Victoria and Albert Museum

What to expect

The V&A grew out of the 1850s drive to improve British design, with Prince Albert backing Henry Cole's plans. It opened as the South Kensington Museum, and was renamed in honour of Victoria and Albert at the 1899 foundation stone ceremony. Aston Webb designed the Cromwell Road front, built between 1899 and 1909. Today the collection has about 2.8 million objects in around 145 galleries.

It is a museum you wander rather than rush. You pass from medieval and Renaissance rooms to ceramics, jewellery and sculpture, all in one building. The Cast Courts hold plaster copies of monuments, including a full-size David and Trajan's Column. The Raphael Cartoons hang in the West Hall, and the John Madejski Garden is a calm courtyard to sit in. Some galleries close for rebuilding from time to time, so check before you go.

Don't miss

• The Cast Courts and the full-size David
• The Raphael Cartoons
• The medieval and Renaissance galleries
• The Jewellery Gallery
• The John Madejski Garden

Tips for your visit

• Choose two or three galleries ahead of time, since 145 galleries is too many for one visit.
• Take a break in the garden courtyard.
• Combine it with the Natural History Museum, which is a short walk away.
• Check the website for galleries that are closed for refurbishment.