A wonder (Victoria & Albert)

Member Name: byblox

Product:	Victoria & Albert
Date:	30/09/08 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything

Disadvantages: None

Simply one of the most breath taking collections in the world.

There's no where quite like the V&A, huge and yet intimate, you could easily lose a day here and never even notice. I have loved this place for many years, even though I no longer live anywhere near London, if I wanted to visit any collection I'd go here.

Founded in 1852 in South Kensinton, the collection runs to 4.5 million objects, from entire reconstructed rooms to radios and teapots. The cast gallery is a beautiful place to stop and stare in and it looks just as it did in Victoria's time.

I remember when it was free to get in and felt a little aggrieved when a charge was introduced, it felt a little less 'ours' but I realise that such a wonderous place takes a fortune to run and maintain.

Highlights for me personally include an amazing portrait of a seventeenth century woman exhibited sitting alonside the very jacket she wore in the portrait.

Galleries of glass, silver, costume, jewellery, furniture and sculpture are at every turn. Every period, style and quirk of history is represented.

It is a place that astonishes and always will.

Summary: One of the best museums in the world