Best Arts and Culture Places in Brompton

"No visit to London would be complete without a trip to the British Museum. It’s home to over 8 million artefacts, including the Rosetta Stone and Parthenon Marbles. There are so many things to see in this museum that even a full day spent here will barely scratch the surface."

"Sprawling over 13 acres of land and exhibiting more than 145 galleries; Victoria and Albert Museum has maintained a significant place in the league of famous museums in London, England. Founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, this museum boasts of 2.3 million objects related to fashion, architecture, textile, photography, jewelry, sculpture, painting and books. Key features: Adrabil Carpet, Rock Crystal Ewer, Chinese lacquerware table, porcelain, ceramic and glass items and manuscripts of famous artists of the World.Opening hours: 10:00 am to 5:45 pmEntrance charge: Free"

"Five thousand years of art and design make the Victoria and Albert Museum one of London’s most impressive collections. There are glittering pieces of jewellery, intricate statues and a writing desk belonging to Henry VIII. You have to buy tickets for the big feature exhibitions – covering such diverse things as food, wedding dresses, videogames and Pink Floyd – but the rest of the museum is free to roam around, and well worth it. On a warm day, we recommend you stick around and sit in the beautiful courtyard with a cup of tea."

"Another gem by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, Bankside B power station was a beacon of modernity when it was constructed in the 1940s as the first oil-fired power station in Britain. The imposing chimney, its defining feature, was restricted to a height of 99m (325ft) so as not to outdo its illustrious neighbour opposite, St Paul’s. After shutting in the 1980s, the power station was resurrected by the relatively unknown Herzog & de Meuron, who won a competition to transform its crumbling shell into the new Tate Modern, which opened in May 2000."

"Art-lovers can spend hours inside the Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery, while theater-goers will want to buy tickets for Shakespeare’s Globe or the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse. Walking through one of London’s numerous parks is also an option, and so is admiring the architecture of Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, or St. Paul’s Cathedral. In the evenings, have some fish and chips in a pub or enjoy London’s multicultural dining options. You will stay in the city until the morning of Day 3."

"As entwined with the art world as paint, no list of London galleries would be complete without one incarnation of the Tate. Without a doubt the art giant of London, the Tate Modern is home to all things contemporary and unique and always worth a visit. “When my daughter Coco was born, we visited Tate Modern 11 times in her first 6 months!"

"From Michelangelo to Monet and Raphael to Rembrandt, almost all of the old European masters can be found on the walls of the National Gallery, overlooking London’s famous Trafalgar Square. Crowd favorites include Van Gogh’s "Sunflowers"; Botticelli’s "Venus and Mars;" and Monet’s "The Water-Lily Pond." (If you’re short on time, you can pre-plan your trip around the gallery’s 30 must-see paintings.)"

"One of London’s most iconic galleries takes centre stage in London’s most iconic square!. While The National Gallery houses one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world, this 200-year old building also stands as a work of art and piece of history itself."

"Museum of London is one of the world's largest urban history museums and cares for over two million objects in its collection. The lower galleries are currently undergoing major redevelopment work which will see spectacular new galleries opening in spring 2010 telling the story of modern London from 1666 to the present day. The Museum also holds the largest archaeological archive in Europe of this wealth of information."

"The free to enter Museum of London takes you through the history of the capital from Celtic times through to present day. The family events programme ensures children will never get bored, with interactive areas teaching little ones keys facts on topics as diverse as prehistoric animals, Victorian window shopping, and children’s toys from years gone by and what it was like to live during Saxon times."

"Located on London Wall and close to the Barbican Centre, the Museum of London documents,explores and tells the ever changing story of the history of London."

"The Hackney Museum is a local London history museum located in Hackney. Its collection of more than 8,000 different objects is dedicated to exploring the history of Hackney with a special emphasis on immigration, ranging from Anglo-Saxon settlers to early Victorian times and more recent refugees and migrants."

"The Bankside Gallery in London was opened in 1980 by Her Majesty, the Queen. The public gallery, located near the Thames, houses the Royal Watercolour Society and Royal Society of Painter Printmakers. The gallery displays rotating exhibits focused on modern watercolours and prints."

"What makes the National Portrait Gallery so compelling is its familiarity; in many cases, you’ll have heard of the subject (royals, scientists, politicians, celebrities) or the artist (Andy Warhol, Annie Leibovitz, Lucian Freud) but not necessarily recognise the face. Highlights include the famous ‘Chandos portrait’, thought to be of William Shakespeare (room 4), the first artwork the gallery acquired (in 1856), and a touching sketch of novelist Jane Austen by her sister (room 18)."

"If you’re wondering what to do in London, we suggest going to gaze at the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. With free access to over 200,000 portraits from the Tudors to the present day, you’ll see everyone from Shakespeare, Amy Winehouse to The Duchess of Cambridge, and Kate Middleton. Once you’re done working your way through the art, pop by one of the local cafés and grab a treat to eat on the steps of Trafalgar Square."

"Tucked behind the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery is the biggest collection of portraits in the world. It’s not quite as vast as the National Gallery but it’s very much worth taking your time to see the collection. One interesting thing about this free London art museum is that the paintings are chosen for the significance of the subject, not the artist."

"What we love about South London Gallery (SLG), a contemporary yet historic art space in Peckham, is that it endeavours to ‘bring art to the people of South London’. Not only does it do this by showing work from never-before-exhibited artists; it hosts educational and immersive art workshops for young people and adults too. Although the gallery is based in its original Peckham Road building, SLG has spread its wings into the old Peckham fire station, and Sceaux Gardens estate, a local artist-designed garden called Art Block for families to enjoy."

