Best Arts and Culture Places in Hadley

"The domed glass-and-steel ceiling at the British Museum – the world’s first national museum opened to the public – lets light into the atrium-like Great Court below, bouncing off the blinding-white, sweeping staircases and marble walls. It’s one of the capital’s prettiest spaces, but beyond the impressive lobby, it has sprawling galleries dedicated to the Egyptians, the Greeks and the Romans. Artefacts including the Rosetta Stone, Pantheon Marbles (once a part of the original structure in Athens) and more than 120 mummies draw millions of visitors every year."

"Robert Smirke (1852), Foster + Partners (2000), Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (2014)📕 Page 99. The British Museum was founded in the most atypical of conditions, at least in comparison to other European collections. The museum has its origin in the personal collection of a physician, not a monarch."

"The British Museum is the world’s oldest public national museum, dating back to 1753. It is also home to the largest covered public square in Europe; the Great Court. This two-acre space is enclosed by a spectacular roof of glass and steel and comprised of 3312 panes of glass."

"The Victoria and Albert Museum (aka the V&A) is part of a South Kensington-based group of museums that includes the Natural History Museum and Science Museum. Founded in 1852, the V&A covers close to 13 acres and contains 145 galleries spanning some 5,000 years of art and related artifacts. Exhibits include ceramics and glass, textiles and costumes, silver and jewelry, ironwork, sculpture, prints, and photos, and are conveniently arranged into four main categories: Asia; Furniture, Textiles, and Fashion; Sculpture, Metalwork, Ceramics, and Glass; and Word and Image."

"The V&A is already the doyenne of London’s design museums, but 2018 saw a huge focus on photography at the South Kensington venue. As part of the V&A’s considerable expansion plan, a new Photography Centre was added to its artistic arsenal in October 2018, housing the 270,000 photographs acquired from the Royal Photographic Society collection. This new haul includes some of the earliest examples of photography from the 1820s, right up to works by contemporary photographers including Martin Parr and Sir Don McCullin."

"Sitting grandly on the banks of the Thames is Tate Modern.Britain's national museum of modern and contemporary art has a unique design due to the building's previous life as a power station. Inside, you'll find temporary exhibitions by top artists from Damien Hirst to Gauguin and restaurants offering fabulous views across the city."

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION: The museum is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Time slots must be booked in advance on the museum’s website here. Admission to the general exhibit is free."

"Home to the national collection of British art from 1900 to the present day with a few international and contemporary pieces thrown in the mix."

"Set in London’s busiest open space, Trafalgar Square, this is the grandmother of galleries with more than 2,300 paintings spanning the 13th to the 19th centuries: Heavyweights include Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Velazquez's Rokeby Venus, and Constable’s six-foot long The Hay Wain. It gets packed at weekends, but its so large that you can usually find a quiet corner. You can download an audio tour covering the museum's highlights, but you can also curate your own by selecting the paintings you want to see before you arrive."

"The National Gallery has Sunday storytelling sessions on the ‘magic carpet’ aimed at under-fives, stopping in front of a different painting each time. There are also other activities for older kids, especially in holidays, plus trails to follow (although paintings do tend to be moved around so tracking them down can be more challenging than expected). Stopping to colour and draw is positively encouraged."

"Located in a beautiful Grade I listed Neoclassical building on the edge of Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery is one of London’s most important art galleries and is completely free to visit. The museum contains over 2,300 works from between the mid-13th century to 1900, with famous pieces by artists including Michelangelo, Velázquez, Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet and Van Gogh."

"One of the best places to visit in London when you want to learn all about the city’s rich history through time is the iconic Museum of London. Attracting over a million visitors each year, you can expect to go on a deep discovery spanning Ancient, Roman and Medieval London all the way to present day. Ideal for kids with interactive children’s galleries, free activity bags and stimulating online games, there’s enough to keep the young ones entertained while the adults get clued up on all there is to know about England."

"With so many free entry museums in London featuring collections sourced from around the world, the Museum of London takes a completely different tack – showcasing the history of my weird and wonderful city. The museum traces the history of London from prehistoric times through to modern times, with an emphasis on the characters that have called the city home. It’s a fascinating look at the events and people who have made the great city what it is today."

