to life. Now open at the V&A South Kensington, it’s an unmissable journey through beauty, spectacle and influence that still shapes today’s fashion. Planning a culture-first London itinerary? Pair your V&A visit with one of our expert-led museum tours across the city.

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Author: The London Museum Tours Team

This article was curated by the London Museum Tours team. With years of experience guiding visitors through London's permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, our goal is to help you plan the perfect visit.