The Wallace Collection

The Wallace Collection is a hidden London gem. An art collection housed in beautiful Hertford House just off Marylebone High Street. Spread over 3 floors it has a intimate feeling of visiting a very grand private house due to the way the rooms are laid out. The rooms are stunning colours which makes the artwork and furniture really stand out. We visited in December when the museum was decorated for Christmas and looked amazing. There was a cafe, toilets and lockers.

The Wallace Collection might be my favorite museum of all time. I came to see the famous “The Swing” painting and I was pleasantly surprised by how many amazing works of art were housed here. They even have an entire floor dedicated to an INCREDIBLE Armoury! The Wallace House has so much more than just paintings. They had amazing pieces of furniture and clocks and so much more! I was very lucky to come on a weekday in the morning and pretty much had the entire museum to myself! The staff are incredibly kind and knowledgeable. I highly recommend coming to The Wallace Collection as a main stop if visiting London. I’d honestly pick coming here over going to the National Gallery. Truly a special collection! (It’s also free to visit!)

The Wallace Collection is one of those London gems that you fall in love with from the moment you walk in. Housed in beautiful Hertford House just off Marylebone High Street, it feels more like visiting a grand private home than a typical museum. The rooms are stunning – coloured silk walls, chandeliers, old master paintings, period furniture, armour – everything arranged in a way that makes you want to linger. The collection itself is outstanding: Rembrandt, Fragonard, Canaletto, Velázquez, incredible French furniture, decorative arts and armour. You can easily spend a few hours just wandering from room to room and still feel there is more to discover. Staff are welcoming, the atmosphere is calm, and admission is free, which is unbelievable for this level of quality. Whether you’re an art lover or just looking for a quieter alternative to the big London museums, The Wallace Collection is an absolute must-visit.

A fantastic hidden treasure with an exquisite collection of paintings and artifacts. The armory collection is interesting and vast. You can walk through this lovely old mansion & get a true feel for the lifestyle of London’s upper-class. The cafe in the closed inner courtyard is worth a visit as well.

This place absolutely stole my heart 😭 Everything about it felt luxurious, elegant, and beautiful. The interiors, antiques, furniture, artwork — my eyes were literally glazing over because there was so much beauty everywhere. If you love history, antiques, and decorative art, this place is unreal. It felt rich, warm, and full of character. This is 100% somewhere I’d happily visit again and again.

I hadnt heard of this place until shortly before my visit. I truly regret not coming here sooner. Its one of the most interesting collections ive seen. Theres a huge amount of high quality furtniture, art and armour. Theres so much i had to make time in my trip for a second visit just to see everything. The lockers are free. Entry is free. Its one of the best value and most dense museums in London. Couldn't recommend more

This is a tremendous museum probably more biased to paintings than anything else. It is diverse housing everything from a huge collection of suits of armour to wardrobes. Although not large it is deceptive because it's layout allows the display of a huge array of artefacts. I highly recommend a visit to this venue that allows easy up close access to so many fascinating items.

One of the best museums I've seen, and I've seen my fair share. This is a hidden gem filled with exquisite items curated by a private collector that rivals Getty and other great collectors (albeit quality, think condensed and yes, students of the masters but nevertheless greatness). Given to the public to enjoy, experience the privilege to see beautiful paintings, miniature carvings in wax and wood, an amazing armory collection, and beautiful craftsmanship of furniture you just can't buy. Be sure to look up, there's hidden gems everywhere. Dine in the center area, have tea, or try a British sparkling (yum, and yes, the Brits make good wine these days). Don't miss "The Swing" (famous painting ya might have seen in cinema or on post cards). It's a free museum, not too crowded, and definitely worth a look. Donations help keep the lights on so don't be cheap, drop something in the box as ya leave or pay via QR code on the way out.

If you love art and history, then you should add the Wallace Collection to your London itinerary. You will find rooms filled with paintings, sculptures, armoiries, and more. After our tour, we decided to have lunch outside, and one of my daughters opted for tea. The food wasn't the best and the service was slow but the atmosphere was relaxing and special.

I have to say that London really has some pretty awesome art museums, such as this one. Actually, it is also free, which is really quite cool. I believe that the contents of the museum, and I suspect the house as well, belonged to some socialite who no doubt, upon his death, decided to leave his collection to the public in perpetuity, which I have to say is pretty awesome. Then again, you can't really take it with you when you are gone, and who cares about the kids (especially if they happen to be trust fund babies). Anyway, yeah, pretty awesome museum, and pretty awesome collection as well.

