London Photo Gallery - V&A Museum

London has no shortage of wonderful world-class museums that are free to visit. On a rainy Sunday, I made the trip to South Kensington to enjoy some inspiration.

The V&A Museum's origins go back to the 1851 Great Exhibition. Profits from the event helped fund a district of museums and colleges in South Kensington, with the V&A moving into its present premises in 1857 and later renamed after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

I started my visit from the Exhibition Road entrance with the Buddhist room.

This dharmachakra (wheel of the law) came from Thailand and is believed to date from between the 7th and 9th centuries.

I then headed upstairs to the silver rooms.

A lot of silverware was once used at formal dinners such as a coronation banquet. Food was managed with knives, spoons, and fingers until the fork was introduced from France in the mid 17th century.

Urns to keep water hot for tea and coffee date from the mid 18th century.

The next room had a sacred silver collection for Christian and Jewish faiths.

The National Art Library has an extensive collection on the fine and decorative arts.