Victoria and Albert Museum - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Holds a collection of over 300,000 items, including famous items as Stephenson's Rocket, Puffing Billy (the oldest surviving steam locomotive), the first jet engine, the Apollo 10 command module, a reconstruction of Francis Crick and James Watson's model of DNA, among many others.

The museum is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 80 million items within five main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, paleontology and zoology. The museum is particularly famous for its exhibition of dinosaur skeletons and ornate architecture, and also for the specimens collected by Charles Darwin.

Largest Royal Park in London, divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water lakes. The park covers 142 hectares (350 acres) and it is a popular spot for demonstrations, parades and other events.

A residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century. Today, the State Rooms are open to the public and displays many paintings and other objects from the Royal Collection.

Symbol and home of the monarchy of the United Kingdom. The palace has 775 rooms, and the garden is the largest private garden in London. The staterooms, used for official and state entertaining, are open to the public each year for most of August and September and on some days in winter and spring.

Institution to to promote the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts through exhibitions, education and debate. The Royal Academy has an important collection of books, archives and works of art accessible for research and display.