london gallery virtual tour

14 Of London’s Very Best Virtual Museum And Exhibition Tours

Chances are you’re twiddling your thumbs, aching to go out.

Join the club. But there are still lots of ways you can pass the time, while also feeling like you’re out in the heart of London culture. While there are countless virtual tours that you can dive into around the world , many of the most wonderful online museums, exhibitions and walking tours can be found on London soil. We’ve rounded up some of the best.

1. Greenwich Painted Hall

The beautiful Greenwich Painted Hall only reopened after works a year ago . So, only a lucky percentage have seen it in all its glory in recent years. Nevertheless, keen art-lovers can still catch the marvellous paintings online. You’ll get beautiful 360-degree views of the hall, including the stunning benches, windows and full-wall murals.

Check out Greenwich Hall with the full stunning surfaces right here.

2. British Museum 

View this post on Instagram

Take a scrolling stroll around the British Museum and head through their virtual time-capsule. You’ll make Marty McFly look like a fool with this one, as the tool lets you look at artefacts from as far back as 5000 BC. This site gives you a tour of any year, whether it’s 1400 AD or 2000 BC. It beckons the nation to come out of the lockdown as well-rounded, esteemed historians.

Take the scroll of your life through the British Museum right here.

3. Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum was one of the first London museums to close its doors , before all the others were ordered to follow suit. But, if Ben Stiller taught us anything, it’s that life lives on in museums regardless of human movement inside. The dinosaurs, the blue whales and the scary skulls are all on hand to provide us with a cracking virtual display. The museum’s website gives a host of options on ways to interact with all things natural and historic. The pick of the bunch, however, has to be a guided interactive tour of Hintze Hall led by none other than Sir David Attenborough .

Check out the vast array of museum tour opportunities right here. 

4. Yayoi Kusama’s world-renowned Infinity Rooms, which were due to hit the Tate Modern

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by The Broad (@thebroadmuseum) on Apr 1, 2020 at 7:12pm PDT

Yayoi Kusama’s spectacular Infinity Rooms have gripped the public as they make their way to different stops around the globe. Kusama’s Infinity Rooms are chambers just big enough for three people, filled with stunning beams of light for a unique, individual experience. They were due to hit the Tate Modern on 11 May , but sadly have been halted due to COVID-19. Never fear, Instagram is here. The Broad Museum has provided an interactive view of Kusama’s room via the app , which aims to transport you from your sofa to the radiant glow of infinity.

5. Jack The Ripper walking tour

Take yourself out to the spooky spots that Jack The Ripper once roamed through… all from the safety of your own home. In this thrilling tour, you’ll learn about London’s most notorious serial killer, his victims and even investigate other alleged perpetrators. The historical tour displays the Whitechapel crime scenes and lets you draw up your own conclusions about the never-caught killer himself. It’s the most detailed and all-consuming virtual tour you can experience from lockdown.

Find out more about the spooky tour and grab your tickets right here.

6. The Postal Museum

As the magic of the  Postal Museum  remains behind closed doors due to the coronavirus, virtual visitors are able to hop on board the museum’s star attraction: the famous Mail Rail. “Passengers” on the virtual tour will explore the hidden subterranean world of the 100-year-old Post Office Railway, chugging its way through the original tunnels.

Read all about it and get involved here.

7. The National Gallery

The National Gallery provides detailed virtual tours of their different wings. See everything from early renaissance paintings, to 360-degree views of Holstein and Titian. It’s a world to get lost in and immerse yourself in the best art the capital has to offer.

Check out the virtual tours of The National Gallery on offer here.

8. The London Transport Museum

If you’ve got time to kill, this is an excellent, detailed walking tour of the London Transport Museum. As it was filmed this time last year, the crowds in the museum might make you pine for the days where you could join them. It’s a great way to get to grips with London’s historic travel company.

9. Houses of Parliament

While they’re normally bellowing away here, even the MPs are mostly working from home. No matter how you feel they’re handling this ongoing crisis, it doesn’t mean you can’t get a feel for the historic buildings they normally grace. This 360-degree virtual tour lets you wander through the Commons, the Lords and the lobbies, halls and galleries that make up the Houses Of Parliament.

Check out the Houses Of Parliament virtual tour here.

10. Buckingham Palace State Tour Rooms

As it’s the Queen’s birthday this week (April 21), it would be remiss of us not to let you know about the Buckingham Palace virtual tours . Check out the majestic throne room, the grand staircase, the drawing-room and much more. Truly the most royal you can feel at a time like this.

Check out the Buckingham Palace State Room tours right here.

11.  Courtauld Gallery

The Courtauld Gallery has past experience in getting this kind of thing to work. It closed its doors temporarily in September 2018, and offered viewers a virtual tour. This has, of course, come in handy for the current situation. Anyone can gawk at the beautiful work of Manet, Van Gogh and plenty more with a virtual display of every single room.

Check out the full Courtauld Gallery tour right here.

12.  Saatchi Gallery’s ‘Tutanhkamun: Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh‘ exhibit

The Tutankhamun exhibit was one of the hottest tickets in town prior to lockdown—and one of the final chances to see the artefacts before their permanent move to Cairo’s Grand Egyptian Museum—so news of the online tour is welcome indeed. The gallery invites you to “Enter The Tomb” where you’re able to check out prized artefacts such as vases, coffinettes, and statues.

13. Andy Warhol at Tate Modern

Mainly down to the brilliant weather that London has so typically experienced as soon as everyone got forced inside, this is one that hurts a lot. A day out on the sunny Southbank topped off by cooling down at this Andy Warhol exhibition sounds like complete heaven. Nonetheless, the Tate Modern has ensured that we don’t completely miss out. A full video of the excellent Andy Warhol exhibition can be found online, along with a detailed commentary that explores the exhibition room by room.

14.  NOW Gallery’s “Slices Of Time” installation

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by emmanuelle moureaux (@emmanuellemoureaux) on Feb 3, 2020 at 2:50pm PST

Before the forced closures, NOW Gallery housed Emmanuele Moureaux’s first large-scale installation in the UK. Luckily though, the free exhibition, dubbed “Slices Of Time”, can still be found online. It’s the most brightly-coloured display on this list and is inspired by the artist’s time living in Tokyo among the neon lights. Slices Of Time takes on Moureaux’s invented concept of  shikiri,  which means ‘dividing space with colour’. The exhibition is a sight to behold and it’s available here for free .

