V&A

The V&A houses one of the world's greatest collections of decorative arts, in such varied fields as ceramics, sculpture, portrait miniatures and photography. Among the highlights are the New British Galleries 1500-1900, which are arranged chronologically to trace the history of British design from the reign of Henry VIII to that of Queen Victoria. The major names of each era are highlighted, from Chippendale to Morris, Adam to Mackintosh. The Dorothy and Michael Hintz galleries, which are part of the museum's ten-year refurbishment plan, house sculptures from the V&A's existing collections and are located by the beautiful Madejski garden. The V&A café is deservedly famous, both for its majestic surrounds and great tea and cakes. The V&A has an extensive programme of talks and family workshops; the monthly Friday Lates are themed around current exhibitions and feature an after-hours opening of the museum with DJs, bars and special events.