London Car Rental  London Hotel Discounts  London Flight Discounts

London Art Galleries
(London, England)



London art galleries display some of the best collections of art in the world, including paintings by many world-famous artists, both modern and more classical. Here are some of the city's top galleries worth visiting.

London Art Galleries: National Gallery - Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 3321
Western European paintings dated between 1260 and 1900 are displayed in the four wings of the National Gallery. Many famous works can be viewed, including paintings by Monet, Renoir, Gaugin, Turner and Picasso. Lesser-known paintings appear in Lower Gallery A.




London Art Galleries: Tate Britain - Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG
Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8008
The Tate Britain houses the national collection of British art from the early 16th century to early 1900s. It was originally founded in 1753 with money from Sir Henry Tate, the man who invented the sugar cube. In addition to housing its permanent collection of British art and its outstanding Turner collection, the gallery also showcases contemporary British artists and continues to sponsor the Turner prize, the country's most prestigious modern art prize. The Tate Britain has a reputation for hosting some of London's best art exhibitions, for which there is usually an admission charge.

London Art Galleries: Tate Modern - Bankside Power Station, London, SE1 9TG
Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8008
The gallery shows international modern art from 1900 to present day - Picasso, Matisse, Dali, and Warhol, plus contemporary works by Gilbert and George. The stunning Turbine Hall runs the length of building, creating a massive exhibition space, designed by Swiss architects Hertzog and de Meuron. There are special exhibitions and also a café with superb views over the River Thames. When this brick building was originally built the town planners insisted that the central chimney should not outreach the top of St. Paul's Cathedral. This actually ended up preventing the sulphurous smoke from escaping into the upper atmosphere and instead it drifted across the River Thames and ironically attacked the cathedral's exterior. Closed in 1980, it was re-opened as the Tate Modern in summer 2000, after a refurbishment cost of £130 million.
Art gallery open: daily
Art gallery admission: free
Nearest tube station: Southwark

London Art Galleries: Photographer's Gallery - 5 Great Newport Street, London, WC2H
Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 1772
This is one of the UK's top venues for contemporary photography. Year-round exhibitions and educational events ensure that a broad range of photographic work is on show, with the emphasis on developments in the art. A bookshop and print sales area is available.
Art gallery open: daily
Art gallery admission: charge
Nearest tube station: Leicester Square

London Art Galleries: National Portrait Gallery - 2 St. Martins Place, London, WC2H 0HE
Tel: +44 (0)20 7839 4342
The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 to collect a pictorial library of famous British men and women and it quickly became the most comprehensive collection of its kind. Famous portraits include musicians, politicians, athletes and members of the royal family.

 
LONDON TRAVEL GUIDE...