"Away from the frenzy of the Kensington museums and a stone’s throw from St Paul’s, is the Museum of London. Here you can travel on a journey through the capital’s turbulent past. Across nine galleries starting with prehistoric London, see how the city changed under the Romans and Saxons, see the wonders of medieval London before examining the years when London was ravaged by civil wars, plague and fire."

"Dulwich Picture Gallery opened in 1817 in Southwark, southeast London. It is the first purpose-built and London’s oldest art gallery. Nowadays besides the permanent collection of Old Master paintings, the gallery offers a program of temporary exhibitions, as well as public events that engage the community."

"Head to pretty Dulwich in south London, where you’ll find works by the likes of Rembrandt, Gainsborough and Canaletto at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Alongside its collection of Baroque masterpieces, England’s first purpose-built gallery hosts regular exhibitions spanning many art movements and mediums."

"The House of Dreams Museum is the vision of London art director Steven Wright, who has lived in the East Dulwich home since 1982. He began to turn it into a museum in the late 90s. It serves as a shrine to his dead parents and partner."

"This neo-Gothic house built in the late 1890s for William Waldorf Astor, of hotel fame and once the richest man in America, showcases art from UK museum collections outside the capital. Visit as much to see the opulent house (it's astonishing) as the collections on display, but note it's only open for a few months each year for the Winter Exhibition Programme (see the website). Check out the bronze putti (cherubs) chatting on old telephones on the steps!"

"The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill (South London) is similar to the Natural History Museum but on a much smaller scale, with collections spanning natural history and anthropology. The museum is particularly known for its elaborate taxidermy exhibition as well as the large 16 acres of gardens with a conservatory, nature trail, animal enclosure, butterfly house and sound garden with giant musical instruments you can play. With its smaller size and fun interactive exhibitions, Horniman is one of the best free museums in London for kids."

"This museum is an extraordinary place, comprising the original collection of wealthy tea-merchant and pack-rat Frederick John Horniman. He had this art-nouveau building, with its clock tower and mosaics, specially designed to house his collection. Built in 1901, today it encompasses everything from a dusty walrus and voodoo altars from Haiti and Benin to a mock-up of a Fijian reef and a collection of concertinas. It’s wonderful."

": Probably the most popular museum in south London, the Horniman Museum has a little bit of everything. There are stunning views overlooking the city from it’s grounds, which are home to to hundreds of plants and the conservatory, which is over 100 years old. Moving inside, there are natural history, musical instrument and social culture galleries, with items taken from all over the world."

"Run by the same duo behind Bocca di Lupo in Soho, Gelupo doesn’t really need an introduction. The smoothest, creamiest, most generous scoops of gelato in creative flavours like Snickers, ricotta sour cherry – tangy, slightly nutty, always a favourite – and custard millefeuille, follow Gelupo on Instagram for the latest specials. 7 Archer St, Soho, London W1D 7AU"

"Jacob Kenedy (of Bocca di Lupo) and Victor Hugo (not the author…) came up with Gelupo in 2010 and opened it right opposite the restaurant. New flavours from the popular Soho store this summer include peanut butter and raspberry, malted milk stracciatella and ricotta sour cherry. As well as their Soho store, they deliver to every London postcode."

"The iconic Soho gelateria is taking its ice cream to the streets, with flavours like ricotta with sour cherry and fresh mint stracciatella. A two tub minimum order makes the choosing less taxing, with delivery to all London postcodes available."

"Using proper Sardianian ingredients this place is a perfect blend of authentic Italian and fun British ice cream - the gelo buns (ice cream filled brioche buns) sound incredible. As well as cones and cups you can get waffles, ice cream cakes and frozen yogurt. Get MyLondon news with Alexa"

"Why: Don’t let the name on the door fool you, Paul A Young may be a master chocolatier, but he also sells ice cream at his trio of upmarket boutiques across the capital. Scoops here are provided by Hackney Gelato, while chocolatey toppings are naturally left to Young and his team. Complete your ice cream by showering it with the likes of cocoa nibs, dark chocolate pearls and hot chocolate sauce, or just go all out and ask for all of the toppings at once (we won’t judge)."

