DK Travel : London : Museums & Galleries

Page
1
2

Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace

Established in 1962 to display works from the Royal Collection, this fascinating gallery shows paintings and other pieces from the royal collection.
Royal Academy

The Royal Academy’s continual big-name temporary exhibitions draw the crowds, and it is often necessary to reserve a ticket in advance. The traditional Summer Exhibition, which anyone can apply to enter, is also extremely popular (see Royal Academy of Arts).
Science Museum

This exciting museum traces centuries of scientific and technological development, with impressive and educational displays.
Serpentine Gallery

Major contemporary artists tend to be shown here. Cindy Sherman and Gilbert and George have had recent exhibitions. This is one of London’s most exciting galleries, often transforming its space to suit the work. Installations have been known to spill out into the park – even to become an outside tearoom. Busy on warm weekends.
Tate Britain

The other Tate gallery in London, focusing on work from 1500 to the present, has the best collection of British art in the world.
Tate Modern

Housed in a huge converted power station on the south bank of the Thames, this exciting new gallery covers modern art from 1900 to the present day.
The National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery

Located adjacent to each other at the top of Trafalgar Square, these comprehensive galleries make up the core of Britain’s art collection.
Theatre Museum

Filling the museum’s subterranean galleries, the collection documents the history of British theatre from Shakespeare’s time up until the present, with a wealth of memorabilia, paintings and prints of famous thespians. It also holds educational workshops, events and performances (see Covent Garden).
Victoria and Albert Museum

This museum of decorative arts is one of London’s great pleasures, with 145 astonishingly eclectic galleries. One of the highlights is the huge Fashion Collection, with exhibits dating from 1600 to the present day. The museum also has collections of jewellery, ceramics, metalwork, glass, paintings, prints, sculpture and rooms full of Indian and Far Eastern treasures.
Wallace Collection

This wonderful Victorian mansion belonged to Sir Richard Wallace (1818–90). In 1897, his widow bequeathed the house and their amazing art collection to the nation. Covering two floors, the 25 public rooms are beautifully furnished with one of the best private collections of French 18th-century pictures, porcelain and furniture in the world. The paintings are rich and voluptuous – notable works include Nicolas Poussin’sA Dance to the Music of Time and Frans Hals’The Laughing Cavalier . There are English portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds.