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Somerset House, The Strand, WC2R 0RN, Tel: 020 7873 2526, Website: www.courtauld.ac.uk, Open daily 10am-6pm
(last admission 5.15pm), Admission: £5 adults, £4 concessions (over 60s, part
time students), Free admission for Under 18s, full time UK students, staff of UK
universities, registered unwaged, Free Admission on Mondays from 10am until 2pm (excluding Public Holidays), Tube:
Temple/Charing Cross,
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Housed in the magnificent riverside mansion of Somerset House, The Courtauld Institute displays
major Italian impressionist and post-impressionist paintings, along with works by revered artists
such as Van Gogh, Rubens, Monet and Cézanne.
Founded by textile businessman Samuel Courtauld in 1931, the Institute is part of the University of
London. As such, it not only plays host to temporary exhibitions, but holds lectures, conferences
and workshops. Moreover, the building also houses a photographic library and more contemporary art
in the East Wing Collection. Not to be missed. London
Pass Accepted Here.
County Hall Gallery (Dalí Universe and
Picasso 'Art of a Genius')
Riverside Building, County Hall, SE1 7PD, Tel: 020 7620 2720, Website: www.daliuniverse.com, Open daily:
10am-6:30pm, Admission: £12 adults, £10 concessions, £8 children
8-16, £5 children 4-7, children under 4 free, Tube: Waterloo/Westminster,
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Comprising of a permanent collection dedicated to the work of Catalan artist Salvador Dalí
(1904-1989), arguably the most famous work displayed here is the painting for Alfred Hitchcock's
Spellbound movie (1945). However, the gallery also showcases sculptures, bronzes, furniture
(including a copy of the Mae West 'lips' sofa) and jewellery by the artist. With over 500 works on
display (many of them from illustrated books) the exhibition gives good insight into the creative
genius of Dalí, although his greatest works are still to be found overseas in the Figueras
Museum (Spain) and the US (St. Petersburg, Florida).
In addition, the gallery has recently expanded to include works by
Pablo Picasso, namely one hundred rare and unseen pieces that span a thirty year period of
the artist's career. The artworks include etchings, ceramics, tapestries and monochrome
images of Picasso, with the latter being captured by Andre Villars, one of the artists
favourite photographers.
Dulwich Picture Gallery
Gallery Road, Dulwich Village, SE21 7AD, Tel: 020 8693 5254, Website: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk, Open: 10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 11am-5pm Sat, Sun,
Closed Good Friday, 1 Jan, 24-26 Dec, Admission (Free entry on Fridays): £4 adults, £3
senior citizens, concessions free, Nearest railway station: West/North Dulwich,
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As the country's oldest public picture gallery, the Dulwich collection is housed in a
beautifully designed 19th-century building by Sir John Soane. Bathed in natural light from its many
skylights, the gallery has been further enhanced by the addition of extra temporary exhibition
space, educational facilities and the Picture Gallery Café.
Boasting a superb collection of old masters paintings, Dulwich's permanent displays include works
by Rubens, Canaletto, Rembrandt, Claude, Poussin, Murillo, Watteau and Gainsborough. Also on site
is the mausoleum to Bourgeouis and the Desefans family who founded the gallery's original
collection.
39a Canonbury Square, N1 2AN, Tel: 020 7704 9522, Website: www.estorickcollection.com, Open:
11am-6pm Wed-Sat, noon-5pm Sun, Closed Mon/Tue, Admission: £3.50 adults, £2.50
concessions, Free to school children and students with valid NUS ID card. Admission to café
and shop free, Tube: Highbury & Islington,
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Housed in Northampton Lodge - a listed Georgian building - the Estorick collection displays
mainly Futurist Italian art from the likes of Russolo, Balla and Soffici, along with more
traditional works from Modigliani.
The museum's founder Eric Estorick (1913-1993) was actually an American writer and sociologist who,
having married Salome Dessau (the daughter of a Nottingham based textile mogul) frequently
travelled to Italy to acquire important works of art during the 1940s and 50s.
As well as the exhibition itself, there's also a library holding books on Italian art and a decent
café (with terrace attached).
82 Kingsland Road, E2 8DP, Tel: 020 7920 7777, Website: www.flowerseast.com, Open: 10am-6pm Tue-Sat,
Tube: Old Street,
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A comprehensive and likeable gallery which extols the virtues of British abstract and figurative
artists, as well as housing contemporary prints at Flowers Graphics (on the gallery's first floor).
With over 50 artists on their books, the gallery holds regular exhibitions to promote both young
and established home grown talent.
Frith Street Gallery
59-60 Frith St, W1D 3JJ, Tel: 020 7494 1550, Website: www.frithstreetgallery.com, Open:
10am-6pm Tue-Friday, 11am-4pm Sat, Tube: Tottenham Court
Road,
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As well as featuring the work of Turner Prize nominees, The Frith Street Gallery also runs regular
exhibitions covering modern works in the fields of painting, photography, sculpture and film/video.
Most of the artists are home-grown, although both Thomas Schutte and Bernard Frize have had solo
works displayed here in recent years.
