Annettetx, I think your right about the
British Gallery, but I've heard there are several floors of international rooms that are of interest.

My guidebook says the V&A is a hotch-potch collection. The hands-on stuff might be interesting as long as I don't break anything.

Degas: You can't possibly see the whole V&A (or British for that matter) in one visit. A good strategy is to pick up the free guide as you enter the museum, head back to the restaurant, and over a cuppa or glass of wine, plan out your visit. There are descriptions of each gallery and you can decide which are "Must's". Everyone has different interests - just go to the areas that intrigue you most. One gallery that is a MUST but missed by many because it is off to the left after the main entrance, is the Raphael Cartoons. They will take your breath away.

Re: the V&A - you said you could walk a couple of miles in there - well it's actually 6 miles of displays, so pick what you want to see carefully. It's one of my all time favourites, but you'll hate it if all you see is room after room of silver spoons!

Concentrate on the fashion gallery, the sculpture gallery, the 20th century gallery, the William Morris collection to start with, and anything else that tickles your fancy, but don't daudle else you'll miss the best stuff.

kate and janis, thanks for the reality check. Row after row of solver spoons do get boring real quick.

I'm going to approach it two ways - first as a short intro look (1 hr to 1.5 hrs) as part of a walking tour of the local area and also as a longer, perhaps rainy day activity. Maybe the website will give a good idea of what might most appeal to me.

Mmmmmmmmm..speaking of silver spoons! A visit to Somerset House should be somewhere on your agenda. Beautiful 18th cen building,lovely courtyard fountains, terrace for outdoor dining overlooking the Thames..and that's even before you see the Gilbert collection of the finest silver anywhere! I think the Hermitage rooms were closed for awhile but they might be re-opened and don't forget the Courtauld GAllery there