My monthly Open Tours are a fun and easy way to explore London’s art and architecture, with a wide choice of venues from the V&A to up-and-coming design districts.
From £20 per person
Click here for booking Private Tours.
We will take a journey through British history via portraits, starting with the fabulous Ditchley portrait of Queen Elizabeth I and ending with the stimulating work by contemporary artists such as Marc Quinn.
The National Portrait Gallery is an ideal place to get to know great British personalities, to gain an understanding of why the portraits were selected and why these individuals were considered important at the time. It is also interesting to learn how the technique and purpose of portraiture and collecting have changed over time, reflecting the attitudes of today.
A tour where we will see my all-time favourite V&A objects across this wonderful museum.
The house is a treasure trove filled with history related to the Duke of Wellington, and surprisingly even has pieces of Sèvres porcelain from Napoleon’s divorce gift to Joséphine! Wellington was not only a military hero, he was also a bit of a ‘Ladies’ man’ and we will learn more about that.
The collection also includes the centre piece of the famous Portuguese silver service commemorating victories in the Peninsular War and a number of exquisite paintings – including Titian and Velázquez gifted to the Duke by the Spanish royal family. This tour will be also take place on Saturday April 13th at 11am.
An architectural walk in the new exciting area emerging around Vauxhall and Nine Elms, just opposite Westminster and Chelsea. We will see Damian Hirst’s luxurious Newport Street Gallery, Terry Farrell’s MI6 building often featured in James Bond films, the new £1 billion American embassy and the iconic Battersea Power Station. It is definitely becoming a “happening place” including various restaurants under the refurbished railway arches and two new tube stations.
The Kings Cross area seems to really have come alive. From having been a seedy ‘no-go’ part of London it is now an interesting mix of restored Victorian Gasholders and modern buildings, many with big roof gardens. The Coal Drops Yard was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and consists of two converted 19C coal warehouses that touch each other – and hence the nickname ‘The Kiss’. A former granary has become the home of the prestigious Central St Martin’s School of Art and Design. There are canals and new gardens. Definitely a new place worth a visit. This tour will also take place on Saturday May 11th at 11am.