See also:  The Netherlands’ Breathtaking Tulip Fields Are In Full Bloom, And You Can Explore Them Virtually

TYPE IN YOUR SEARCH AND PRESS ENTER

Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.

British Museum from home

The Great Court at the British Museum.

Share the page

• Share on Facebook
• Share on X (formerly Twitter)

The Museum is temporarily closed, following government advice.

We're open and look forward to welcoming you back..

For the latest updates about booking tickets and what's happening at the Museum,  sign up to our newsletter .

You can continue to enjoy the British Museum at home. Explore the collection  and  tour the galleries via Google Street View . Plus get the inside story from Museum experts and guests through our online events ,  blog , podcasts , YouTube channel and social media . 

Please support the Museum through a direct donation , by becoming a Member or via a purchase in our online shop if you're able.  

Thank you in advance for your continued support. 

Stay connected online

How to explore the British Museum from home

Read the blog

Take a virtual gallery tour

Search the collection

More online.

Attend an online event

Be a young explorer

The British Museum podcast

Visit the shop

Book a Virtual Visit

Watch events on YouTube

Discover objects in 3D

Find us on social media.

We'll continue to share the collection with you as fully as possible on social media. Follow us on:

Sign up to our newsletters

Stay connected and receive all our latest news, stories and ways to visit the British Museum from home.

British Museum across the web

Here are other ways you can explore the collection:

• Explore the Museum's galleries virtually via Google Street View .
• Take a journey behind the scenes with the  Museum's downloadable podcasts .
• Delve into Google Arts and Culture for  online exhibitions, stories  and a timeline , including a project looking at the Mayan World .

Support the Museum

Your support is vital, now more than ever, and helps the Museum to share the collection with the world.

The Courtauld is an internationally renowned centre for the teaching and research of art history and a major public gallery

Be part of an international community of influential art enthusiasts, thought leaders and change makers

Current students

Information and resources for students currently studying at The Courtauld

Stay in touch

Quick links, suggested searches, gallery virtual tours, launch tours.

Our virtual tour uses a photographic technique to show The Courtauld Gallery and our collection in exceptional close-up quality.

You can roam each room of the Gallery, and zoom in to look closely at masterpieces from our collection, from individual brush strokes to the texture of the paint.

Frank Auerbach. The Charcoal Heads

Experience a  remarkable  series  of  haunting ly  beautiful,  large-scale  drawings by  Frank Auerbach (born 1931),  presented together  for the first time at The Courtauld Gallery.

Find out more about the exhibition

Permanent Collection

The Courtauld’s much-loved permanent collection ranges from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, including masterpieces such as Manet’s  A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1883), Van Gogh’s  Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889) and the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK.

Located in the magnificent historical setting of Somerset House in London, experience all three floors of our remarkable collection.

Claudette Johnson: Presence

A founding member of the Black British Arts Movement, Claudette Johnson is considered one of the most significant figurative artists of her generation. For over 30 years she has created large-scale drawings of  B lack women and men that are at once intimate and powerful.

Presenting a carefully selected group of major works from across her career, from key early drawings such as the arresting  I Came to Dance, 1982,  and  And I Have My Own Business in This Skin,  1982, alongside recent and new works, this exhibition offers a compelling overview of Johnson’s pioneering career and artistic development.

Reworking Manet

This exhibition showcases  a selection of outstanding works made by students aged 14–18 from across the UK. They are creative responses to  Édouard  Manet’s famous painting  A Bar at the Folies-Bergère  (1882) in The Courtauld collection.   

Reworking Manet ,  a live project brief was developed  by The Courtauld’s Learning team  in collaboration with a group of young people and Turner Prize-winning artist and Courtauld alumnus, Jeremy Deller. It opened to UK wide submissions 2023.   

A major exhibition of new and recent works by Peter Doig – including paintings created since the artist’s move from Trinidad to London in 2021.

The Morgan Stanley Exhibition: Peter Doig  presents an exciting new chapter in the career of one of the most celebrated and important painters working today.

Edvard Munch. Masterpieces from Bergen

Experience 18 seminal paintings from Edvard Munch in spectacular detail in our latest virtual tour.

Displayed at The Courtauld Gallery,  Edvard Munch. Masterpieces from Bergen   marks the first time that the Rasmus Mayer collection from KODE in Bergen has been shown outside of Scandinavia.

Van Gogh. Self-Portraits

Van Gogh. Self-Portraits  takes as its springboard Van Gogh’s iconic  Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889), one of the most celebrated works in The Courtauld’s collection, and brings together around half of the self-portraits Van Gogh created during his short years as a painter.

This is the first time that the full span of Van Gogh’s self-portraiture has been explored in an exhibition. Several works in the exhibition were last together in Van Gogh’s studio and have never been reunited, until now.

• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• Switzerland
• Solo Location Guides
• Solo Travel Advice
• Solo Inspiration
• Luxury travel

DESTINATIONS , ENGLAND , EUROPE

Virtual london tours: the 10 best armchair travel experiences.

Why do you travel?

For some, it’s an opportunity to decompress, perhaps in a warm climate with a good book as a companion. Others seek out new experiences, including sampling local cuisine. But for many, travel is an opportunity to learn more about the place, its people, its culture and its history.

Extend your horizons beyond your living room by taking a virtual London tour of its iconic landmarks and flagship attractions. Here are the best of the bunch.

1. Explore the British Museum from home

The British Museum is one of my favourite places to visit in London. But just because you may not be able to visit it doesn’t mean that you can’t dive into its vast collection.

Its online collection is outstanding, allowing visitors to search over four million object records online or to explore collection highlights and stories. Many of the museum’s objects have more than one image.

Podcasts are also available.

For a different virtual experience, you can take a  virtual museum tour with Google Street View , including the hugely popular –  and usually rammed – Egyptian Gallery.

2. Take a virtual tour of the National Gallery, London

Google has also created  360-degree tours of the National Gallery , including seven rooms as well as its Central Hall. This virtual collection includes Renaissance masterpieces from the likes of Titian and Holbein.