Beautiful gallery with a lots of different rooms on display to view. However, I unfortunately had afternoon tea at their restaurant which was a mistake. They service was terrible! Visit the collection but avoid their restaurant!

This beautiful - and free! - museum in Marylebone is worth your time if you love art history! The collection is full of paintings, sculptures, figurines, furniture, and even weaponry. My favorite piece was Fragonard's 'The Swing'! An hour and a half was sufficient time for us to see everything.

If you love oil paintings and basically the "gilded era, COME HERE!!! Each room is full of information and beauty. I can't believe I never knew about this museum in the MIDDLE of London! It's free to go and you can donate if you like. I accidentally joined a tour when I came into the first room and she was great! I can't remember her name... but she's an older Asian lady with a British accent. There was one room when there was a crazy younger lady who made me take off my small backpack which I felt was more dangerous with me holding it as I can swing it and hit something by accident... Bathrooms are outside towards the cafe but down the stairs. Stairs are kind of narrow so be careful! I feel like even though I was there for a while, there's so much to learn. I did learn way more during the tour about specific items then I did overall the whole museum. Might have to go back and tour on my own next time :)

What a find. A private mansion converted into a museum. Very nice collection of 17th and 18th century oil paintings. Super quiet and not crowded like the V&A or the British museum. So nice not having to fight the crowds. I recommend the guided tours as some of the gun artifacts and art works don't have notes explaining the items displayed. Free except for special exhibits.

This afternoon tea was pretty good! It look a while for tea and food to be served, but I also came with a large group. The room where the food is served is lovely, and there is art and items to see while you wait for your table to be ready. The sandwiches were ok, but the scones and desserts were fantastic! They brought seconds of the desserts and tea when we asked.

Great collection with fancy arts and armory. They have a large amount of high quality paints and China, as well as weapons. Their afternoon tea in the garden was great at a good price too! Around 20 for a good tasting set per person was well worth it. Love this place and would be happy to come back again for both their collections and afternoon tea.

Amazing collection of art by one man in his house. Rembrandt Valesquez unbelievable armor on and on and on. Don't miss it. The Flemish art flourished because they had a bourgeninh middle class that could afford o buy art The restaurant is tasty lOvely well lit and reasonable

Private mansion now a National Museum. The collections acquired throughout generations of the family is overwhelming. One can only glance into the house, concentrate in a couple of items or areas and keep moving throughout the mansion. There are plenty of sitting opportunities to languish Your eyesight and contemplate the art pieces. Funny how the eye and senses are sharpen among so much beauty. On a crowded wall of painting, one in particular caught my eye and I thought that is a Velazquez paint; sure enough. When I approached it to look closer, his paint. I was pleased with myself. The same with all the Masters. One will spot them in the crowded walls. The armor collection pretty impressive. There are display items to try on. Lol! There is a cafe/restaurant on site. I chose the restaurant. The menu has variety of Entrees, First Plate, Sides, Desserts. Wine, Teas, Coffees served as well. The Soup of Green Apples was delightful. The "crisp" pork belly(was not crisp) was tasty. It came with roasted Butter Squash However, service very slow, snail pace. I needed the rest. Need to go back.

The knights and armour are a great sight to see when you are visiting London! The giftshop looks nice, the items look like they are worth their price! The Restaurant: Food: Good! When I went to the restaurant, many things were sold out, which is disappointing, but I found something to eat ( The chocolate Cake, I had no other choice.) Service: Great! They are very helpful! Atmosphere: It is under a huge Dome in the middle of the old Mansion The comfort: Great as well! The art and sculptures were very interesting! The Restaurant is 5 Stars spot on! Not too crowded either! Please Vote for this review, and follow me ( I will follow you back!) This guy Richard Wallace was a huge collector...

