National Portrait Gallery

Of all the museums we visited in London, this was my favorite. It doesn't draw the throngs that the National Gallery does, even though it is right around the corner. I liked the timeline layout (although it was very easy to get out of order), and I particularly enjoy looking at the faces of history. Kind of brings it to life.

Had some well known paintings I wasn't expecting, some "name" painters, and one I wasn't expecting- a very lovely gem of a self portrait by Angelica Kauffmann, who is a particular favorite of mine. The statue of Victoria and Albert dressed as what looked like Roman lovers was just.... gawpingly bizarre.

Have lunch acrost the street in the crypt at St Martin in the Field church. Super cafe, smelled like heaven, and very reasonable prices.

I actually liked this better than the adjacent National Gallery. It's essentially an art museum for history buffs. You get to see thousands of portraits of all those famous Brits, from kings to poets to physicists throughout Britain's glorious and fascinating history. In a nutshell, it's a who's who of Britain, wrapped up in one museum.

There was also a bizarre but memorable temporary exhibition of various athletes (possibly gearing up for London 2012) during my visit. Inside, you'll find a bunch of athletes and olympians posing nude for AIDS awareness, including French footballer Thierry Henry, one of the Williams tennis sisters, and of course...wait for it.....Buffalo Bills wideout TERRELL "T.O." OWENS! There was also a downright creepy "portrait," which was a continuous loop of a video of David Beckham asleep.

Very much different from the National Gallery. I'd say the National Portrait Gallery is well worth a visit in its own right.