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-it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-perfect 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-you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-just 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.
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-perfect 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-you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-just 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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National Gallery on Map
Sight Name: National Gallery
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in London, England
Create Your Own Walk in London
Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Jack the Ripper Walking Tour
Jack the Ripper, an unidentified serial killer who terrorized the British capital in 1888, became notorious for the series of brutal and gruesome murders that he carried out in the East End of London. The primary setting for the Jack the Ripper attacks was Whitechapel, at the time a poverty-stricken and crime-ridden district, known for its dark alleys and narrow streets.
The name "Jack the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
The name "Jack the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Jane Austen鈥檚 London
The celebrated English novelist Jane Austen primarily lived between Bath and Hampshire. However, London also held a special significance in Austen's life. Many of her novels drew inspiration from the capital, like Lydia Bennet and Mr Wickham鈥檚 elopement in 鈥淧ride & Prejudice.鈥�
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
One of Austen's cherished spots in London was Twinings, a renowned tea shop. Jane Austen was known... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles
Harry Potter Walking Tour I
The Harry Potter phenomenon began with author J.K. Rowling, who famously dreamed up the series while delayed on a train from Manchester to London. With the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher鈥檚 Stone in 1997, the literary world changed forever. Across seven books, readers followed Harry鈥檚 evolution from an orphaned schoolboy at Hogwarts to a brave young wizard confronting evil... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Walk around Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's official residence, is a must-see for anyone visiting London, but so are the adjacent royal establishments that give a unique window into the royal way of life. On this self-guided walking tour, along with Buckingham Palace and its memorable fountain, you will visit the St. James's private royal residence, the wonderful Queen's Gallery, and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Covent Garden Walking Tour
A shopping and entertainment hub on the eastern fringes of London's West End, Covent Garden is a district historically associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market 鈥� currently a shopping spot popular with locals and tourists alike.
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Once a slum area, today the north of the district is given over to independent shops centered on Neal's Yard and Seven Dials. Both places offer... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Charles Dickens Tour
Imagine a world without Dickens. No Oliver Twist, no Ebenezer Scrooge, no brooding orphans wandering foggy streets with suspiciously eloquent vocabularies. Tough to picture, right? That鈥檚 because Charles Dickens didn鈥檛 just leave a mark on literature-he practically steamrolled through it in a horse-drawn carriage. Recognized as the undisputed heavyweight of Victorian storytelling, he pioneered... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
London Souvenirs: 18 Distinctively British Products for Travelers
Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...