Victoria and Albert (V & A) Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum (or V & A as everyone calls it) was originally founded in 1852 to inspire and educate British designers and manufacturers. Today it houses over 4 million items spanning centuries and hundreds of cultures. The stunning collection covers European, Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Islamic artefacts ranging from ceramics, glass, metalwork and sculpture to costume, armour, weaponry and furniture. Among the museum's highlights are the dress collection which spans the 17th century to present day haute-couture; and the four-poster, Jacobean Great Bed of Ware, immortalized by Shakespeare in 'Twelfth Night'. Galleries and facilities within the museum include the Theatre & Performance Galleries, the Sackler Centre for Arts Education and the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries (open 2nd December 2009). In addition, the British galleries showcase British art and design from 1500 to 1900, and visitors can see the first-ever English fork made in 1632, and learn how women in extravagant hooped skirts climbed in and out of carriages... gracefully. Temporary exhibitons range from dresses worn by Kylie to the Magnificence of the Tsars testify to the wide ranging appeal of the V & A. The building itself - a mix of Victorian and Edwardian design - also presents a truly formidable display. The two halls (Cast Courts), in particular, form a major focal point for the gallery - with their high glass roof, elevated corridors and walkways.