National Gallery, London

National Gallery, London (must see)

If you鈥檝e ever even squinted at a painting and thought, 鈥淗uh, that鈥檚 nice,鈥� then the National Gallery deserves a prime spot on your London to-do list. It鈥檚 not just any gallery鈥攊t鈥檚 a global heavyweight, housing over 2,300 works from the who鈥檚 who of art history: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Turner, Monet, van Gogh, Picasso... you get the idea. Step through its stately portico overlooking Trafalgar Square, and you鈥檒l tumble straight into centuries of artistic genius.

Now, if you hang a sharp left at the entrance, you鈥檒l find the Sainsbury Wing. It鈥檚 modern, it鈥檚 moody, and it鈥檚 medieval鈥攑erfect for lovers of halos, tempera, and crowds that don鈥檛 jostle quite as much.

Don鈥檛 be surprised if a 鈥渜uick pop-in鈥� turns into an all-day affair. Must-sees include Holbein鈥檚 The Ambassadors, complete with a gloriously skewed skull (visible only if you stand just right and maybe squint like you mean it). Make sure not to miss van Eyck鈥檚 Arnolfini Portrait, where a couple holds hands while a mysterious mirror photobombs from the background, or da Vinci鈥檚 Virgin of the Rocks, dripping with drama and Renaissance elegance. And of course, in Turner鈥檚 Rain, Steam, and Speed, check out the train, which is not the only thing speeding鈥攜ou鈥檒l need sharp eyes to spot a hare bolting for dear life.

The Gallery also hosts special exhibitions that are buzzy enough to make even the Mona Lisa smirk. These usually require a ticket and advance booking, but the permanent collection is gloriously free, always. You can join a guided tour, listen to a curator wax lyrical, or just wander with your own thoughts and an audio guide.

Tip:
If at some point, your stomach starts growling louder than the gallery鈥檚 whisper policy allows, head to the in-house restaurant. They serve Colchester native oysters and artful sandwiches, not to mention themed afternoon teas with more traditional choices like cakes that change with the exhibits. As for the scones, they are a permanent fixture. Afternoon tea is served daily, no reservation needed鈥攋ust bring your appetite and maybe a friend who knows the difference between Impressionism and Expressionism.

Long story short: go for the art, stay for the scones.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: National Gallery
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

London Introduction Walking Tour

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