Guest Author - Karyn Johnson

One reason to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum (also known as the V&A) in the South Kensington area of London is that it's the largest museum of decorative arts in the world. It spans over 3,000 years of history and culture with its nearly 150 galleries, which display such items as furniture, ceramics, fashion, glass, paintings, textiles, and architecture. But the V&A doesn't just cover British history - their galleries represent every corner of the world.

The V&A was originally founded as the Museum of Manufactures in 1852. It was moved to its current location in 1857 and then renamed The South Kensington Museum. The museum was renamed the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1899, when Queen Victoria laid the first foundation stone of the current façade.

Britain's imperial conquests have allowed for acquisitions from far-away lands such as India and South East Asia. The V&A has displays of metalwork, woodwork, stone and bronze sculptures, jewelry, and furniture from these areas, as well as art from the Islamic world and East Asia.

If you have a particular interest in British culture, the V&A has the wonderful British Galleries, which cover art and design from 1500-1900. You can see such wonderful historical treasures as the Great Bed of Ware (mentioned in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and Byron's Don Juan), James II's wedding suit, and Henry VIII's writing desk. Wedgwood, Chippendale, Mackintosh, and other great British manufacturers are represented in the galleries. You can also see paintings and books.

The fashion and jewelry exhibits cover couture from the Renaissance through modern day. The displays have such themes as: The Secret History of the Corset, 1960s Fashions and Textiles, Pockets, and Knitting.

The V&A offers something for everyone. With its numerous galleries and the massive scale of its holdings, it's not the type of museum where you can just zip in and out. You need at least several hours to truly savor and enjoy everything it has to offer. There are even areas that children would like, so a trip to the V&A can be a family affair. The museum offers several cafes and baby changing facilities, allowing for breaks when needed. A museum store sells gifts, stationary, and books, so you can take a little bit of the V&A home with you. Your London experience is not complete without a visit to this extraordinary museum.

Hours:
Daily - 10am to 5:45 pm
Wednesdays and last Friday of each month - 10am to 10 pm
Admission is free (except for special exhibitions and events)

For more information about the museum, please visit their website.