Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road Kensington London SW7 2RL
The V&A truly is the world's greatest museum of art and design and is home to literally thousands of inspirational objects. The museum's treasures include artefacts from all eras and virtually every corner of the globe, but far from being a confused mess of disparate items, the permanent collection divides easily into manageable galleries dedicated to specific areas and disciplines. The Islamic Middle East and South Asia galleries are particularly worth a visit, and anyone with an interest in British history and culture will enjoy the British Galleries. Modern art enthusiasts should make time for the 20th century gallery, while specific interests, such as fashion, metalware or tapestry, also get their own gallery. Temporary exhibitions are designed to complement the museum's permanent collection, and often look in depth at a particular subject, such as photography or architecture.