Museums and walking tours (up to 4 hours)
Museums
British Museum
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One of the oldest museums in the world, it was founded in 1753. Its many collections span tens of thousands of years, the best known probably being the Egyptian collection, with its famous mummies, and the sculptures of the Parthenon from Ancient Greece. Other important exhibits are the monumental statues from the Ancient Near East, the Sutton Hoo Ship Burial, and the Benin bronzes just to mention a few. The architectural highlight is the modern Great Court with the Reading Room at its centre. Why not take a highlight tour and explore these treasures?
National Gallery
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An outstanding collection of Old Masters from the early Renaissance to 1900, the National Gallery was founded with the purchase of a private collection in 1824. This classical building on Trafalgar Square has paintings by most of the famous artists of European painting ranging from Titian, Rafael, Holbein, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, Velasquez all the way to the French impressionists, not to mention the English painters Gainsborough, Constable, and of course Turner. If you are an art lover, come and have a look at this most famous of collections.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The world’s largest collection of decorative and applied arts, the V&A’s exhibits cover most aspects of not only European, but also world culture and art history. Highlights are the British Galleries, the Raphael Cartoons, the Sculpture Courts, the dress collection, the glass, jewellery, silver and ceramics exhibitions, and the Asian and Islamic collections, just to mention a few. Tell me what interests you and you will definitely have a great time!
Tate Britain
This major art gallery celebrates British art from the 16th century to the present day and includes works by Reynolds, and Gainsborough, the famous 18th century portrait painters, and a collection of works by the Pre-Raphaelite painters of the Victorian era. The 20th century is represented by Stanley Spencer, Francis Bacon, more recently David Hockney, and an outstanding collection of sculpture. The famous Clore Gallery, is the home of the magnificent collection of works by the famous English artist Turner, who in his bequest left all his life’s work to the nation.
Tate Modern
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This spectacular museum of modern and contemporary international art from 1900 to the present has its home in the decommissioned Bankside Power Station. Its vast Turbine Hall is used for large-scale temporary installations, and its permanent collection has works by giants of modern art like Picasso, Dali, Braque, Mondrian, Matisse, Andy Warhol, Duchamp, and Mark Rothko, just to name a few of the myriad of artists. If you are a lover of modern art, this is a MUST!
Wallace Collection
The once private collection of paintings, furniture and decorative arts in Hertford House, the main London residence of the Marquesses of Hertford is a remarkable alternative to the large public museums and galleries of London. Still retaining much of the atmosphere of a grand aristocratic residence, its central courtyard has an elegantly glazed roof where lunch or afternoon tea is a superb experience. The collection ranks among the best of French art of the 18th century outside Paris and includes works by Boucher, Fragonard and Poussin. 17th century Dutch paintings, French furniture and Sevres porcelain are some of the other highlights.
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
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This most authentic recreation of Shakespeare’s theatre is made from materials used in the 16th century and is open to the elements; hence the theatre operates only in the summer. The wooden beams and the thatched roof take you back to Shakespeare’s time and to complete the experience, you can take a tour of the theatre to see and hear how it would have worked in the 16th century.
There is a host of other fascinating museums that might interest you
Apsley House – Wellington Museum in the Duke’s grand London home
Clink Prison Museum – History of painful punishment told by inmates
Cabinet War Rooms – Underground bunker from which Churchill directed Britain’s war effort
Design Museum – Fashion, furniture, architecture with some iconic designer items
Dickens House Museum – Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby were written here
Eltham Palace – Art Deco mansion with a medieval Great Hall set in superb 1930-ies gardens
Geffrye Museum – English domestic interiors
Golden Hinde – Full size replica of Sir Frances Drake’s ship, that sailed around the world in 1577
HMS Belfast – floating museum on World War II battle cruiser
The Hunterian – Part of the Royal College of Surgeons with an unusual but extremely interesting museum
Kenwood House – Superb art collection of Old Masters set in magnificent private mansion
The London Dungeon – Scary 17th century experience …
Madame Tussaud’s waxworks– world famous collection of celebrities
The Old Operating Theatre – 19th century surgery – Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace – Collection of royal coaches used on state
occasions
Sherlock Holmes Museum – Home of the fictional detective furnished exactly as described in his books
Sir John Soane Museum– Eclectic collection of artefacts and treasures from around the world
Just to name a few. Please enquire and I can put together a personalised tour for YOU.
Walking tours
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City of London
Come and discover this most unusual area of London, where 2000 years of history is condensed into 1 square mile! Walk the hidden alleys and secret gardens, look up at the most amazing modern architecture of the Gherkin or Lloyds Insurance, have a stop in Leadenhall Market and you will get a history lesson in a nutshell. And don’t forget, this is one of the main financial centres of the world!
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Westminster
Have a close-up look at some of the famous sights, like Big Ben, Downing Street, St James’ Palace, admire the shop windows of the 18th century Burlington Arcade. Walk past the old gentleman’s clubs and stop at the oldest wine merchants in London to see what you think about their selection and prices! Finish off in elegant Bond Street or walk to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard.
Literary Walk
Follow in the footsteps of the famous writers who have lived, worked and been inspired in London! From Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to Harry Potter via Dickens and the wonderful reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. You might like to make a day of it and also visit the only surviving London home of Dickens, now a museum, and the original manuscript collection in the British Library.
Legal London and St Paul’s Cathedral
Have a walk in the Temple area and see two of the four ancient Inns of Court where barristers first train and then practise. The famous Middle Temple Hall with its hammerbeam roof from Shakespeare’s time is where his Twelfth Night was first performed. The maze of lanes and courtyards has often been used for filming. Temple Church with its most unusual medieval architecture features in ‘The Da Vinci Code’.
St Paul’s Cathedral, one of the famous landmarks of London, is Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece and if you climb to the top you will be rewarded with a fabulous view of the city.
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Kensington and Chelsea
Walk around the hidden back streets with their pretty mews houses, look at the homes of some of the famous writers, artists and hear their stories. Stop at Leighton House to see the tiled Arab Hall with its fountain, and end up at Kensington Palace, the former home of the Princess of Wales. Alternatively, experience the buzz of the trendy Kings Road shopping, or visit Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club.
