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Clear sky Major London Art Galleries
What is art? Is it painted works by Caravaggio, da Vinci and Cèzanne?
Or mixed media sculptural pieces by Jake and Dinos Chapman and acoustic installations by Bruce Neumann? Or all of these?
Wherever you stand on the great art debate, the sheer abundance and variety of world-class artworks on display in London will not disappoint even the most discerning art lover.
Royal Academy of Arts
Walk through the gates off Piccadilly, to the Annenberg Courtyard, where outdoor exhibitions are often held, and into the grand Royal Academy of Arts; one of London's major art galleries. It's home to an ever-changing programme of exciting, blockbuster exhibitions.
Tate Modern
Sitting Thames-side, London's great cathedral to international modern art used to be a power station. Inside Tate Modern, you'll find temporary exhibitions by top artists such as Rachel Whiteread, Frida Kahlo, Martin Kippenberger, Mark Rothko and Kandinsky. And thanks to its riverside setting, the gallery's restaurants offer fabulous views across the Thames.
Tate Britain
From romantic Pre-Raphaelite paintings to landscapes by Turner and Francis Bacon's distorted nudes – you'll find much to gaze in awe at within Tate Britain, another of London's great art galleries. If you eat at the gallery's renowned restaurant, make sure you study the world-famous mural by Rex Whistler between mouthfuls!
National Gallery
The crowning glory of the Trafalgar Square piazza, London's National Gallery is a vast space, filled to the rafters with Western European paintings. In this London art gallery, you can expect to find works by masters such as Van Gogh, da Vinci, Cézanne, Constable, Caravaggio, Canaletto, Titian and Stubbs.
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery in London started life in 1856. It is home to a vast collection of portraits of British men and women in different media, from Tudor times to pictures from the 1980s. Subjects include great writers such as William Shakespeare and Rudyard Kipling, as well as Kings and Queens and icons of our time. It also has a photographic collection, and boasts one of the best roof-top restaurants in London.
Somerset House
A cultural centre on the north bank of the Thames, Somerset House hosts London's Courtauld Gallery as well as the Embankment Galleries. In addition to its world-famous collection of Old Masters, Impressionist and Post-impressionist paintings, the Courtauld Gallery offers a highly acclaimed programme of temporary exhibitions. The Embankment Galleries host a rotating exhibition programme dedicated to art, design, fashion, architecture and photography.
The Hayward
Part of the Southbank Centre, The Hayward hosts 4 London art exhibitions of international stature annually. The gallery specialises in the works of modern masters and the most exciting names in contemporary art. It's also responsible for some pretty exciting talks, debates and workshops.
