Why The V&A
 

When coming to London we often recommend the Victoria and Albert (V&A), so why?

Video: Medieval & Renaissance Galleries - Victoria and Albert Museum

And it's free!

Plus costumes, plus jewelry, plus Asia, plus.... I can easily spend an entire day there and still have loads left to see. It's my favorite rainy day retreat in London.

And don't forget the tea rooms, such beautiful places to eat. The food's not bad either, especially the scones and clotted cream, yum.

https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/a-fir...reshment-rooms
https://www.vam.ac.uk/blog/shop/fit-...-tea-at-the-va

. . . Plus some of the best special exhibitions anywhere

Love love love the V & A. I think when I can enter again I will break down in tears of joy.

Check with the website www.vam.ac.uk about the current entry regulations. It's currently closed under the Tier 4 restrictions. When reopens, you have to book your timed entry online in advance.

Kids like it too.

I grew up on that side of London, and getting the bus up to the V&A was always something to do on a wet day in the school holidays. There's always something you haven't seen before, or something you'd forgotten you'd liked before.

Several years ago I was fascinated by a special exhibit on the history of plywood, a big deal to any woodworker or carpenter. At a museum?, my friends questioned. Too bad they missed it. One caution: The big national museums are indeed free -- for the permanent displays. Special exhibitions often carry an extra charge as hefty as the line-ups. It's all showbiz, you see.

Plus its fabulous gift shop. Plus just that intangible feel of...I don’t know...a fantastic space. With amazing discoveries around every corner.

I’ve been to a lot of museums. All sorts of buildings and exhibits, from all different eras. London is not short on great museums, actually— I’d say it’s one if the best museum destinations in the world. V&A continues to be one of my top three or four, and I agree with Rialto girl—I will absolutely bawl when I can enter it again.

"Plus that intangible feel of..I don't know...a fantastic space." EXACTLY, MarvelousMouse!

"And don't forget the tea rooms, such beautiful places to eat" Absolutely, Thursdaysd!

I told a friend who had only three days in London, "The V&A is my 'boutique museum.' It's full of gems but not overwhelming. I always approach it as I would a glorious patisserie shop in Paris, with plans to choose one or two things today but have an eye on something I'd choose on another visit."

They also have Friday Lates -- a popular free event where you can grab a cocktail, and meander through the museum on Friday nights.