The National Gallery is a magnificent Georgian edifice on the northern side of Trafalgar Square that houses a massive collection of Western European art. Started in 1838, you can find many early Renaissance works in the Sainsbury Wing of the gallery, including those of Botticelli and Giovanni Bellini. The West Wing contains works by Titian, Michelangelo and Raphael, the north wing contains works by Rubens, Rembrandt and Caravaggio, and the east wing contains works by Seurat, Canaletto, Degas and Monet. A portable audio guide is available in different languages.
The Victoria and Albert Museum celebrates the rich culture of a bygone era. It includes around 2.27 million objects including ceramics, fashion, furniture, glass, metalwork, paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture and textiles. Collections from as far as East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Egypt are housed in the V&A Museum. One can explore the world's most comprehensive holding of post-classical European sculpture. The museum frequently holds exhibitions of its collections. And what's more, you could even shop for books, stationery, gifts and jewelry at the museum. After working up an appetite, head to the V&A Cafe for a bite.
Take a glimpse into the life of World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874-1965), arguably the greatest British statesman of the 20th Century, through this unique and historical collection. Within the Cabinet War Rooms, the museum captures the public and private life and achievements of the British leader and icon. Separated into five chapters, take a glimpse at the young Winston Churchill and his life as a politician, statesman and war leader. The museum has over 150 original objects including Churchill's baby rattle and his trench periscope used on the Western Front. There are also numerous documents, photographs, and audiovisual and interactive displays. For anyone interested in the history of the 20th Century, this exhibit is a must.
The National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of eminent personalities in British history from the Tudors to the present day, making it a must for lovers of art. Founded in 1856, the collection on display is among the most comprehensive in the world and no restrictions are placed on the mediums used. There are traditional oil paintings and watercolors, as well as drawings, miniatures, sculptures, silhouettes, caricatures and photographs. Admission is free, but certain exhibitions may be charged.
Tate Britain is a gallery in Millbank, the oldest gallery of Britain's prestigious Tate Gallery grid. Opened in 1897, its edifice is beautiful and palatial with huge columns and stone sculptures adorning the roof. Exhibiting the art of Britain from 1500 till date, the gallery is also known for its support of new and contemporary multimedia artists. The art on display ranges from the Pre-Raphaelite period to the Cubism period. Giacometti, Picasso, Moore, Hepworth and Francis Bacon are among those on display, and the gallery also annually exhibits the artists that are short-listed for the well-known Turner Prize.
Charles Dickens' novels famously chronicled the lives and dramas of 19th century London in the throes of the industrial revolution, and his portrayal of slums and workhouses drew on his own family's experiences of poverty and debt. However, The Charles Dickens Museum is anything but bleak, unlike the lives of his characters. The drawing room of the Dickens' House where he held literary salons has been lovingly restored, and elsewhere you can view all manner of Dickens paraphernalia including personal letters and notes as well as manuscripts and first editions of his books.
The National Gallery is a magnificent Georgian edifice on the northern side of Trafalgar Square that houses a massive collection of Western European art. Started in 1838, you can find many early Renaissance works in the Sainsbury Wing of the gallery, including those of Botticelli and Giovanni Bellini. The West Wing contains works by Titian, Michelangelo and Raphael, the north wing contains works by Rubens, Rembrandt and Caravaggio, and the east wing contains works by Seurat, Canaletto, Degas and Monet. A portable audio guide is available in different languages.
As the outbreak of war became ever more likely at the end of the 1930s, this maze of interlocking rooms and tunnels was constructed under civil service buildings close to the Houses of Parliament at Westminster. The purpose was to provide safe haven to government officials in the event of Nazi aerial raids. Thus, a sick room, dormitories, a refectory and even a shooting gallery were built. Winston Churchill held vital cabinet meetings and orchestrated military operations here throughout the war years, and in the Map Room you can trace the actual position of allied forces as they triumphed on VJ Day in 1945. Impeccably preserved, the Cabinet War Rooms convey the perilous atmosphere of wartime, and give a fascinating insight into the workings of the war machine. The rooms remain closed on the 24th, 25th and 26th of December.
The Lord's Cricket Ground, home to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), is revered by every cricket fan in the world. The museum located on the premises of the grounds records the glorious history of the MCC and houses a vast collection of artifacts from the world of cricket; game kit, gear, photos, busts and other items. A popular attraction here is The Ashes; an urn that was gifted to the England captain Ivo Bligh by the Australians in 1882.
The Anaesthesia Heritage Centre, managed by the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, consists of humungous resources on the subject and is used for research purposes. The Anaesthesia Museum housed within this center consists of various artifacts from the field, the oldest object being a resuscitation set from the late 1700s. The center is open for all but a prior appointment before visiting would be preferred.
Battle of Britain Bunker is an underground operations room used during the Second World War. It was constructed in 1939. It was most notably used for the Battle of Britain and D-Day. It is currently run by the Royal Air Force and is used as a plotting room. A part of it has been converted into a museum, which houses various artifacts from the times of the war. It displays various archival documents, model aircrafts, uniforms and photographs.