And like the British Museum, you can search the gallery’s vast collection with almost 2,500 of its works available to view online.

3. Find out more about the Wallace Collection’s masterpieces

The Wallace Collection is one of those slightly off-the-main-radar art galleries in London.

Built over the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, this collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture, arms, armour and porcelain. It was bequeathed to the British nation in 1897.

It’s east to explore the  Wallace Collection highlights .

Want to know more about Frans Hals’  The Laughing Cavalier ? Then you are in luck. Where this virtual collection is head and shoulders over its neighbours is the depth of information offered on exhibits, even to the extent of providing suggestions for further reading.

4. Tour the Courtauld Collection from your armchair

The Courtauld Gallery is one of my favourite galleries in London. After a stunning makeover, it has opened its doors to visitors once again.

Get a sneak preview of what is behind its doors by taking a virtual tour of the gallery’s awesome collection . This includes Van Gough’s  Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear  and Édouard Manet’s  A Bar at the Folies-Bergère .

5. Take a virtual tour of the Churchill War Rooms

Touring the Churchill War Rooms is a terrific thing to do in London. But if you can’t physically be there, visit virtually through its impressive collection of images and videos.

You can just imagine Churchill’s ministers and military strategists thrashing out the Allied strategy in smoke-filled rooms.

6. Take a tour of the Houses of Parliament

Explore the nooks and crannies of the home of UK democracy on a  Houses of Parliament 360-degree virtual tour .

Starting at the central lobby, walk through the labyrinthine corridors of power to the House of Commons. Embrace your inner historian by clicking on the information icons on the ‘hotspots’ along the way.

There is also a separate Woman and Parliament Virtual Tour which traces the role of the gentler sex in the UK Government, including the Suffrage movement.

7. Drop into 10 Downing Street

Let’s stay with UK politics. It’s not as if many people will get an opportunity to enter Downing Street, one of the most famous streets in London and the location of the Prime Minister’s home. But you can take a peek inside courtesy of a  virtual tour of 10 Downing Street .

I really like this London virtual tour. The image quality is superb and you can explore 10 Downing Street inside and out.

Start with the iconic staircase, lined with photographs of past Prime Ministers and then venture to the Cabinet Room with its elegant Corinthian columns. Complete your visit by checking out the Prime Minister’s office and the elegant Pillared Room.

Go full-screen for the best experience.

8. Walk in the footsteps of royalty at Buckingham Palace

Don’t stop at seeing where the PM conducts his business. Take a sneaky peek at HM The King’s official London residence with an armchair tour of Buckingham Palace .

This London virtual tour allows you to explore the opulent White Drawing Room, Throne Room and the Grand Staircase.

9. Stalk the corridors of Hampton Court Palace

Anyone who has read Hilary Mantel’s books will be familiar with the magnificent 16 th  Century Hampton Court Palace which was once the home of Henry VIII. One of the  most beautiful royal palaces in Europe , this is a fantastic place to visit, albeit pricey, but – you guessed it – you can now take a  virtual tour of Hampton Court Palace

This 8-minute video, narrated by a ‘Yeoman of the Guard’, starts in the courtyard before moving to rooms inside the Palace. A free online course on the history of royal fashion is also available.

10. Take a narrated tour of the Tower of London

Visiting the Tower of London is a ust-do if you are in town. Sadly, the virtual tour of the Tower of London is no longer available. However, it does have a selction of excellent educational materials on its website .

Which London virtual tour will you take?

These virtual tours of London’s top sights vary hugely in their quality and the depth of information provided. As might be expected, most of these are very visual experiences at the expense of contextual information about what you are looking at.

However, the advantage of experiencing London’s key attractions from the comfort of your own sofa is that you can go at your own pace and don’t have to battle with the crowds. A virtual London tour also provides an opportunity to view spaces normally closed to the public, such as 10 Downing Street.

So pause Netflix and just do it.

ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE? THEN READ THESE NEXT!

• 30 Famous London Landmarks
• 26 Epic Things To Do Alone In London
• 23 Famous Bridges in London
• 32 Easy Day Trips from London by Train
• 30 Famous Streets in London You Must Visit
• 10 Tasty Foods in London That You Must Try

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman is a Londoner who has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

10 of the world’s best virtual museum and art gallery tours

The originals are out of reach for now, but you can still see world-class art – without the queues or ticket prices – with an online tour of these famous museums

A rt lovers can view thousands of paintings, sculptures, installations and new work online – many in minute detail – as well as explore the museums themselves. There are various platforms: from interactive, 360-degree videos and full “walk-around” tours with voiceover descriptions to slideshows with zoomable photos of the world’s greatest artworks. And many allow viewers to get closer to the art than they could do in real life.

So, take a break from the news, enter full-screen mode and start your art adventure in sunny California …

J Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

With more than 6,000 years worth of creative treasures, the Getty is one of the best places for art on the west coast of the US. Go from neolithic clay figures to Van Gogh’s Irises and Renoir’s La Promenade – just two of many artworks that feature in the virtual tour . As with several of our selection, Google Arts and Culture offers a “ museum view ” tool to look inside gallery spaces, with clickable artworks presenting further information. The Getty’s sunny sculpture plaza and garden terrace are worth adding to your digital trip, via another viewing platform, Xplorit . getty.edu

Vatican Museums, Rome

Soaring vaulted ceilings, intricate murals and tapestries, the Vatican’s museums are creatively rich sites. Don’t forget to look up when exploring the seven spaces in the museum’s virtual tour, to gawp at a series of 360-degree images, including the Sistine Chapel. Wander around the rest of Vatican City with a You Visit tour that takes in Saint Peter’s Basilica and Square, complete with a tour guide narrating each interactive space. museivaticani.va

Guggenheim, Bilbao

Frank Gehry’s sculptured titanium and steel building, on the banks of the Nervión River, is one of the world’s most distinctive art spaces. The interactive tour takes viewers around its collection of postwar American and European painting and sculpture – Rothko, Holzer, Koons, Kapoor – and even down between the weathered curves of Serra’s Matter of Time (turn left at the entrance). guggenheim-bilbao.eus

