The new film "The Young Victoria," in which Emily Blunt brings to life the woman who eventually is symbolic with an age that has continued to influence style and design to this day, is a must-view for travel enthusiasts on many levels. Victoria's long reign and prodigy, nine children and forty-two grandchildren, all married into the courts of Europe, created an impact on the world we know and travel in that world which makes knowing a bit more about her imperative for the discerning traveler.After watching the film I was reminded of one of my favorite museums -- a legacy that Victoria and Albert gave to London and the world-- and free to visit. Unfortunately, the V & A is not typically on the "top" lists created by tour guide writers because London is so chock full of historic sites and places to visit for the whiz-through tourist. But for the more seasoned traveler or second/third time visitor, the Victoria and Albert is definitely worth scheduling some time. It is also a place to explore a particular interest in conjunction with your trip.
Perhaps one of the greatest collections of artifacts of art and design, the Museum houses over 3000 years of items from cultures throughout the world including extensive holdings in architecture, ceramics, fashion, furniture, glass, metalwork, painting, photography, sculpture and textiles.
Highlights of the museum of interest to the travel enthusiast include the Architecture gallery featuring selections from collections of drawings, models, photographs and fragments exploring comparative building strategies from around the world and changing styles. The V&A also owns the most comprehensive collection of ceramics in the world, and is current redisplaying for the first time in 100 years the collection spanning from early Chinese pottery dated 3500 BC to contemporary ceramic art. Incorporating a workshop area where pottery techniques are demonstrated, the new ceramic galleries also allow visitors to make and decorate their own ceramics.
Not to be missed is the fashion and jewelry collection which covers dress from the 17th century to the present day and over 3500 jewels reflecting the splendor of courtly life -- a highlight of which are diamonds worn by Catherine the Great of Russia and tiaras worn the Empress Josephine. The V&A's collection of stained glass spanning periods from 1140 through 1960 is particularly strong in medieval and Renaissance church art. Also demonstrating the focus on this period, the museum's new Medieval and Renaissance Galleries opened in December of 2009 to include Gothic altarpieces, notebooks of Da Vinci and sculpture of many Italian Masters.
Part of coming to London is the theatre experience, and a V&A visit is a great adjunct to a theatrically themed journey. The V&A's Theatre Collections hold the UK's national collection on live performance spanning from Shakespeare's time through today including art, costumes, video recordings, posters, puppets and photographs, theatre programs and other ephemera. Among the Theatre Collection's highlights are over 3500 stage costumes and accessories from the mid-18th century onwards.
In addition to displays from permanent collection, the V&A runs programs of changing exhibitions and displays. Admission , as noted above is free, with some special exhibitions having a separate charge. Open from 10 till 5:45 PM daily, selected galleries remain open until late on the last Friday of the month. This is a fun time to go to have a glass of wine, attend a concert or special gallery talk. Check the schedule at events.
