Best Arts and Culture Places in Kingston upon Thames

"Two million years worth of artifacts, sculptures and antiquities—including Egyptian mummies, the Elgin Marbles and the hieroglyph-busting Rosetta Stone—call the British Museum home. Don’t be surprised if your family’s history buff goes missing for several days. Psst—here are 20+ history lessons your teacher lied about."

"The mummies in the Ancient Egypt section are a particular favourite. There’s so much to explore whether you’re into the Aztecs and the Incas, the Vikings or Ancient Greece. It’s best to pick just one area to visit each time you go or it’s just too much to take in."

"See two million years of human history at the British Museum. From Egyptian mummies to samurai armour and the Sutton Hoo helmet, there’s something for everyone."

"Day 1: Arrive in London, Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, the London EyeDay 2: Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Whitehall, Covent GardenDay 3: Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market, Tate Modern, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Sky GardenDay 4: National Gallery, Greenwich, Prime Meridian, Up at the O2Day 5: British Museum, Portobello Road Market, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrod’s"

"This beautiful grand museum takes you back in time to experience the decorative arts and designs of our past ancestors. Discover the fashion through the eras as well as beautiful jewels and statues of important aristocrats. With the beautiful grounds that surrounds one of the world's largest museum it is simply breathtaking."

"This former oil-fired power station sits smugly in the center of the South Bank, knowing that you’re interested in what’s going on inside. It’s filled to the rafters with paintings and sculptures by the likes of Picasso, Dali, Warhol, and Rothko, all set off perfectly by that gritty industrial interior. Of the current ticketed shows, The Making of Rodin (until November 21, tickets around $22) is a must examining the master sculptor’s more experimental side and his use of plaster, featuring over 200 works on loan from the Musée Rodin that haven’t been seen outside of France until now."

"Tate Modern’s collection of international modern and contemporary art attracts millions of visitors every year eager to discover art movements and artistic practices documented by the permanent collection. This collection includes Pablo Picasso’s vividly powerful Weeping Woman, Salvador Dalí’s brilliantly surreal Lobster Telephone and Mark Rothko’s Seagram murals presented in a specially lit room. Since opening, the expansive Turbine Hall has showcased some major artist commissions, including Olafur Eliasson’s mesmerising The Weather Project and Ai Weiwei’s epic Sunflower Seeds."

"Over on the South Bank, Tate Modern is not only one of the best museums in London, but also one of the most visited museums in the world. Tate Modern focuses on international modern and contemporary art. It also houses the national collection of British art from 1900 to the present day."

"1824: The première of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9; the Egyptians capture Crete; ‘New Holland’ becomes ‘Australia’; some government guys in Britain bought 38 paintings. Now: Beethoven’s no longer in the charts, Australia still has an identity crisis, and The National Gallery has over 2,300 works tracing the complete development of Western European painting from virtually every European school of art."

"0 km from city center 11 out of 40 places to visit in London. The National Gallery is a art gallery situated in London which displays more than 2000 Western European paintings from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century. The works of renowned artists like Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Van Gogh, etc are displayed here."

"The National Gallery is my personal favourite gallery in the world. You’ll find some of Europe’s greatest masterpieces here, from Van Gogh, to Monet, to Rembrandt. I still remember being brought to tears by the doleful beauty of Turner’s Margate (?) from the Sea."

"London’s own museum about London itself, right from prehistoric times through to more modern eras, exploring the people who lived on the site over the centuries and how their influence endures – Romans, Saxons (including a chance to pop inside a recreated Saxon house), medieval London and the plague, the Great Fire and more. Well, where better to discover London’s history than a museum dedicated to it?. Even after decades living in and visiting the capital, I hadn’t realised that hippos once roamed what’s now Trafalgar Square."

"The Museum of London is a history museum focused on the history of London dating back to prehistoric times with a special focus on the city's social history. The Museum of London sits on the edge of the oldest part of the city, with the ruins of the Roman city wall in its sights. With more than six million objects in its collection, the museum houses the world's biggest urban history collection."

"If there's one place to absorb the history of London, from 450,000 BC to the present day, it's here. There are 7,000 objects to wonder…"

"In spite of their best efforts not to categorise the work they show, StolenSpace has quite a name for showcasing the best street art in the city. This unique artist-run area lies in the famous Truman Brewery building on Osborn Street and has a history of entertaining energetic and high-profile programs. Over the years, the likes of Shepherd Fairey, D*Face and David Bray have all exhibited here at some time."

"Formerly known as Beetles+Huxley, the newly monikered Huxley Parlour gallery is based in Mayfair, a short jaunt away from the Royal Academy for those looking to keep on arting. Several exhibitions run throughout the year, with previous exhibitions featuring big British names Cecil Beaton, Bill Brandt and Patrick Lichfield. This year will the venue will showcase ten new works by Jem Southam alongside the later works by British abstract painter Sandra Blow."

"Tucked away across the road stands Beetles and Huxley Gallery, one of the early success stories of the London photography scene. The gallery has exhibited many of Britain’s leading photographers, including Patrick Lichfield, Terence Donovan, John Swannell, Cecil Beaton, Bill Brandt, Paul Kenny, Brian Duffy, Norman Parkinson and Edwin Smith. Though the space is unassuming, the images speak for themselves, showcasing the very best of fine art photography."

"It may look like a mild-mannered café from the outside, but the mask comes off when you step inside to discover a down-and-dirty hangout where you can groove and grind to anything from electro to disco and 90s R&B. Consistently packed with it-boys and -girls, the well-worn dance floor is a definite testament to their loyal following. Address: 117 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PBContact: 020 7254 2273Website:dalstonsuperstore.com"

"Known as Queen’s House due to its connection with Anne, Queen of Denmark, the Queen’s House Greenwich is a spectacular backdrop for photos. The 17th century home is a stark white, which really pops against the manicured green lawns and (sometimes) blue skies. The gardens themselves are a playground if you’re looking to capture some brilliant blooms."

"The Queen’s House is one of the main things to see in Greenwich, London. It’s located next to the National Maritime Museum, and close to the other Greenwich attractions including the Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark. The Queen’s House is the first Classical building in Britain."

"Not far away you can also visit the Queen’s House, a beautiful and architecturally significant former royal residence designed by Inigo Jones. Admiral Nelson’s Trafalgar coat"

"Fait Maison on Gloucester Road is another Instagram favourite. With beautiful floral interior and exterior displays, as well as perfectly presented afternoon tea, every detail has been manicured with Instagram in mind. In addition to their picture-perfect afternoon tea, they also offer delicious home-made Middle Eastern-inspired food."

"The Ragged School Museum in London opened in 1990 at the former Dr Barnardo's Copperfield Road Ragged School. The school opened in 1877 to provide the children in the area with a basic education, making it the biggest school of its kind for the period. By 1908, the government had taken over public education and the school was closed."