Victoria and Albert Museum

The story

This branch of the V&A family of museums sets out to champion design and creativity in every form. Galleries are arranged by period and place, from China and Japan to Britain, and the medieval and Renaissance rooms hold altarpieces, crucifixes and vestments. The collection runs from a plaster cast of Trajan's Column and the tapestry cartoons of the Raphael Court to the Safavid Ardabil Carpet of 1539–40, a 1954 Dior evening ensemble and Coco Chanel's costumes for Le Train Bleu. More recent objects include a Progress Pride flag and a 3D-printed Extinction Rebellion woodblock, and ticketed exhibitions run alongside many smaller displays. The building deserves attention in its own right, with intricate tilework, decorated ceilings and a café set in historic rooms. The central courtyard has seating and a pool where children paddle.