Natural History Museum, London

From the diplodocus to the dodo, botany to butterflies, giant crystals to specimens in jars … the Natural History Museum’s vast collection has long been a favourite of both Londoners and tourists. Get lost in the corridors and gallery spaces – one treat is Dippy the dino, who despite recently going on tour still makes an appearance in the entrance hall in this interactive online guide . nhm.ac.uk

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

This grand museum has a vast collection of art and historical objects across 80 galleries. A 10-year renovation project was completed in 2013, transforming the space and combining elements of 19th-century grandeur with modern lighting and a new glass-roofed atrium. The interactive tour helps viewers get up close to every brush stroke by Vermeer, Rembrandt and other Dutch masters while exploring the Great Hall and beyond. rijksmuseum.nl

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea

There are several sites making up this museum: the main gallery in Gwacheon and branches in Deoksugung, Seoul and Cheongju. The virtual tours explore an inspiring mix of print, design, sculpture, photography, new media and other large-scale installations. From Joseph Beuys to Warhol and Nam June Paik, the collection includes an international lineup of established artists, contemporary Korean artworks and emerging names. mmca.go.kr

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

In the former Gare d’Orsay, a Paris railway station and hotel, the musée is home to Cézanne, Monet and other French masters. Under a 138m-long curved glass roof, sits the largest collection of impressionist and post-Impressionist works in the world. The virtual tour also includes an online exhibition charting the history of the building. And over on Tourist Tube there’s a 360-degree view of the magnificent exterior. m.musee-orsay.fr

British Museum, London

There are 3,212 panes of glass in the domed ceiling of the British Museum’s Great Court, and no two are the same – and the 360-degree view in this virtual tour lets viewers examine each and every one. Beyond this magnificent space, viewers can find the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and other ancient wonders. The museum’s interactive infographic platform, History Connected , goes into further depth of various objects with curators, along a timeline. britishmuseum.org

MASP, São Paulo, Brazil

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo has one of the broadest historical collections available to view via its virtual gallery platform , spanning from the 14th to 20th centuries. Paintings appear suspended in the air around the open-plan space, on glass panels or “crystal easels” as the museum calls them. There’s also a temporary retrospective exhibition by Brazilian pop artist Teresinha Soares beside the building’s statement red staircase. The glass and red-beam structure, built in 1968, is worth a look from the outside too, via Google Street View . masp.org.br

National Gallery, London

• Cultural trips
• Travel websites
• Virtual reality

More on this story

Favourite UK museums and galleries: readers' travel tips

Where to get spooked this Halloween in the UK

12 of the best city museums in Europe: readers’ travel tips

10 of the best museums close to railway stations in Europe: readers’ tips

10 holiday highlights of this strange summer: readers’ tips

Shetland: an epic landscape with a Viking soul

The UK’s best forgotten ruins: readers’ travel tips

20 of the best autumn getaways around the UK

UK parks and free public gardens: readers’ travel tips

10 great UK coastal walks: readers' tips

Comments (…), most viewed.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Attractions
• Museums + Galleries

These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch

Experience the best museums — from London to Seoul — from the comfort of your own home.

While there's nothing like setting foot inside an iconic museum and laying eyes on a world-famous sculpture created by a renowned artist centuries ago, it's not always possible to hop on a plane to New York City , Paris , or Florence to tour the gallery halls in person.

But there is a way to get a little culture and education while you're at home, gaining inspiration and intel for future trips as well. Google Arts & Culture has teamed up with more than 1,200 museums and galleries around the world to bring anyone and everyone virtual tours and online exhibits of some of the most famous museums around the world.

You get to "go to the museum" and never have to leave your couch.

Google Arts & Culture's collection includes The British Museum in London, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Guggenheim in New York City, and literally hundreds more places where you can gain knowledge about art, history, and science.

Take a look at just some of Google's top museums that are offering online tours and exhibits. And if you're seeking more thoughtful inspiration from the comfort of your own home, museums around the world are sharing their most zen art on social media . Or, for a dose of nature, you can go "outside" with incredible virtual tours of some of America's best national parks .

The British Museum, London

This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. You can also find hundreds of artifacts on The Museum of the World interactive website, a collaboration between The British Museum and Google Cultural Institute.

Guggenheim, New York

Google's Street View feature lets visitors tour the Guggenheim's famous spiral staircase without ever leaving home. From there, you can discover incredible works of art from the impressionist, post-impressionist, modern, and contemporary eras.

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

This famous American art museum features two online exhibits through Google. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including many renderings of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Dutch baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

You can virtually walk through this popular gallery that houses dozens of famous works from French artists who worked and lived between 1848 and 1914. Get a peek at artworks from Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, among others.

Don Eim/Travel + Leisure

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul

One of Korea's popular museums can be accessed from anywhere around the world. Google's virtual tour takes you through six floors of contemporary art from Korea and all over the globe.

Pergamon Museum, Berlin

As one of Germany's largest museums, Pergamon has a lot to offer — even if you can't physically be there . This historical museum is home to plenty of ancient artifacts including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and, of course, the Pergamon Altar.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Explore masterpieces from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a Street View tour of this iconic museum, so you can feel as if you're actually wandering its halls.

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Anyone who's a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter can see his works up close (or, almost up close ) by virtually visiting this museum, home to the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 750 personal letters.

The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

European artworks from as far back as the eighth century can be found in this California art museum. Take a Street View tour to discover a huge collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, and photographs.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

This less well-known gallery houses the art collection of one of Florence's most famous families, the de' Medicis. The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 specifically for Cosimo I de' Medici, but anyone can wander its halls from anywhere in the world .

MASP, São Paulo

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a nonprofit and Brazil's first modern museum. Artworks placed on clear, raised frames make it seem like they're hovering in midair. Take a virtual tour to experience the wondrous display for yourself.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Built in 1964, this museum is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico's pre-Hispanic heritage. There are 22 exhibit rooms filled with ancient artifacts, including some from the Maya civilization.

Not all popular art museums and galleries are included in Google Arts & Culture's collection, but some have taken it upon themselves to offer online visits. For example, the Louvre offers virtual tours on its website .