The art is lovely; the tea experience was terrible. At booking, you're required to put in any food allergies. When I arrived I had to wait to be helped for some time. Finally the woman who came up front read off our party's allergies (one to shellfish and one to peanuts). She told me I shouldn't eat their bread or their cakes. There are no peanuts listed on the menu so I asked for clarification. She said the kitchen cannot guarantee anything. She wanted to know if I was prepared for an allergic reaction "do you have something with you if something happens?". She then called the kitchen! By this time, it's past our reservation time and there is a que forming behind me. She gets off and tells me that I will get fruit and not the real desserts. We proceed to a table and no one waits on us for probably 15 minutes. When the waitress does come she doesn't offer us the drink options nor the scone options listed on the menu. Sure enough my tray comes out without any desserts and my friend(who is allergic to shell fish is still served a salmon sandwich). The waitress' reply to the news that she couldn't eat it was, "you didn't say anything to me!" Hmmm yes we did-when we booked the reservation!!! The kitchen wouldn't give me the desserts - even tho there are no peanut ingredients = the SAME RISK I take eating anywhere. My tea should have been discounted since I only received a little pile of fruit. Also, I tasted all three desserts and surprise-i'm still alive. Our waitress never came to check on us, it took forever to find her to ask for the bill or to get her to come back to take our payment as she was In the bar chatting and making herself a cup of coffee. Disappointed.

I wish I knew more about art. How to appreciate it. How to know what's good and what's not. Sadly, my American education didn't get into the classics. So while a few of the names rang bells in the back of my mind, I know there was so much more here that I didn't appreciate. Titan, Rembrandt, Boucher, Canaletto. These are names I recognized. Even my obtuseness still noticed some of the fantastic paintings and the sculptures were amazing works of art. And don't forget about the stunning tables, dressers, wardrobes and chairs. Ruben's fantastic Rainbow Landscape (a full-on rainbow!). The classic Laughing Cavalier (painted in 1624). There's almost an overload of wonderful works of art. Oh, and when you've had enough classic portraits and landscapes, wander through the armouries. Daggers and swords, dating back to the 15th century. Pistols designed for Louis XIV. Several full suits of armor. Fully dressed horses in armor. All sorts of amazing pieces of war machinery that simply don't exist anywhere else. There's also a small gift shop with the usual trinkets and such. I nabbed a handful of postcards but they also had books, prints, even little mint cases with prints of the art. Taking pictures is permitted, as long as you don't use your flash. There was too much glass and too many bright windows in the armory rooms to get good images, but all the artwork rooms came out awesome! Oh, where is all of this stuff? A two block walk from the shopping district of Oxford Street! And how much to enter? Nothing! No a single penny (though you really should donate if you can).

Another gem of the free museums. I totally dug the Wallace Collection. Five generations of collectors contributed to the works of art, furniture and armaments you will find here. The "townhouse" as described by Lady (Mrs. Mia?) Wallace seemed to me like a mansion that was part art gallery, part showpiece and part arsenal. The house is beautiful and there is a popular courtyard restaurant in the middle that looks like a perfect place for lunch or tea. The top floor had most of the paintings and artwork, but it really wasn't my thing and I breezed through it. The ground floor consisted of elaborately decorated showrooms and four rooms of weaponry. This was where I spent most of my time. The armories were quite impressive. I geeked out a bit wandering from the Oriental collection to the different European armories that spanned the ages. I loved seeing the knights on horseback and checking out all of the different collections of daggers, swords, battle axes, crossbows and rifles. Other museums, that you'll likely pay for, have a fraction of the weapons you'll find here.

Such a beautiful place. Highly recommend if you love art history and little bit of fashion at the moment with manolo blahnik's shoe display

Afternoon tea! please note that most of their menu items have traces of or may contain nuts. The chef was accommodating and I was very pleased, thank you! The fresh jam and avocado/tomato finger sandwiches had me dancing in my seat.

The Wallace Collection is one of my favourite small museums in London. It's free to visit and has a treasure trove of masters with just a small influx of tourists. No pushing and shoving to view the Reubens and Rembrandts. It also houses a large collection of Fragonards & Bouchers. The ground floor has a huge collection of miniatures and armour / weaponry from around the world. And if you need any other reason to visit, it has to be their porcelain collection. All of this housed in a private house that is still decorated the same way (think the lovely small museums in Amsterdam) They have a gorgeous cafe out back (in the centre of the 3 storied building) that feels very glamorous. I'd advise heading upstairs to view the art first before exploring the downstairs, so you can pace yourself better.

I made my way to the Wallace collection on the recommendation of a friend who had lived in London and who works in the art history field - so happy I listened to her! The Wallace collection is free and has an extensive collection of french and Dutch artworks. I loved the mansion housing the collection, I loved the presentation of a lot of the pieces made with sensitive materials under the leather flaps in the glass cases. I felt transported in the house, before I knew it 90 minutes had passed and they were closing! I still didn't get to see everything! I hope to return one day soon.

