London museums and galleries

[EnglishGent]

Making a trip back to England next month for the first time in six years. Have a couple of evenings in London planned and have a day or two to occupy. Would like opinions on the must see museums and galleries and how much time to allow for each.

 

[Tangfastic]

Are you looking for something that's new in the last six years?

If not, for obvious starters, you can easily spend half a day each in the British Museum and Victoria and Albert Museum.

 

[StephenHero]

Go see the Arnolfini portrait at the National Gallery. It's the best painting in the English speaking world.

 

[mordecai]

What about the Spanish speaking world? Las Meninas?

 

[gomestar]

I quite enjoyed the Tate Modern. IMO a much better viewing experience than MoMA in NY.

 

[ErnestoG.]

churchill war museum. top notch, chap.

 

[EnglishGent]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. It's probably closer to ten years since I last went anywhere and even then I probably didn't have quite patience and appreciation that I do now, so all options will be relatively new experiences for me. Tate Modern and British Museum are the first that sprang to mind, but also considering the Saatchi Gallery.

 

[StephenHero]

Originally Posted by mharwitt

What about the Spanish speaking world? Las Meninas?
If I could steal a painting from Spain, I'd steal Bosch's garden triptych. http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/84...eb7_z.jpg?zz=1

 

[coolpapa]

If you have any interest in military history Churchill's bunker and the Imperial War Museum must be on your list.

 

[Izhitsa]

Tate Britain?

 

[mauser]

The best part in the museums of London, apart from their total excellence, is that the majority of them are completely free. This enables you to skip everything that is only of vague interest and simply pop in to see your favorite sections of any particular museum. I've had a ball wandering into the British Museum, climbing to the top floor to see the mummies and be out of the museum in less than 30 minutes. And, if feeling like it, going back the next day to do the same.

Cherry-picking, yes, but no major London museum has the feeling that one must walk through every room in order to make the most of the visit.

 

[jcru]

It's great there is so much in the arts to see since your last visit! I hope you find helpful my abbreviated list of artful places to visit in London:

Architectural Association
British Library
British Museum
Design Museum
Dover Street Market
National Portrait Gallery
Royal Academy of Art
Saatchi Gallery
Serpentine Gallery
Soane Museum
Tate Britain & Modern
V&A

 

[ysc]

Going to echo those recommending Churchill's bunker/the cabinet war rooms and the V&A. Both excellent, the V&A has something for pretty much anyone.

 

[watchcollector2454]

can't go wrong with the british museum or the tate modern

 

[culverwood]

I love the Wallace Collection and Sir John Soane's Museum. The Wallace collection is bigger and world class Sir John Soane's small and eccentric.

The Courtauld Gallery does charge but has some iconic Impressionist pieces.

My favourite paintings from any of the National Gallery would be would be the Wilton Diptych or Whistlejacket.