To see more of Google Arts & Culture's collection of museums, visit its website . There are thousands of museum Street Views on Google as well. Google Arts & Culture also has an online experience for exploring famous historic and cultural heritage sites .

21 of the Best Free Virtual Tours of London

We have put together a list of 21 one of the best virtual tours of London. And best of all, these virtual tours are free and interactive.

London’s best virtual tours.

As you may already have noticed, 2020 isn’t the best year to be planning your sight seeing tours of pretty much anywhere. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the sights and sounds of great destinations such as London. In fact, London can be discovered through a great selection of online virtual tours.  So now you can  enjoy  your culture fix from wherever you are in the world.

Here at Visit London Taxi Tours, we know a thing or two about the best things to see and do in our great city. So, we’ve put together a list of  21 one of the best virtual tours of London that can be found online . And best of all, these virtual tours are free and interactive. And while they are virtual tours do not think you are being short changed. The close up views of the magnificent art covering the domed ceiling of the Painted Hall, for example, the nooks and crannies of the Tower of London, going behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum, they really are all rather special.

We’ve grouped the list into cultural (museums and music), landmarks (palaces, cathedrals and political locations) and general sightseeing. We hope you enjoy!

Cultural locations

London is world renowned as an incredible place to check out the arts and music, with some thing for everyone across the many museums in the city. During the Coronavirus shutdown, you can still visit some of these famous locations.

The Natural History Museum

One of the most popular museums in London, you can discover dinosaur fossils and some of the world’s most remarkable creatures. There is a lot to see and do on this virtual tour (just like in the real museum), with live interactive talks twice a week,a tour with Sir Richard Attenborough and the chance to browse the images from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards.

The Natural History Museum Virtual Tour

The British Museum

Home to many treasures of the world, the British Museum is vast and really does reward multiple visits. So even if you’ve been before, you’ll be able to discover evenmore with the British Museum’s virtual tour. Discover ancient civilizations,art and fascinating insights into history.

  The British Museum Virtual Tour

Museum of London & London Docklands

London’s history has been moulded by many influences, and in turn, she has influenced so many. The Museum of London and the Museum of London Docklands showcase the unique history of the city, from the Romans to Jack the Ripper, to the modern era.

The Museum of London Docklands Virtual Tour

The National Gallery

One of the world’s finest collections of classical and contemporary art, the National Gallery is a Mecca for art lovers. Like so many museums on this list, a real life visit can be overwhelming, with so much to see. The virtual tour of the National Gallery is perfect for those who like to enjoy both the master pieces and the building too.

The National Gallery Virtual Tour

The Courtauld Gallery

With a focus on the history of art, this virtual stroll tour is another must see for fans of classic art. As well as a look at the works on display, there are also live talks and performances and video lectures.

 The Courtauld Gallery

Brick Lane Music Hall

A uniquely London experience, the Brick Lane Music Hall is a traditional venue in East London. Regularly showcasing traditional music and East London (aka Cockney) culture, you can still get a glimpse of all this with their 3D virtual tour.

 Brick Lane Music Hall Virtual Tour

The Royal Academy

Another world class art gallery, the Royal Academy regularly hosts some of the world’s best known works of art. Their current collection (as of May 2020) is Picasso and Paper, featuring sketches and paintings by Picasso. But if you can wait they re-open on May 18th 2021

The Royal Academy Virtual Tour

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

The reconstructed theatre on the banks of the Thames offers tours and regular theatre performances. The virtual tour currently available includes both a look around the theatre and also archived theatre and musical performances. We wonder what Shakespeare would have thought of a virtual tour of the Globe Theatre? We think he would have approved. If you loved it, you can also donate, helping this wonderful charity recover from a challenging year.

Shakespeare's Globe Virtual Tour

Royal Albert Hall

Probably the most prestigious concert venue in London, the Royal Albert Hall has played host to greats from Elton John to the Rolling Stones. The virtual tour allows you to marvel at the grandeur of this iconic venue. There are also concerts streamed by well known bands and musicians to check out on their site.

The Royal Albert Hall Virtual Tour

London Landmarks

Any sightseeing tour to London will be a very busy occasion, because there is just so much to see! London is certainly blessed with landmarks, but with a virtual tour you can enjoy them at your leisure (and without needing to travel back and forth across town).

The Houses of Parliament

Perhaps the most iconic of London’s landmarks, the Houses of Parliament are most recognisable thanks to Big Ben. This tour doesn’t include Big Ben, but does offer a fascinating walk around the halls of Power in the UK. The artwork that hangs in every room is just a wonder in its own right.

The Houses of Parliament Virtual Tour

Westminster Abbey

Staying in Parliament Square, visitors can explore this incredible building and some of it’s famous features. These include the Coronation Chair, the tomb of St Edward the Confessor and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You’ll also find podcasts featuring religious services on the site too. One of our most favorite virtual tours, it's like popping into a time machine.

Westminster Abbey Virtual Tour

The Tower of London

Rich in history and definitely one of the must visit landmarks in this city packed full of unmissable landmarks, the Tower of London is a fascinating place. Home to the crown jewels and with plenty of incredible stories attached to it, the Tower of London’s history is as rich and varied as the city itself.

You’ll find several options for virtual tours including: The Tower of London Grounds Virtual Tour

Churchill War Rooms

 The nerve centre of the British government during WW2, the Churchill War Rooms looks at the British war effort and the history of Winston Churchill himself.

 The Churchill Rooms Virtual Tour

10 Downing Street

The residence of the UK’s Prime Minister is off limits to visitors, but with this tour you can get a great look inside. Check out the PM’s office, the Cabinet Room and thereception. Unfortunately you don’t get to meet Larry the cat…

10 Downing Street Virtual Tour

The Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College

A stunningly beautiful building as part of the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, the Painted Hall never fails to impress. With the virtual tour, you can appreciate the scale and grandeur of this magnificent building and the close of the art work is breathtaking.

The Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College Virtual Tour

Hampton Court Palace

London isn’t short of impressive palaces, and arguably this is the most impressive of them all. Hampton Court is located 12 miles south west from the city of London, andis an excellent example of Tudor architecture. Once the seat of royalty in Britain, today it’s a beautiful place to visit and explore, with their virtual tour offering plenty of insight.

