Guide to London's Art Galleries
In London, the national art galleries are free to enter, and as such, they are a regular staple in any tourist's visit to London. As any art guide will tell you, the Tate Modern is a must-see. It's the national gallery of international modern and contemporary art, situated beside the Thames. At just 10-years-old, the Tate is already undergoing a major extension; it was designed for 1.8 million visitors a year but gets closer to 4 million. The Tate is housed in a disused power station, and exhibits contemporary art ranging from new painting and sculpture, surrealism, minimalism, cubism, futurism and vorticism.
The Tate Britain is the national gallery of British art from 1500 to today. Each room is arranged in chronological order, with a theme or a focus on a particular artist. It displays the Turner collection alongside Pre-Raphaelite paintings, with works by Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon.
The National Portrait Gallery was established with the criteria that it had to be about history and not art; about the status of the sitter instead of the quality of the work. That criteria is still enforced today. As well as a permanent collection, the National Portrait Gallery holds six major exhibitions and more than 10 special displays a year. It also hosts numerous conferences, events, music evenings, talks and family activities.
Located on the north side of Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery is home to one of the finest collections of Western European paintings in the world. The paintings are from 1250 onwards, and include works from Botticelli, Michelangelo and Rembrandt. It was established for the benefit of everyone, not just the privileged. As a result, the National Gallery remains committed to maintaining free admission, remaining in central London with access for everyone, and extended opening hours.
Somerset House was originally fitted out to hold the Royal Society and the Society of Antiquaries, but has been a centre for the visual arts since the late 20th century. As well as playing host to galleries, Somerset House is home to an open air ice rink during the winter, and the courtyard holds music concerts throughout the year. There is also an annual summer season of outdoor film showings.