What an amazing place, and I can't believe it's taken me years to pay a visit to the Wallace Collection. There is just so much culture to be had in London and I tend to favour the more contemporary end of the art market ... Still, this collection of masterpieces is well worth a visit. And museums in stately homes have come a long way ... on a "First Friday" event the house was buzzing with people, music and entertainment - making the rooms come back to life. Events such as this must be a major money spinner for the museum. Unfortunately, bar staff seemed unprepared for the sheer number of visitors, and it just seemed ridiculous to have to queue twice, once to order and again to pay for your drinks. Not very sophisticated. Perfectly understandable that you are not allowed to walk about with your drink, but rather annoying when you've paid more than a tenner for a glass of bubbly and David McAlmont is about to hit a high note in one of the upstairs galleries ... Now that I've discovered what gems can be found here, I am determined to return on a quieter day and have a good look at the paintings and other precious collections displayed in the multicoloured flock-papered rooms.

London and its free museums... I mean how lucky we are to have all this culture available (as the wifi connection too) in such a great locations. If you are into old houses or armors, then you would love this place. They do have also a cafe located under a glass ceiling patio that it is worth a visit. You can spend 20 minutes or 3 hours over here so it is a perfect place to hide from the rain in style if you are in this area

Amazing collection in central London - Marylebone area. A huge collection of furniture, famous paintings and objects, armour and weapons. And all of these for free. Allow more than a half day to see everything. One of the must places to visit in London if you like impressive ceilings, chandeliers, expensive curtains and furniture.

The Wallace Collection is a national museum in a historic London townhouse - there are 25 galleries that feature French 18th century painting, furniture, porcelain, and armoury. The large Drawing Room had some beautiful furniture pieces that were created by Andre-Charles Boulle, and seeing some of the portraits by Van Dyck in the Great Gallery was great. When I visited, there was an exhibition on Rembrandt's etchings that was very wonderful to see. +Van Dyck pieces

The collection of armour and weaponry here was impressive and fascinating. I spent an hour alone looking at the intricacy of the collected pieces. After wandering and observing the collection for about 2.5 hours, I took a seat at the restaurant for afternoon tea. The hostess in the front was so friendly and attentive. Because I was visiting from NYC, she gave me tips on where to explore around the city. I was very happy with the relaxing ambiance- diners had a great view of the sky due to the glass ceiling. Afternoon tea was a great price; even with an added glass of fizz. I enjoyed the cucumber and dill & the curry chicken sandwiches the most and also really loved the scones. They were perfectly moist, though, I do wish there was clotted cream on the side. The sweets were a little *too* sweet for me, but overall, I was very happy with the selection and the experience.

My absolute favorite museum in all of London. The Wallace Collection houses a stunning variety of French Rococo art and furniture, which are all placed beautifully throughout the entire two-story building. They also have a collection of medieval artifacts (armory, swords and such). Reminded me of the Shakespearean age, and in my most recent visit this past year, I kept thinking of GOT. It's a smaller museum, slightly removed from the main road (Oxford St) and sits among a slew of quaint residential homes, which makes it all the more unassuming and unique.

A free national museum displaying superb works of art in an historic London town house. The collection was acquired principally in the 19th century by the 3rd and 4th Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the illegitimate son of the 4th Marquess. The 28 rooms, many recently refurbished with elaborate gilding & wall silks, present collections of French 18th-century painting, furniture and porcelain (many once owned by Madame de Pompadour and Queen Marie-Antoinette) together with paintings by Titian, Canaletto, Rembrandt and Gainsborough, Hals' 'The Laughing Cavalier' and Fragonard's 'The Swing', four armouries and wonderful Renaissance treasures. Dine in the beautiful glazed courtyard restuarant.

Very nice collection of Dutch paintings, armory, and ornate furniture in a mansion. Good escape a few blocks from Oxford Street. Enclosed courtyard has cafe. Worth a visit.

The Wallace collection provides an opportunity to view the former townhouse of the Seymour family and view a large number of paintings, furniture, arms & armour, porcelain and Old Master paintings from the 18c. Sadly, this was my least favorite museum in London. We participated in part of a tour but found the pace slow and too much detail. Unless you are especially keen to see furniture, porcelain and armour, I'd recommend giving this museum as miss.

