London Mayfair And St. James’S

Auction houses and commercial galleries may outnumber museums in the West End, but Mayfair and St. James’s is home to some of London’s most recognizable art institutions: the National Gallery; its smaller (but just as worthwhile) counterpart, the National Portrait Gallery; and the Royal Academy of Art. Mayfair is the center of London’s art market—and despite its genteel aura, it’s not all Old Masters and watercolors. Cork Street, running parallel to Old Bond St. between Clifford St. and Burlington Gardens, is lined with dozens of small commercial galleries specializing in contemporary art of all types. The auction houses, like Christie’s and Sotheby’s, give insight into what is being bought and sold in the art world today.

National Gallery

The National Gallery was founded by an Act of Parliament in 1824, with 38 pictures displayed in a townhouse. Over the years it has become one of the world’s grandest museums. The Gallery has made numerous ...more

National Portrait Gallery

This artistic Who’s Who in Britain began in 1856 and is now the place to see Britain’s freshest new artwork as well as centuries-old portraiture. New facilities include the sleek Ondaatje Wing, completed ...more

Other Museums And Galleries

Institute Of Contemporary Arts (ICA). Housed in the grand Carlton House Terrace, the ICA is London’s center for avant-garde artists. Never shying away from the controversial, the ICA usually ...more

Auction Houses

SOTHEBY’S. Before each auction, the items to be sold are displayed for viewing in the many interlocking galleries. Aristocratic Sotheby’s is a busy place; auctions occur within days of each other ...more