"Shopping Specialist food and drink Angel. Chocolatier Paul A Young takes the sweet stuff seriously, so when he decided to start selling ice cream in his gorgeous boutiques on Islington’s Camden Passage and at the Royal Exchange in Bank, he called in the experts. East London’s gelato wizards Hackney Gelato make three flavours for him, using the same top-notch ingredients that go into the truffles."

"Address: 33 Camden Passage, The Angel, London N1 8EA and 143 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 8WA and 20 The Royal Exchange, Threadneedle Street, London EC3V 3LP. For all you chocoholics (and really, who isn't) this top chocolatier is the place to go for your chocolate ice cream hit. Okay, so there's not a huge range of flavours and crazy toppings, but you know what you're getting and you know it's going to be top quality."

"A romantic evening doesn’t have to mean candle light, rose petals and feeding each other oysters – in London, anything goes. So, for couples who are a little bit cooler there’s Bob Bob Cité, the second venue from the creators of iconic Soho haunt Bob Bob Ricard. Hidden away on the second floor of the Leadenhall Building in Bank, this 21st century take on a traditional French brasserie will dazzle your senses."

"If you’re looking for cool restaurants in London, book a cosy booth at the futuristic Bob Bob Cité, a traditional brasserie with a 21st-century feel. Order some bubbly with a single touch of a button, and hey presto… If you can tear yourself away from the gaze of your date amid all the bubbles, select from modern takes on French classics."

"It was five years in the making and that really shows in this sequel to Bob Bob Ricard. Easily one of the most stunning rooms in town, this restaurant also features one of the best French chefs in town, Eric Chavot. The menu here is upscale French food, with dishes including Daube De Boeuf Provencal and Grilled Lobster Thermidor."

"Francophones will have already worked out what this restaurant’s USP is, but one look out the window should do it for the rest of us. This French restaurant in Shad Thames boasts a spectacular, postcard-worthy view of Tower Bridge from the south side of the river. The terrace is the prime spot for maximum gawping (even better when accompanied by champagne and a seafood platter), while inside by the window while an indoor spot by the window will do on a rainy day."

"A luxurious riverside destination with iconic views, Le Pont de la Tour offers traditional yet innovative French cuisine. An elegant, 19th-century former tea warehouse, the restaurant sits alongside Tower Bridge and offers alfresco dining on the stylish terrace.lepontdelatour.co.uk"

"One of the classics of the south bank of the Thames, this restaurant's terrace has unparalleled views of Tower Bridge. Just be prepared to have passing tourists giving you jealous looks as you toy with your crab and melon salad in the sunshine."

"As the restaurant shuts its doors, LPM London has reinstated its delivery service, offering a menu of classics inspired by the South of France. Highlights include the likes of Niçoise salad, tuna carpaccio; whole baked sea bream in papillote; and lamb cutlets. Desserts are also available alongside a selection of wines."

"Keep your Côte d'Azur holiday vibe going with a visit to the London cousin of La Petite Maison in Nice. The Beckhams, Stella and Paul McCartney and Amanda Holden have all been spotted enjoying the French Mediterranean cuisine and excellent wine list in this Mayfair bistro."

"3 Church Road, Teddington, Richmond-upon-Thames TW11 8PF EnglandJapanese, Sushi, AsianLunch, DinnerDelivery, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Highchairs Available[email protected]+44 20 3302 0811http://www.itabashi.co.uk"

"Sushi Tetsu is a traditional Japanese Sushi Bar located on a side street in Clerkenwell. Specialising in sushi and sashimi that is considered to have some of the best sushi in London, there are only a handful of seats so booking well in advance is highly recommended. Tip: Sushi Tetsu uses Twitter to announce free seats and cancellations, but they get snapped up quickly."

"Hands-down one of London’s best places for sushi - if only you can get a reservation. The room may be tiny, but the talent is huge. Toru Takahashi and his wife, Harumi run the show and, obviously, counter dining is the best place to enjoy Toru’s food (and skills)."