Victoria and Albert Museum

Overview

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) is the world's leading museum of art, design, and performance, housing a massive permanent collection of over 2.27 million sweeping objects.

Highlights

• The Cast Courts: Two mind-blowingly massive rooms spectacularly filled with exact 19th-century plaster casts of Europe's greatest monuments, including a full-size replica of Trajan's Column.
• The Fashion Gallery: A unmatched chronological display of incredibly intricate global clothing from the 17th century to modern haute couture.
• The Raphael Cartoons: Seven massive tapestry designs originally painted masterfully by Raphael for the Sistine Chapel.

History

Founded in 1852 to educate British designers and inspire manufacturers after the successful Great Exhibition. It was originally intended to elevate the notoriously low standard of industrial design within the British Empire.

Visitor Tips

• The Courtyard: The lush central John Madejski Garden is a oasis; grab a tea from the historic Morris Room café and sit by the shallow pool.
• Navigation: The museum is notoriously confusing to navigate; grab a physical map instantly upon entry to stop wandering aimlessly.
• Duration: 3–4 hours.