Best Arts and Culture Places in Chartridge

"With an eclectic collection amassed throughout the centuries, the British Museum demands comfortable shoes and a lot of time. It’s undoubtedly one of the best free entry museums in London, and an incredible tour through the history of humanity. An entire afternoon or morning will barely skim the surface, while even a full day will leave many treasures undiscovered."

"One of the world’s best museums has a kid-friendly attitude and fun children’s audio tours. The Rosetta Stone, the Elgin (Parthenon) Marbles, and the Egyptian mummies are some of the jaw-dropping exhibits. To keep them even engaged, download activity trails to your smartphone or tablet, or print worksheets before you go."

"The British Museum is a treasure trove of artifacts from around the world. Among its treasures, you’ve got bits of the Greek Acropolis, the Rosetta Stone, a burial helmet from Sutton Hoo and an Easter Island statute. There is so much to see among the permanent collections but there are also excellent temporary exhibits."

"If you prefer contemporary art to classical works, head to the Tate Modern on the south bank of the River Thames instead, another of London’s top free galleries. The Tate Modern is Britain’s national gallery of international modern art, housing a huge collection of contemporary artworks from 1900 to the present day, with artists including Picasso, DalÍ­ and Warhol. You can also pop into the public restaurant and bar on floors 9 and 10 of Tate which has some of the most fantastic free views over the Londonskyline."

"Housing the UK’s national collection of international modern and contemporary art, the Tate Modern is undoubtedly London’s most iconic modern art gallery. The gallery has been considered the mover and shaker of the contemporary art world ever since it opened in 2000."

"The Tate Modern is London’s centre for modern and contemporary art. It showcases world-class paintings, photographs and performance art – and it offers stunning views of the River Thames. You can experience all of this completely free."

"Ranking among the top art museums in the world, London's National Gallery represents an almost complete survey of European painting from 1260 until 1920. The museum's greatest strengths are in its collections of Dutch Masters and Italian Schools of the 15th and 16th centuries. Among its highlights are a cartoon (preliminary sketch) of the Madonna and Child by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo's The Entombment, Botticelli's Venus and Mars, van Gogh's Sunflowers, and The Water-Lily Pond by Monet."

"Since 1838, the National Gallery at London’s Trafalgar Square has given visitors the chance to enjoy the national collection of Western European painting. Some 2,300 works of art from the 13th to the 19th centuries are housed in the Gallery, and admission is free. A trip to the National Gallery will let you see famous masterpieces, including portraits of notable British monarchs, politicians, and cultural figures, past and present."

"With its bold Greek-style pillars, this museum is hard to miss if you’re in Trafalgar Square. Wander around the beautiful museum and you’ll find it’s full of incredible artists creations from many years ago. Portraits of important people in British history is the main theme in The National Gallery."

"With so many free entry museums in London featuring collections sourced from around the world, the Museum of London takes a completely different tack – showcasing the history of my weird and wonderful city. The museum traces the history of London from prehistoric times through to modern times, with an emphasis on the characters that have called the city home. It’s a fascinating look at the events and people who have made the great city what it is today."

"The National Portrait Gallery presents a who’s who of British history. Located just behind the National Gallery, it houses a remarkable collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs, miniatures and works on paper, and takes visitors on a unique journey through British history featuring Tudor kings and queens all the way up to contemporary artists and actors. Some of the masters of portraiture on display include Hans Holbein, Sir Joshua Reynolds and Paula Rego."

"Just behind the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery is another of the best museums in London. Not only was it the world’s first portrait gallery, but it also holds the most extensive collection of portraits globally. As the name implies, the National Portrait Gallery is home to a collection of portraits of historically important and renowned British people."

"The gallery houses pictures of the major (and not-so major) figures of the nation’s history from King Henry VIII to David Beckham. It makes a great introduction to British history for both kids and adults. Kid-friendly audio tours are available."

"One of the earliest specialised photography galleries in London, Hamiltons, founded in 1977, offers novel perspectives on some of the giants of 20th century and contemporary photography. In a striking exhibition space, the likes of Irving Penn and Annie Leibovitz have had their work displayed in a honed and evocative environment. The gallery has cultivated a reputation for representing the true masters of the field, and it is unsurprising that their exhibitions never fail to reflect this level of prestige."

"Hamiltons was a trendsetter for photography-filled private galleries when it opened in 1977, and has since hosted some of the biggest names in the business. Specialising in modern masters, the likes of Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and Robert Mapplethorpe have graced the walls over the years. This year, the gallery is showing the works of Sir Don McCullin, a British photojournalist known for his war photography."

"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 Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture is a London museum that is home to an impressive collection of 19th and 20th century home decorative arts. The Arts Council England recognized the collection as providing outstanding international value. The MoDA also has the Sir James Maude Richards Library of architectural books on a long-term loan."

"Built on an old railway line, this garden is yet another community endeavour—filled with trees, shrubs, butterfly bushes and raised beds for growing food!. COVID-19 UPDATE: Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is currently closed to the public. For the latest information, head to their website."

"Source: Photo by user Carole Raddato used under CC BY-SA 2.0. This stop is definitely worth a visit as this is the only Roman theater of its kind, in Britain. Once surrounded by shops and houses, the foundations of which you can still see here, this is not your usual Roman amphitheater."

"The Roman Theatre of Verulamium is an ancient excavated theatre built around 140 AD. It’s unique in that it’s not an amphitheatre, as was commonly built during Roman times. But rather, it resembles a design similar to a modern theatre, with a raised stage."

"A little too ramshackle and homely to be properly trendy, this small café on Holloway Road is part of a rising number of new vegetarian and vegan venues focussed on good coffee. Cold brew in a glass tumbler clinking with ice cubes is a must on a hot day, particularly when paired with stunningly delicious, feather-soft, dairy-free banana and walnut cake. Main course dishes include a slender, cheesy quesadilla stuffed with thinly sliced roasted peppers and onions, topped with a poached egg, with freshly made guacamole and salsa on the side."