The museums in London should be on the top of any traveller’s list. Whether you’re an art lover or not, passing up the chance to see some of the world’s best treasures whilst you’re visiting the city would be a mistake. For all extensive riches they offer, London’s museums are often free to enter, though you should consider picking up a gallery map for around £2 (~3.50 SGD). Visitors are also encouraged to donate and all proceeds collected go directly towards the maintenance of the galleries and exhibits.
Travelling with children is also no big issue. A trip to the museum is a great family activity, and parents often bring their children along in order to expose them to art from a young age.
The British Museum
As London’s first national museum for the public, the British Museum is a must-see. The museum offers not only conventional art but a wide range of ancient artefacts amassed by English explorers from all over the globe. With 50,000 objects on display, and over 60 galleries the British Museum weaves together a complex and diverse tale of human history.
For families, the British Museum also offers a wide range of explorer trails to follow that will definitely keep the kids entertained. The Museum also offers fun-filled backpacks for young visitors under five.
Highlights:
- The Rosetta Stone: Though a little difficult to find, the Rosetta Stone is one of the British Museum’s finest treasures. After all, the Rosetta Stone harbours one of the world’s greatest mysteries. Discovered in 1979, the surface of the stone was inscribed with three languages that to this day have not been fully translated.
- The Great Wave off Kanagawa: You may not recognise it by title alone, but this iconic piece of Japanese art is sure to catch anyone’s eye. The cascading wave on woodblock print was the work of great artist Hokusai
- Egyptian Mummies: The museum has multiple galleries dedicated to the Ancient Egyptians as well as a sizeable collection of over 140 mummies and coffins, ranging from mummified kings and queens to cats and dogs.
National Gallery
Home to works by all the big names in the art world from Da Vinci to Michelangelo, the National Gallery initially started with a meagre collection of 38 artworks in 1824. Since then, the Gallery has grown tremendously and also relocated to Trafalgar Square. Specialising in European art, the National Gallery is among one of the most visited museums in the world.
Visitors are encouraged to pick up a pencil, take a seat and begin sketching when inspiration strikes. The Gallery also offers free drawing and art workshops on Sundays for children ages five to twelve.
Highlights
- Van Gogh’s Sunflowers: Vibrant, colourful blooms burst out of a stunning vase. Doused in brilliant yellow hues Van Gogh’s sunflowers are unmistakable. Widely recognised as one of Van Gogh’s best works, it is one of the exhibits people make a beeline for when they enter the National Gallery
- Bathers at Asineres: Georges Seurat’s depiction of a hazy summer’s day sadly only gained favour after his untimely death at the age of 31, but is now one of the most cherished works in the Gallery’s collection. The painting is also notable for its monumental size.
Tate Britain
One of the four museums that make up the Tate, the Tate Britain has the privilege of being the oldest. It specialises in primarily traditional art, with works dating back to the 1500s, particularly the Tudor Times. This is no small feat, and It has arguably earned its reputation as one of the most comprehensive collections of its kind in the world. Having undergone recent renovations, the architecture of the Tate Britain boasts elegant Victorian details and ornate spiral staircases.
The information desk provides free activities daily for families, as does the Hello families cube. Children can pick from Collect Cone, Sculpture Strip and the What’s in a Name activity.
Highlights:
- Ophelia : Sir John Everett Millais’s famous painting of Shakespeare’s drowned heroine is housed at the Tate Britain. Ophelia lies on her back in a quiet stream, clutching a bouquet of flowers in her pale hands, symbolic of her tragic love. Millais got a young woman, Elizabeth Siddal to pose for hours lying in a bath in order to perfect his painting.
- Seated Figure: This distorted man captured by Francis Bacon has haunted imaginations for centuries. Representing the fragmented mind, Bacon’s work is both disturbing and moving at the same time; you’ll find it difficult to look away.
Tate Modern
Known as Tate Britain’s younger and cooler sister, the Tate Modern is the place to go to for a taste of contemporary art. Whilst some of the more abstract works might leave you scratching your head, the museum also offers a stunning view from the terrace on the tenth floor. Looking over the Thames, you’ll get an eyeful of the millennium bridge and the famous dome of St Paul’s. The entrance of the museum also opens up to a wide space, a perfect place to rest if you’re a weary traveller, or to race from one sloping wall to another, if you’re a child with energy to kill.
Highlights:
- Lobster Telephone: Salvador’s quirky plaster model featuring a brilliant red lobster perched on a working modern telephone is on display at the Tate Modern, along with many of the artist’s other works. The museum has several themed rooms dedicated to Dali’s works spanning across the artist’s career.
- Nude Women in a Red Armchair: Few have not heard of Pablo Picasso and his wacky paintings. This series of disjointed shapes was the painter’s impression of his mistress, Marie-Therese Walter and proves to be a distinct example of Picasso’s unique art style.
The National Portrait Gallery
Located only a few steps away from the National Gallery, visiting the National Portrait Gallery is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. The National Portrait Gallery contains one of the most extensive portrait collections in the world from the regal to the modern Try your luck and see if you can spot familiar faces like singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and Game of Thrones Star Maisie Williams framed up on the walls.
The National Portrait Gallery has a charming Art Cart that pops up every weekend, filled to the brim with activity booklets and other exciting materials for kids.
Highlights
- Anne Boleyn: Divorced, Beheaded, died, Henry the eighth’s six wives have certainly made a name for themselves in history. Catch a glimpse of Anne Boleyn’s elusive smile when you approach one of the few surviving portraits of Henry’s second wife.
- Queen Elizabeth I: The former monarch looms imperiously over a globe in this formidable painting, a gift for the Queen’s previous champion, Sir Henry Lee. Interestingly enough, she was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, mentioned above.
For the unacquainted, art can seem intimidating. But don’t let this deter you from taking your first step into the galleries of London. Not only are the museum buildings works of art in themselves, they contain carefully curated works preserved over centuries for the admiration of tourists and locals alike. The objects on display are crucial to understanding not only London’s deep and rich cultural history, but that of the world. So don’t hesitate—get your culture fix, and soon you’ll be a regular expert.