"With a reputation for its programme of contemporary art exhibitions, film and performance events, the South London Gallery is an internationally acclaimed contemporary art space. Over the past decade the South London Gallery has featured solo exhibitions by established international figures, as well as those by younger and mid-career artists."

"The South London Gallery, also known as SLG, was founded in 1891 as a public gallery of contemporary art in Camberwell, London. In 2010 6a Architects designed the SLG expansion to provide additional gallery spaces, a cafe, an educational space, and residences."

"Why: Wild West décor and a hefty menu make this Texas-style grill in Hoxton a worthy addition to this list of the best American restaurants in London. Whether you’re in the mood for a mighty slab of quality meat slow-cooked in a hickory-burning smoker, fried chicken and fries, or a pimped-up burger, we promise you won’t go hungry at Red Dog Saloon. If you’re feeling particularly famished and reckon you can eat a lot in a short space of time, why not enter the ‘crabby patty challenge’?"

"Complete with a Man vs Food eating challenge (break the record for most patties in your cheeseburger and you get it for free), all the dishes on the menu at Red Dog Saloon are reminiscent of any good chain in the USA. With burgers and pulled pork sandwiches, mac 'n' cheese and St Louis pork ribs, plus hot (and extra hot) chicken wings you pay for by the platter, Red Dog will fill almost every craving you can imagine. Which is what great American food is all about, isn't it?"

"Located in Hoxton and Soho, the Red Dog Saloon serves old-school Austin barbeque and world-famous burgers. From classic bar snacks like Buffalo wings, tacos and nachos to barbeque favourites like southern fried chicken, burgers and cheesesteaks. The saloon also gives brave customers the chance to take on their famous crabby patty challenge, allowing you to add as many patties as you can handle for the chance to eat for free."

"It’s no wonder that Frankie and Benny’s is one of the most popular places to eat in Wembley Park – they serve up your favourite Italian American classics at a reasonable price. Your little ones will love their cod goujons, cheesy tomato pizza, and crispy chicken breast nuggets. With options on their kids’ menus for big eaters, small eaters, and babies, they have parents covered."

"Frankie & Benny’s is known for classic Italian American dishes and diner favourites, as well as an extensive kids’ menu sure to please the little ones. Tuck into cheesy chicken parmigiana, an ultimate mixed grill, or a vegan Margherita pizza, with outdoor dining and table service to keep everyone safe. No reservation required."

"Peddling the US ‘roadside burger’ experience in stripped-back diner surrounds, Shake Shack has all the stateside trappings – from buzzers announcing when your food’s ready to drive-by style hatches for picking up your full tray. Just add hot dogs, frozen custard ice cream and thick shakes. Flagship site: 24 Market Building, The Piazza, WC2E 8RD"

"From humble beginnings as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park, Shake Shack has cemented itself as an international household name. Today London has seven branches and serves some seriously good burgers, fries and shakes. Not only do they serve mouthwatering hot dogs, the shack serves another kind of dog – of the canine variety."

"What do you get when you put a Korean, a Filipino and an Aussie chef together?" enquires one reader. The answer is 100 Hoxton, a low-lit, concrete-hued hangout that gives fusion food a good name. "You'll want to order every small plate", insists one fan – perhaps braised octopus with garam masala or crunchy, salty soft-shell crab with peanut brittle and a dousing of fresh lime from the dinner menu."

"From soft shell crab doused in honey and garlic sauce through to Asian takes on ceviche and hand-dived scallops, Rapsa is bringing a delicious taste of the Philippines to Hoxton High Street. Staking their claim as one of London's best places for seafood, it's well worth a visit."

"A family favourite for hordes of Richmond locals, this neighbourhood Italian (family-run, of course) has been doing its thing on Kew Road for more than a decade. It may be dressed up in fashionable contemporary garb, but this is a diehard trattoria at heart and the food presses all those familiar comfort buttons – arancini balls, homemade pasta, saltimbocca, calf’s liver, tiramisu. The decked forecourt gets rammed in summer."

"This genuinely friendly family-run Italian is popular with locals and visitors alike on account of its authentic food and charming service. Bacco may have all the visual trappings of a contemporary Italian restaurant, but at its heart is an old-fashioned trattoria so diners can expect classic pastas and simple antipasti as well as more expensive dishes come evening. It’s also handy for theatre-goers."

"05/06/2021: We visited one evening as a pre-booked table for 4. The menu was nice but disappointingly two out of the four staters we order had been taken off the menu as they had run out of ingredients. The food was good, but not exceptional and the service pleasant but hit and miss, slow and some of the drinks we ordered etc did not turn up until we chased them."

"This is a Meantime pub so, as you’d expect, the brewery’s frontline beers are on most of the taps. But once you get chatting to the staff, they’re more interested in finding something you’d like, Meantime or not. Indeed, the pub’s beer menu is a welcome distraction from London’s usual: five pages’ worth of Trappists, wheat and abbey beers, plus a fridge full of lambic and gueuze."

"Though it goes into bar-mode of an evening, this fun, brightly coloured Cuban hangout near Waterloo station is perfect for the kids in the daytime. A dedicated kids’ menu offers a main and pudding for £7, along with a tropical smoothie or freshly-squeezed juice. The yummy homemade desserts will appeal to both big and little ones."

"WaterlooThe vibrant colours and Cuban décor make this a firm family favourite. It’s within walking distance of Waterloo Station and has a great menu that is also highly affordable. For just £6 you can choose from two courses off the kid’s menu along with a juice and a super-sized ice cream sundae."