The Victoria and Albert Museum was established in 1852 with Queen Victoria laying the foundation stone to a new building in 1899. The most recent addition to the site was the Exhibition Road Quarter, completed in 2017. Its collection is made up of ceramics, furniture, fashion, sculpture, paintings from across the world.
The building is made up of long corridors, lofty halls and exhibition spaces spread over six levels. Period rooms and original features include Victorian refreshment rooms (the first museum restaurant in the world!), some grand staircases including a ceramic one, two cast courts, mosaic floors, wood-panelled library, balconies and lecture theatre. The museum remains a primarily Victorian building with some modern additions. The landscaped garden with a fountain has an Italianate feel to it. The roof space and its domes provide a dramatic skyline. The Central Hall has been transformed into a light space with large transparent, glass display cabinets. This shop can be used for filming out of hours. There is also the basement with corridors and staircases available.