South Bank Centre, Belvedere Rd, SE1 8XX, Tel: 020 7960 4242,
Website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/visual-arts, Open daily 10am–6pm,
Late nights Tuesday and Wednesday until 8pm, Admission charges vary according to
exhibition, Tube: Embankment/Waterloo,
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While admission charges at the Hayward are higher than most other galleries in London, it
remains one of the city's most accessible and important contemporary galleries. As well as
housing touring exhibitions from leading names in the visual arts field, it also serves as
a platform for emerging art and young artists.
ICA Gallery
Nash House, The Mall, SW1Y 5AH, Tel: 020 7930 3647, Website: www.ica.org.uk, Open: noon-10.30pm Mon, noon-1am
Tue-Sat, noon-11pm Sun, Admission: Day membership £1.50 on weekdays (£2.50
weekends), cinema screenings £4.50
adults, £3.50 concessions, Tube: Charing Cross/Piccadilly Circus,
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Promoting both young and established artists, the ICA is one of London's trendier galleries,
benefiting also from an in-house cinema and bar. Programming tends to favour British artists,
although US and European art/film is also well-represented.
Kenwood House, Hampstead Lane, NW3 7JR, Tel: 020 8348 1286,
Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk,
Open: 11am-5pm
daily (1 Apr-31 October), 11am-4pm (1 Nov-20 Mar),
Admission free, Tube: Archway/Golders Green,
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Housed in a sumptuous 18th-century mansion, the late Earl of Iveagh's superb collection of
paintings is a "must-see" for art lovers. With a lovely Hampstead setting, the display of major
works from renowned artists such as Turner, Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Reynolds is further
enhanced by the ornate period interiors of Kenwood House. Remodelled by Robert Adam for the Lord
Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield in 1765, the mansion boasts a spectacular library as well as
extensive (and well-kept) grounds. Following the Earl of Iveagh's death in 1928, both estate and
art collection were bequeathed to the nation for public use.
12 Holland Park Road, W14 8LZ, Tel: 020 7602 3316, Tel: 020 7602 3316,
Website: www.rbkc.gov.uk,
Open daily (except Tue) 11am-5:30pm, Closed 25-26 Dec, Admission free, Tube: High Street Kensington,
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As the former home of Victorian artist Frederic Leighton (1830-1896), the house is not only a
fascinating insight into his own work, but a wonderfully extravagant building in its own right.
Taking inspiration from his journeys overseas, Leighton decorated the sumptuous Arab Hall with
mosaics and Eastern influenced latticework, as well as installing a marble fountain! Home also to
important works by John Everett Millais, George Frederick Watts and Edward Burne-Jones, Leighton
House provides an audio tour of its permanent collection, while temporary programmes are held here
too.
52-54 Bell Street, NW1 5DA, Tel: 020 7724 7124, Website: www.lisson.co.uk, Open: 10am-6pm Mon-Fri,
midday-5pm Sat, Tube: Edgware Road,
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An important private London gallery which features contemporary art and sculpture from Britain and
abroad. Represents over 30 artists, also holding temporary exhibitions for the likes of Anish
Kapoor, Dan Graham and Simon Patterson.
Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN, Tel: 020 7747 2885, Website: www.nationalgallery.org.uk, Open Daily
10 am to 6 pm (Wed until 9pm), Closed 24-26 Dec, 1 Jan, Tube: Charing Cross/Leicester
Square,
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Founded in 1824, following the British Government's acquisition of 38 major works, the National
Gallery has gone on to become a world-class collection of Western European art. Covering the period
from 1260 to 1900, paintings are arranged chronologically with early works (including Leonardo da
Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks) displayed in the modern Sainsbury's Wing. As rooms in the gallery are
clearly labelled, it's easy to find a particular painting such as Botticelli's Venus and Mars (room
58) and Raphael's St Catherine of Alexandria (room 60).
In the main building, revered masters such as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Rubens, Turner and
Caravaggio are featured, while more recent works by Van Gogh and Picasso can also be found in rooms
45 and 46 (despite some being painted after 1900).
What's more, thanks to a well-stocked gift-shop it's possible to pick up prints of your favourite
paintings, along with classical art books, multimedia CDs and more general publications.
Wholeheartedly recommended.
National Portrait Gallery
2 St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE, Tel:
020 7306 0055, Website: www.npg.org.uk,
10am-6pm Mon-Wed, 10am-9pm Thu-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat-Sun, Closed 1 January, 24-26 December, Admission
free, Tube: Leicester Square/Charing
Cross,
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Although arguably less of a "must see" visit than London's National Gallery, the world's largest
portrait collection does boast some fascinating exhibits which, if nothing else, provide good
insight into Britain's "movers and shakers" over the centuries. Along with paintings covering the
Tudor period (Henry VIII, Wolsey, Shakespeare etc.) the gallery includes historical figures from
Georgian and Victorian England, as well as contemporary portraits (and photographs) from the 20th
century. With special exhibitions held throughout the year, the National Portrait Gallery makes for
a worthwhile visit, although if you're pushed for time we'd recommend the National Gallery, Hayward
and Tate Modern first. London
Pass Accepted Here.
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