Hampton Court Palace Virtual Tour

Windsor Castle

The current tour, like Buckingham Palace has been removed while the Royal family mourn the sad loss of the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip). However, we have left the link up as we feel confident the virtual tour of Windsor Castle will return.

Another impressive Palace, the Queen’s ‘other’ digs are rich in history and full of amazing artworks. The tour features walkthroughs and video guides so you can appreciate the grandeur of this spectacular landmark, including the Crimson Drawing Rooms and the Semi State Room.

Windsor Castle Virtual Tour

London’s highlights

This tour allows you to take in all of the landmarks of the London skyline with some panoramic views from across the city. Check out the view from the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and Harrods, among many others.

 London’s highlights and Landmarks Virtual Tour

London’s Bridges by Night

Our London by Night Taxi Tour is one of our most popular tours and a stop on a famous London bridge, with a twinkling view down the River Thames is a wow moment for many of our guests. Well, while that is on hold how about seeing the bright lights of the city on a virtual riverside walk. With 360 degree views, it’s just like actually being there!

London’s Bridges by Night Virtual Tour

Beyond Virtual Tours of London…

With the current COVID-19 pandemic affecting travel across the world, a visit to London might have to wait for now. But, if you’re wondering how best to do sightseeing and maintain social distancing, our taxi tours could be the answer. In fact we think our private taxi tours will be very popular as people look for options to take them away from crowds. And of course, in this post COVID world our taxis will be fully sanitised after every tour and we will be following all Public Health England advice to keep our guests protected.

We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to our fantastic city. But in the meantime, we hope these tours give you plenty of reasons to come back when it is safe to do so.

Some photography made available by London Partners.

We have a number of private taxi tours that range from the traditional to the unusual, standard to unique, a  private tour designed just for you, friends and family. We are here to help you maximise the time you spend in London, what you get to see  and the fun you have. And you get to do all of this in an iconic London black taxi with a London taxi driver tour guide — this will be a local who is passionate and knowledgeable about our city’s history, buildings, places, and people.

Social media.

Our Taxi's are wheelchair accessible

We have been awarded the industry standard kite mark by Visit England. Read our COVID-19 policy here . Read our news articles below for more information and videos.

Photography attribution from london & partners.

© Visit London Taxi Tours 2020

9 virtual exhibition tours to watch online

By Connie Sjödin

Published on 16 April 2020

Galleries and museums might be closed but you can still see major exhibitions from around the world, while swapping the crowds for a cuppa. We pick some of the best virtual tours and artworks currently available online.

1. Andy Warhol at Tate Modern

London, curator tour In a seven-minute video tour , supplied along with text panels from the exhibition, Tate curators Gregor Muir and Fiontán Moran share their approach to the major Tate Modern exhibition of American pop artist, Andy Warhol . Key works from Warhol’s career tell of his experiences as the son of Eastern European immigrants, member of the LGBTQI community and his brush with death.

2. Raffaello, 1520 – 1483 at the Scuderie del Quirinale

Rome, virtual tour of the largest ever exhibition of Raphael Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, or Raphael, arrived in Rome in 1508, at the invitation of the new Pope Julius II. Although we can’t join him there, the Scuderie del Quirinale has brought its vast exhibition of one of the greatest artists of the High Renaissance online. In this 13-minute walk-through , learn about the social context and the crucial role of patronage in Raphael’s career, while gazing at his lavish range of portraits, religious works and architectural designs.

Photo © David Parry/Royal Academy of Arts © Succession Picasso/DACS 2020 Exhibition organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London and the Cleveland Museum of Art in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris

3. Picasso and Paper at the RA

London, virtual tour We could hardly leave out our own blockbuster, could we? In our 39-minute video tour of the exhibition, Picasso and Paper , you can experience the Spanish artist’s varied, experimental uses of paper over his 80-year career: drawing on, folding, even burning it. As the exhibition features more than 300 works, touring it meditatively from the comfort of your sofa could be an advantage.

And, while you're there – if you like it, you can take a quick spin around our Léon Spilliaert show too, in this 20-minute film .

4. Tom Wudl: The Flowerbank World at L.A Louver

Los Angeles, virtual tour Here is a suitably meditative approach to the work of American artist Tom Wudl. Doing away with added commentary, the six-minute walk-through gives space to Wudl’s intricately detailed paintings, drawings and prints, inspired by the Buddhist text the Avatamsaka Sutra . Visit the LA Louver website for more information on the exhibition and an interview with the artist.

5. Edward Hopper at Fondation Beyeler

Basel, curator introduction Many online commentators have held up 20th-century American artist Edward Hopper as the poster boy for self-isolation. Curator Ulf Küster provides a tantalising insight into the current exhibition at Fondation Beyeler in Basel, Switzerland, in a four-minute video tour released shortly before its closure. Hopper’s use of framing, windows, and evocation of an unknown landscape beyond the horizon, are all increasingly familiar in a changing world.

6. Jakob Kudsk Steensen: Catharsis from the Serpentine

London, virtual artwork until 31 May Shinrin-yoku , or “forest bathing”, is an ancient Japanese practice to relax and replenish the soul. While long nature excursions are currently off-limits, Serpentine Online is hosting an online equivalent until the end of May: Danish artist Jakob Kudsk Steensen’s digital simulation of a lush North American forest . The moss, the sunlight, the fish-populated pools and the calming music, provided by sound artist Matt McCorkle, all create an immensely tranquil experience.

7. Eye to I: Self Portraits from the National Portrait Gallery, at the Boca Raton Museum of Art

Boca Raton, virtual tour With the term “self-conscious" as its starting point, the exhibition Eye to I is a cherry-picking of self-portraits by major artists in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery . With a wide range of depictions spanning over a century, this thoughtful presentation straddles themes from cultural identity to body positivity. Catch up with it in this six-minute video tour .

8. Tanoa Sasraku: O’ Pierrot from LUX

London, moving image artworks available until 1 May LUX – an agency promoting international artists working with moving image – gifts us two short films by London-based artist Tanoa Sasraku in an online version of her planned exhibition. Set against the backdrop of the English countryside, Sasraku references early cinema and cultural tropes in order to examine the construction of a British identity, from her perspective as a young, mixed-race, LGBTQI woman.

