Student Bloggers

I am a huge museum girl. Always have and always will. So you can imagine how excited I was to come to London which has a thriving museum culture. There are over 200 museums in London (with each of them containing thousands of items) so it can be a little overwhelming at first! When I first started exploring London’s museums, I was so confused about where to start. I found that it helps to have one “must-see” item when first going into a new museum. It helped me feel a little more grounded. Today, I want to share with you all my must-see items in some of London’s most popular museums in hopes that it will help guide you in your own museum journeys!

The British Museum

When I came to The British Museum for the first time, I knew exactly what piece I wanted to see. The single Caryatid at The British Museum has captured my interest for a couple of years so I was excited to finally see it in person! The Caryatids were created around 400 B.C. and they were a set of six statues that held up the Erechtheion Temple. In the eighteenth century, one of the Caryatids was removed by a British diplomat and bought by the British government to be displayed in The British Museum. There is a lot of discord about whether or not the Caryatid in the British Museum should be returned to Greece, especially since the other five Caryatids are displayed in The Acropolis Museum. The fascinating thing about the Caryatid in The British Museum is that it is in much better condition than her sisters in Athens. The exquisite details have stood the test of time and it makes you wonder about the blood, sweat, and tears that must have gone into creating something this beautiful. It is certainly breathtaking and a must see item, especially if you were obsessed with Greek myths and history as a child like me!

Directions: The British Museum, Ground Floor, Room 19.

Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum was recommended to me by a sorority sister so I knew that it was going to be an amazing experience. When I was thinking about which item to highlight in this article, I decided to pick it based on what spoke to me in the moment. Though it is the smallest, its voice is loud. Displayed alongside other miniature portraits, the Eye Miniature depicts only a single blue eye. It is one of many eye miniature paintings that were created at the beginning of the 19th century. Some of you might recognize it from Bridgerton because Marina Thompson wears one at the beginning of season one! It is absolutely stunning. It is surrounded by a frame of pearls and even includes tiny diamonds that almost give the illusion of tears falling. As you soak in every single element, you begin to wonder about the woman who would have worn such a piece. Was this her husband? Her lover? Her close friend? Sadly, we will never know. Because of its size, the name of the person was usually not included. Sotoday, we have no idea whose eye is depicted in the Eye Miniature displayed in The Victoria and Albert Museum. However, that does not stop my imagination from running wild! Maybe you can take your own guess when you see it!

Directions: Victoria and Albert Museum (South Kensington), Level Two, Room 90A (Portrait Miniatures Room). 

The National Gallery

If you are interested in learning a little bit about British history, this next painting is for you! Let’s dive into some Tudor history! To set the scene, Edward VI was Henry VIII’s only son. On his deathbed, he named his teenage cousin - Lady Jane Grey - his heir. This upset his eldest sister Mary I (also known as Bloody Mary), who believed that the throne should be rightfully her’s. Lady Jane Grey was only queen for nine days before she was usurped by Mary I. She spent the rest of her days as a prisoner in The Tower of London. She was beheaded about seven months later. Paul Delaroche depicts Lady Jane Grey right before her death in his painting The Execution of Lady Jane Grey. This painting is heavy with symbolism and I could spend all day dissecting it. Its large size gives it almost a cinematic feeling. It is truly a mesmerizing painting, especially if you have visited the Tower of London before. The frame is a masterpiece of its own so don’t forget to read the inscription at the very top. I encourage you to take your time with it (there is a bench right in front of it, so don’t worry about having to stand). 

Directions: The National Gallery, Level Two, Room 45.

The Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection is probably one of my favorite museums I have ever been to, and I do not say that lightly. The museum itself is the Seymour family’s old townhouse. Its rooms maintain their old charm while also housing paintings, jewelry, furniture, old suits of armor, and so much more! Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s The Swing has fascinated me for years. The Swing is a painting that depicts a husband, a wife, and her lover. My favorite detail is the little white dog that can be seen at the husband’s feet (probably because it reminds me of my own dog, Nala). When I found out that it was on display in London, it skyrocketed The Wallace Collection to the top of my list. When I first saw it, it took my breath away. This painting underwent extensive conservation efforts in 2021 and The Wallace Collection’s hard work aids the painting in lighting up the room. Everything else in the room seemed to bask in the painting’s glow. Though it is a small painting, there is so much tiny brushwork from the ruffles in the women’s skirt to the fibers on the ropes. The woman’s dress almost glitters when you view it in person. You definitely need to add The Wallace Collection to your list of museums to visit and make sure that you say hello to The Swing painting for me while you are there!

 Directions: The Wallace Collection, First Floor, The Study.

Tate Britain

One thing you must know about me is that I am a huge Shakespeare fan. Since I read Romeo and Juliet for my middle school English class, I have been hooked. While it is not my favorite play, Hamlet is one that I continue to come back to again and again in my studies because of the character Ophelia. For those of you who need a quick refresher, Ophelia is the young lover of our titular character who is driven mad by her father’s murder and Hamlet’s betrayal. Spoiler alert: she drowns at the end of Act IV. There are many interpretations of Ophelia’s death. I find the interpretation in Sir John Evertt Millais’ painting Ophelia as an interesting addition to the conversation. He depicts Ophelia’s death in a calm river, almost overtaken with greenery. Surrounded by flowers that represent her faithfulness and innocence, Ophelia looks almost peaceful in death, maybe from escaping the madness that has haunted her. It is difficult to describe the cocktail of emotions one is overcome with when viewing this painting in person. I can stare at this painting for hours and always find something new hidden in the details. It is so easy to get lost in it. The photos online do not do it enough justice.

 Directions: Tate Britain, Main Floor, Room 10. 

The National Portrait Gallery 

Call me old fashioned, but I love portraits. It was so difficult to pick my single, must see item at The National Portrait Gallery. I could write an entire blog post about my top ten pieces of art to see here. However, there is one piece that I (literally and metaphorically) return to. It is the portrait of The Brontë Sisters by Branwell Brontë. I absolutely love Gothic literature and Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is one of my favorite pieces of classical literature. This portrait has such an interesting history. It is the only painting of all three sisters together and it was lost until 1914. It had been forgotten on top of a wardrobe. When you see the portrait, you can still see the crease lines where the painting had been folded up. Another strange thing about this portrait is that if you look closely, you might be able to see the outline of a fourth person on the pillar in the background. It is believed that Branwell Brontë (their brother) had originally painted himself in although we are unsure why he painted himself out. It is haunting to see this fourth figure, especially in person. If you are a fan of Gothic literature, you have to check this portrait out. 

Directions: The National Portrait Gallery, Floor Two, Room 21.