The Victoria & Albert Museum, known as the V&A, has the world's greatest collection of fine and applied arts.

Founded in 1852 due to the success of the Great Exhibition, the museum has been housed in Aston Webb's grand building since 1909. The building has a impressive facade and main entrance. As the museum grew new buildings were erected when needed. Many of these buildings were intended to be semi-permanent exhibition halls but all have survived and represent one of the finest groups of Victorian buildings in the country.

The V&A has around four million exhibits from all periods and areas of the world. Displays include sculpture, jewellery, enamels, silver, miniatures, water-colours, pottery, glass, furniture, weapons, musical instruments and costume. The 145 of galleries cover ten acres and are spread over four floors.

The Art and Design galleries are arranged by themes and by place and date, for example the Materials & Techniques galleries are arranged by the type of material.

The six-storey Henry Cole Wing holds the V&A's collection of paintings, drawings and prints. In 2001 the restored British Galleries reopened to the public. These cover British art and design from 1500 - 1900 and include James II's wedding suit and the Great Bed of Ware.

The V&A, which held its first photographic exhibition in 1858, is also the home of the National Collection of Art of Photography. The Canon Photography Gallery has regularly changing displays.

Daniel Libeskind's controversial eight-storey ceramic 'Spiral' extension to the V&A is due to be completed in 2004.

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