9. Fiona Tan: Time Without Clocks from Frith Street Gallery

London, A Moving Image Programme, until 20 April As part of its digital offering Frith Street Gallery presents a weekly online programme of moving image works, which are usually seen only in exhibitions. This week Amsterdam-based artist Fiona Tan shares three contemplative works that centre on memory and her sense of time. As Tan explains in her introduction, scale and presentation are usually central to the experience of her works, so we recommend a dark room and headphones.

Next week, the gallery will be showcasing Raqs Media Collective's Provisions for Everybody (2018).

Related articles

Making Space

15 March 2024

Crunch: inside the first Architecture Window display

14 February 2024

Why is Flaming June iconic?

13 February 2024

• Français ( French )

London Virtual Tour

Discover and learn about London from your home by booking a London Virtual Tour.

From the comfort of your own home, discover London’s major sites, historic buildings, statues, monuments, and neighbourhoods via a virtual tour. You can also book a London Virtual Tour related to architecture, archaeology, British Royalty, culture, history, literature, theatre, museums, fashion and shopping. Whatever the topic of interest, we have knowledgeable and experienced Blue Badge Tourist Guides who can showcase the best of what London has to offer.

Ideas for an unmissable London Virtual Tour include…

• Classic London – be amazed by the stories of London’s top tourist attractions, including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Royal Botanic Gardens, London Eye, Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.
• City of London – discover the 2,000-year history of “The City” also known as “The Square Mile,” where you will now see 21st-century skyscrapers towering over medieval buildings.
• London Architecture – explore London’s dramatic and constantly evolving architecture from historic Tudor buildings like Hampton Court Palace to modern skyscrapers such as The Shard, the UK’s tallest building.

Other London Virtual Tours to consider…

• Famous Paintings & Modern Masterpieces – let us shine a spotlight on some of the classic and contemporary artwork to be found in London.
• Royal London – explore historical places in London connected to the British Monarchy, including Buckingham Palace, St James Palace, The Royal Mews, The Mall, Westminster Abbey.
• Legal London – find out from an expert just what it takes to wear those famous wigs, and discover how London’s legal history influenced the world.
• London Street Art – explore the ‘Outdoor Gallery ’ in London’s East end, showcasing highly prized works by street artists such as Banksy, ROA, Martin Ron, sTIK, Jimmy C, and Ben Eine.
• Historic London Areas – find out about some of the historic areas of London, including Bloomsbury, Covent Garden, the City of Westminster, Whitechapel and Southwark.
• Literary London – discover sites in London connected to British poets, playwrights, and novelists such as Jane Austen, Geoffrey Chaucer, Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, Ian Fleming, William Shakespeare, and Virginia Wolf.
• Multicultural London – discover diverse, fascinating, and constantly evolving London neighbourhoods, including the Caribbean community in Brixton, Bangla (Bengali) community in Spitalfields, and Jewish East End.
•  Theatrical London – learn about the history and shows at London’s 40+ theatres in the West End that in a typical year attracts 14+ million visitors, making it the largest theatre district in the English-speaking world!
• A Windsor Wander – take a traffic-free drive from Central London to Windsor Castle, home to Her Majesty the Queen. Walk the picturesque streets surrounding the 1000-year-old castle filled with secrets, stories, and wonders.
• And many more! Just ask a guide for your dream tour.

Whatever topic you decide on for your London Virtual Tour, we can customize it based on the dynamics of your group. So if you are a family with children, we can tailor the virtual tour to make sure your young ones are engaged throughout. If you are a school or university group, we can customize it based on academic interests. If you are an art club, social club, or corporate team, we can also customize for engagement. We can even put together a fun and entertaining quiz for your team or group on any London topic with the guide acting as compere.

Book a Blue Badge Tourist Guide for your London Virtual Tour because you’ll get…

• A fun, informative, professionally qualified guide booked exclusively for your family or group
• Confidence that your guide will be fully trained to deliver you an interactive and engaging virtual tour.
• The ability to tailor a tour to your interests. Let your guide know if there is something you would like to include or a particular interest you have, and they will be able to accommodate.
• Insights into some of the most interesting, unusual, and historical places which these guides know like the back of their hand. Along with some hidden gems and details that you would not find on your own, our guides have their own stories to tell about the places they know.
• Tips and hints to make your eventual tour to London a success!

So let us get started. With that, when completing the form below, please be as detailed as possible about your group and the type of London Virtual Tour that you would like the guide to organise. THANK YOU!

Let us 'Match' you with one of our Blue Badge Tourist Guides who are:

• Friendly, professional and used to dealing with groups of all ages and sizes
• Holders of the prestigious Blue Badge (the highest Tourist Guiding qualification in the UK)
• Able to use special entrances at certain well known attractions to avoid waiting in long lines
• Able to offer tours in over 30 different languages

Simply input your tour request details in the form below. When you have finished, hit the Green ‘Submit to Match’ button. Your request will be instantly emailed to three highly qualified and enthusiastic London Blue Badge Tourist Guides, matching your criteria. They will then email you confirming availability, pricing and suggestions for the tour itself. So let one of our 500+ Blue Badge Tourist Guides make your stay in London a special one.

Short notice request! We will do our best to accommodate your needs, but generally try to give at least two days notice.

Date of tour: Flexible dates Coming to London for a whole week? Let the guide know that the date is flexible, so they can suggest an upcoming event or a less crowded time for the tour. (+/- 3 days)

Language: Albanian Bulgarian Chinese (Cantonese) Chinese (Mandarin) Croatian Czech Danish Dutch/Flemish English Finnish French German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Italian Japanese Korean Lithuanian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Slovak Spanish Swedish Swiss-German Taiwanese Turkish Welsh

Duration: Morning Half day tour up to 4 hours maximum, usually expected to finish by 13:00 Afternoon Half day tour up to 4 hours maximum, usually expected to start by 13:30 All Day Full days are up to 9 hours, usually finishing no later than 18:00 Evening Only Half day tour up to 4 hours maximum, usually expected to start no earlier than 18:00

Travel by: Walking & Public Transportation Tour Explore London by walking and a variety of public transport (Underground, Black Cab, London double decker bus or even riverboat) Cycling Tour Cycle around London with a professional Guide. Bring your own bicycle or request the Guide to help you hire one. Driving Tour Get driven around in style by a professional Driver Guide. Usually for groups of up to 7 people. Coach Tour A tour for larger groups (typically 20+). Please tell the Guide if you have your own coach and driver, or request the Guide to help you hire one. Virtual Tour Explore London's top sights and attractions from the comfort of your home

Interests: Major London sites Museum and Galleries Beyond London Specialist Tours

First name:

Group size:

Special requirements:

Tick box to sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news, events and offers from London.

