The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad City Museum (formerly the Victoria and Albert Museum) in Byculla is Mumbai's oldest museum, founded in 1872 and housed in a beautifully restored Indo-Saracenic building. After decades of neglect, the museum was exhaustively restored by the Jamshed Bhabha Trust and reopened in 2008 to widespread acclaim. It now presents the history of Mumbai from its origins as seven islands through the Mughal, Portuguese, and British periods.
The collection includes maps, photographs, models, and artefacts that tell the city's remarkable story. The building's ornamental cast-iron columns, painted ceilings, and coloured tile floors are as remarkable as the exhibits. The adjoining Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan and Zoo is the city's oldest zoo. The museum is closed on Wednesdays.