Victoria and Albert Museum

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum (commonly abbreviated as V&A) is a museum of decorative arts and design located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1852. The museum was established to commemorate the success of the first World's Fair held in London in 1851. The initial funding for the museum came from the surplus of the 1851 Great Exhibition, and it was organized under the direction of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria.

The Victoria and Albert Museum itself is a renowned example of Victorian architecture, featuring 145 galleries across five major themes: Asia, Europe, Materials and Techniques, Modern, and Special Exhibitions. The exhibition space spans four floors. The ground floor houses historical artifacts from various countries including Islamic art, India, China, Japan, and Korea. Its collection of Indian artifacts is said to be the largest in the world, while Korean artifacts date back as early as 300 AD.

Known as the world’s most exquisite museum of decorative arts, the Victoria and Albert Museum boasts an extensive collection of 5 million items. This free museum, which showcases treasures from around the globe, is often referred to as a temple of artistic craftsmanship. If you were to line up all the galleries end to end, they would stretch for nearly 13 kilometers. The museum holds the world’s largest collection of decorative art and British sculpture, offering a dazzling array of exhibits ranging from 17th-century fashion trends to stained glass pieces and medieval treasures. Visitors will undoubtedly marvel at the great achievements of human civilization from around the world.

Victoria and Albert Museum

Must-visit reason: The world’s most exquisite museum of decorative arts

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Britain

Province/State where the attraction is located: Greater London

City where the attraction is located: London