Other pages for consideration:

Changing of the Guard Tour

Major london sites.

360 tour of Tate Modern

Follow nick grimshaw and frances morris on a whistlestop tour around tate modern's blavatnik building.

Explore Tate Modern

Tate modern.

Free admission

• Entertainment
• Rex Reed Reviews
• Awards Shows
• Climate Change
• Restaurants
• Gift Guides
• Business of Art
• Nightlife & Dining
• About Observer
• Advertise With Us

Art Party Glamour: Inside London’s National Portrait Gallery Gala

Tracey emin, sir grayson perry, victoria siddall, nathan clements-gillespie and other art world vips attended the first fundraiser since the institution's reopening..

Earlier this week, London’s National Portrait Gallery held its first fundraising Gala since it reopened after renovations last year. The star-studded evening, which was co-chaired by former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful and education activist Malala Yousafzai , attracted leaders from the interconnected worlds of art, fashion, media and philanthropy. Among the notables were artist Tracey Emin , model and TV personality Alexa Chung , designer Bella Freud , artist Sir Grayson Perry   and actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas , along with a whole host of art world insiders and socialites there to see, be seen and raise funds to support the museum’s various initiatives.

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our <a rel="nofollow noreferer" href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

Yousafzai, whose portrait was added to the gallery in 2018, touched on the importance of those initiatives in her speech when she said . “There is a great responsibility in determining whose stories are told and how—a responsibility I know the National Portrait Gallery takes very seriously. I’ve seen firsthand how the collection is growing to better capture our world and those who shape it.”

Gala goers enjoyed exclusive access to the National Portrait Gallery’s spring exhibitions, “Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In” and “The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure.” There was also a silent auction featuring an array of one-of-a-kind lots, including a private tour of Coco Chanel’s apartment on Rue Cambon, a drawing signed by Tracey Emin, a sketching masterclass with Jamie Fobert and a studio tour with Grayson Perry. Also on the block: a virtual talk by Yousafzai to be given to a school of the winning bidder’s choosing.

The post-dinner party, cohosted by Luxx’s Sophie Goodwin and Charles Rosier , CEO of Augustinus Bader, saw guests flocking to the dance floor as DJ trio HALE ZERO and Hole singer Courtney Love (in a gorgeous Elizabeth Emanuel gown) traded off on the deck.

Author Philippa Perry, artist Sir Grayson Perry and artist Everlyn Nicodemus

Artist Tracey Emin

Frieze Masters Director Nathan Clements-Gillespie

Serum Institute of India Executive Director Natasha Poonawalla

Architect Richard Found, art historian Katy Hessel and art consultant Jane Suitor

Vogue Global Editor at Large Hamish Bowles and former British Vogue EIC Erdem Moralioglu

Photographer Juergen Teller and artist Dovile Drizyte

Chanel global head of arts and culture Yana Peel

National Portrait Gallery cultural trustee Victoria Siddall

Artist Marc Quinn and model Adot Gak

Art advisor Magdalena Gabriel and publicist Stuart Watts

Rafael Haley, Carl Haley and Greg Haley of HALE ZERO

Luxx fashion director Sophie Goodwin and artist Faye Wei Wei

Fashion designer Amanda Wakeley, Sofia Blunt and Emma Pilkington

Fashion designer Bella Freud and actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas

TV personality Maya Jama

• SEE ALSO : The Ellis Island Museum Is Getting a $100M Makeover

We noticed you're using an ad blocker.

We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker. We'd really appreciate it.

How Do I Whitelist Observer?

Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser:

For Adblock:

Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain .

For Adblock Plus on Google Chrome:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site.

For Adblock Plus on Firefox:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com.

Browse all events

Filter events

Easter holidays

Decoding pictures.

• 11.30 am - 12.15 pm
• 1.30 - 2.15 pm

Daily guided tour

Guided tours of Longford Castle

British Sign Language (BSL) tour

Find anything you save across the site in your account

In London, The National Portrait Gallery Brought Back Its Annual Gala

By Maia Torres

At London’s National Portrait Gallery, gallery director Nicholas Cullinan, along with co-chairs Edward Enninful OBE and Malala Yousafzai, hosted its annual Portrait Gala with an affair packed with a constellation of luminaries across the worlds of art, fashion, and philanthropy—celebrating the gala’s grand return since the Gallery’s reopening in the summer of 2023.

After attendees settled into their seats, dinner service commenced. While conversations bounced between the portrait-adorned walls of the Gallery, a silent auction took place, offering guests the chance to bid on a few fashionable treasures (including a private tour of Coco Chanel’s apartment on Rue Cambon, front row seats to the Erdem Spring/Summer presentation, and so much more). All funds raised from the Portrait Gala are dedicated to supporting several of the Gallery’s vital works, fostering accessibility, education, and innovation within the arts community.

As the evening transitioned into the after-party, which was sponsored by none other than skincare stalwart Augustinus Bader (who also hosted two tables that evening) and led by CEO Charles Rosier together with Sophie Goodwin, the festivities continued unabated. DJ sets courtesy of Hale Zero and a captivating performance by Courtney Love brought guests, including Tracey Emin, Alexa Chung, Bella Freud, Princess Olympia of Greece, and more onto the dance floor up until the stroke of midnight.

Guests didn’t leave the Gallery empty-handed; luxury tokens from Augustinus Bader’s cult-favorite products, such as the brand’s eye patches and Rich Cream, were handed to each attendee. Of course, Cullinan, on the cusp of his investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, bid each guest a gracious farewell as the night came to a close.

Alexa Chung

Courtney Love

Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark