Best Arts and Culture Places in West Byfleet

"Egyptian mummies, Roman treasure hoards, golden Buddhas, African masks and much, much more... even the least museum-inclined child should find plenty of interest here!. It's a vast place, so keep visits fairly short, take a break for refreshments in the huge central court and pick up one of the excellent family trails or activity backpacks from the Paul Hamlyn Library, or a hand-held kid's multimedia guide from the Great Court."

"The first thing you need to know about the British Museum is that it is the largest museum in England and also the oldest public museum in the world. It was established in 1753 with its first collection being that of the Irish Scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The Museum was opened to the public in 1759."

"One of the world's great repositories of human civilization, the British Museum is the premier visitor attraction in the whole of the…"

"A view of The Aston Webb Screen at the entrance of the new Exhibition Road Quarter at the V&A Museum, designed by AL_A ©Hufton Crow. The Sackler Courtyard featuring the new cafe and view of the Aston Webb Screen from the V&A ©Hufton Crow. According to the official homepage Henry Cole, the V&A’s first Director, declared that the Museum should be a “schoolroom for everyone”."

"Nearest c2c station: Fenchurch Street change for TFL services. Art and fashion lovers should make a beeline for the V&A, one of the best free museums in London and indeed, among the world’s top centres for breathtaking art. Some 150 galleries show off ceramics, sculpture, glass, textiles, furniture and more, the sheer amount of excellent work almost intimidating."

"Over in South Kensington, the V&A is another of the best museums in London. Dedicated to all things aesthetic, it’s the world’s largest museum of applied and decorative arts and design. Walking through the V&A is a treat for the eyes."

"Even the most skint amongst us will always be able to enjoy the popular activity of walking around Tate Modern and asking: ‘...but is it art?. ’ The contemporary art haven is one of the most popular venues in the capital, and no one visit is ever the same. A rolling programme of intriguing commissions from some of world’s most exciting artists means there’s always a surprise around the corner, while the permanent collection offers the chance to see art by the big guys, including Picasso, Matisse and Rothko."

"Art soothes the soul and London has the luxury of accommodating some exceptional exhibitions. However, aside from ever-changing exhibitions from the likes of Louise Bourgeois, Sarah Lucas and Ai Weiwei, Tate Modern harbours another breathtaking element – the viewing level. The 360ᵒ views across central London coupled with stunning exhibitions makes the Tate Modern one of my favourite romantic places in London."

"The former Bankside Power Station was selected as the new gallery site in 1994. The original building, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, was constructed in two phases between 1947 and 1963. Swiss architects Herzog & De Meuron were commissioned to convert the building into a gallery, making use of the power station’s iconic oil tanks."

"Trafalgar Square is home to the National Gallery, an art museum that opened in 1824 and currently has over 2,000 paintings hanging on the walls. The National Gallery was visited by 5.2 million people in 2017, taking in paintings from well-known artists including Cezanne, Michelangelo and Van Gogh. Housing priceless works such as these, it is one of the busiest museums in the world, alongside the Louvre and the Metropolitan Museum of Art."

"The National Gallery is an art museum located in London's Trafalgar Square. The museum has more than 2,300 paintings, with some reaching back to the 1200s. The National Gallery sees some five million visitors each year."

"Anyone with even a passing interest in art will want to put this near the top of their to-do lists while visiting London, for it is truly…"

"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 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."

"The Museum of London has free interactive galleries exploring the history of London from when the Romans lived there. Toddlers can navigate their way around the museum using the Under 5s Explorer Backpacks filled with games, toys and puzzles to use in the galleries. The museum also has free monthly Baby and Toddler sessions with fun, stimulating activities for them to play and learn."

"This indoor haven contains tropical plants, trees, birdlife and over 2000 species of exotic fish. Under the safety of its glass roof, you can (almost) pretend that you’re on a romantic getaway in a faraway country. Hidden behind the leafy shrubbery, it’s easy for the two of you to hold hands and wander around uninterrupted."

"The Barbican Centre is the largest arts centre in Europe and home of the London Symphony Orchestra. It was opened to the public in 1982 after it took a decade of construction work. The arts centre is one of the places in London that is child-friendly."

"With three floors and 11 galleries dedicated to the history of our town, Reading Museum is still the grand dame of this list. The top floor features exhibits on Natural History, Roman life (complete with a model Silchester village and togas for dressing up), and a beautiful gallery of vintage Huntley & Palmers biscuit tins. On the ground floor you can discover Reading’s more recent industrial heritage."

"About: The Museum of Reading contains a number of galleries describing the history of Reading and its major industries. A gallery of artefacts discovered during the excavations of Calleva Atrebatum, a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry and an art collection are amongst some of the museum's highlights. Address: Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH"

"Established in 2000, Domobaal specialises in contemporary painting and sculpture. It’s in an old Georgian townhouse that was once a law firm. In Lothar Götz’ exhibition the walls are a kooky consortium of colour, and the juxtaposition of diplomatic office space and edgy ebullience is spectacular."

"Lofty ceilings, gentle light and oodles of classic white space – with sister galleries worldwide (Paris, New York and Beijing), the team behind Pace know what they’re doing. Found right in the heart of things near Piccadilly, a stone’s throw from Marylebone and just along from Oxford Circus, Pace is easy to fit into a day’s itinerary. Recent exhibitions include James Turrell’s Materiality of Light and Chinese artist Song Dong’s Biscuit City, in which viewers were invited to eat the city."

"A chic, sleek contemporary art gallery in Mayfair, Pace has shown everything from established artists like Julian Schnabel to right up to date digital art by Japanese collective teamLab. The first Pace gallery opened in Boston in 1960, and set a high standard for promoting vibrant, vanguard-leading work from around the world. 6 Burlington Gardens, W1S 3ET Free entrypacegallery.com"

"Rarely does a restaurant manage to tick every box: great location (hello, rooftop!), incredible food (Michelin-starred, anyone?) and flawless service. But Galvin at Windows really does set itself apart from the rest. Found on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane in Mayfair, the restaurant has made it its mantra to serve up faultless creative French cuisine with aplomb since opening in May 2006."

"Situated on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane, Galvin at Windows boasts some of the city’s best views – but it’s less flashy than many of London’s sky-high restaurants. There’s a feel of old-school, understated elegance, with 30s-inspired décor and impeccable service. Ex-Ritz chef Marc Hardiman heads up the kitchen these days, and the food is excellent."

"This pudding is so simple you wouldn’t think they’d get away with it. Indeed the apple and sake sorbet is probably there largely to prove the restaurant does actually have a dessert chef. But who cares that it’s so easy to pour molten white-chocolate ganache over a layer of pert, tart little iced berries?"

"At just over 1000 metres long, Walthamstow Market is the longest in Europe and, because it’s not really part of the London tourist track, it’s one of the best London markets for real budget bargains. It’s open every day (except for Sundays and Mondays) from dawn until dusk, and is used by locals on a daily basis to buy food, clothes, gifts, electrical equipment, music, body care products and household goods. Whatever you need, Walthamstow Market has it, and if you can’t see what you want, someone will get it for you by the following week."

"St George’s Gardens used to be a graveyard, but nowadays, the calm and tranquil green space is one of Bloomsbury’s most beloved parks. It’s one of the many green spaces in Bloomsbury, which is also known as the leafy neighbourhood of London, and offers seating areas ideal for scenic, city centre picnics."