Fantastic museum, even more so when you consider that it's free. They also have a tour, I think it started at 12:30 that unfortunately I wasn't able to take. The rooms all have books with numbers that match the exhibits so you can read in detail about the items. I also, paid the £4 for the audio tour, definitely something you should consider. I think that's the only way you would know that one of the jeweled boxes has a secret compartment with pictures..yeah, you should rent the audio tour to find out which one!

Situated close to the shopping area of Oxford Street, The Wallace Collection is easy to overlook, especially alongside the better known destinations in London such as the National Gallery and the British Museum. But that would be a pity, because the Wallace Collection is both more manageable (and less crowded) than the larger museums, and of very high quality in its own right. The main attraction is the collection of paintings, including works by Titian, Rembrandt, Hals (including The Laughing Cavalier) and Velázquez. But the collection of French furniture and porcelain is regarded by some as the best outside France, and it has an exceptional collection of arms and armour, from both Europe and Asia, spanning the period from the 10th to the 19th century. An excellent place to spend a quiet afternoon.

Pure art museums can wear me out--the National Gallery, the Louvre, the Prada, whatever, it's just a little bit much after a while. Places like the Wallace are different. The Wallace was a private collection, still displayed in the owner's house, something like the way it was when they lived in the house. To me, this is a much more interesting experience, to see the art and the house and imagine the people living there. Now these were ridiculously wealthy people living there of course, so I'm not saying I can relate from my own experience at all! My point is that I am enjoying the art while also getting a bit of lifestyles of the rich and famous (and long dead). Worth doing!

After his adventures in the world, Sir Wallace decided he wanted to turn a new leaf. He decided to show his nobility by exposing his amassed wealth and installed items acquired in a grand gesture of display. No doubt it pales in comparison to the British Museum. Its collection is vast from the renaissance and post then on. For this place is truly, a lot to learn about the fine arts and classical periods. Its displayed very well and surprisingly you get a bit claustrophobic after spending a few hours there. When one's eye is not used to too much ornamentation; it gives a lack of element of surprise. There is a solution to this my dears. The open tea house in the courtyard; the heart of the mansion. Oh its beauuuutiful to the eye and surprisingly modern contemporary but still works with the overall element of space. Good service as one would expect in a semi-formal setting. And very well kept, for this place is a must visit to revive your senses in the classical arts. For those pursuing the academia in art and crafts; education talks and seminars including workshops are a constant attraction for you. Keep checking the website for more details. Open seven days a week spare a day for the Wallace Collection, will you.

Superb. One of the great free art collections in London. I will never tire of visiting this place (It was my third time!). There is so much to see: *tons* of wonderful paintings, lot and lots of historic weapons and armor, coins, chinaware, sculptures, precious furniture. Every time you visit you will find new objects that you missed before. And it costs nothing (donation recommended!). Conveniently located in Marylebone (a short walk from Baker Street tube station: Don't visit Madame Toussaud's - visit THIS place! - *and* the Royal Academy of Music Museum!), and open from 10 a.m. every day. There are audio guides and guided tours, too, and a shop that includes several publications exclusively focusing on the different aspects of The Wallace Collection. Staff are friendly and helpful. The "courtyard" café/restaurant is very nice, too. There are several temporary exhibits (don't miss the -1 floor!) and special events, so check their calendar! Just have a look at my photos. Did I mention it's free?

My favourite London museum, because of its amazing quality and intimate feel. Where else can you get so close to Rembrandts. Where else do you find more of Marie Antionette's furniture and paintings than even in Versailles? And where else can you relax in a glorious quiet courtyard restaurant a within a short walk from Oxford St?

Behind Selfridges is a real wonderful find! The armour collection is absolutely amazing as well as the most interesting, detailed, and beautiful weapons! There is also a lovely patio for lunch or tea and cakes and a lawn out front that people were sitting on enjoying the sun and their lunches. A very interesting collection.

Pretty amazing armoury. And a museum which has enough to display but not too much. A lovely little greenhouse out back is good for a pot of tea. Definitely a Sunday outing

The Wallace collection is a lovely little gem of an art gallery located in Manchester Square that was once the palatial town house of the late Lady Wallace. Upon entering, I am reminded of the Frick Museum in New York and even more-so of the Musee d'Jacques Andre in Paris, perhaps due to the fact that much of the collection is French. I am someone who does not appreciate art from the 17th and 18th centuries, however I found my time spent perusing the three floors of this collection to have a calming, rejuvenating effect. There is a peacefulness here from the moment you step in the door, and it draws you in, beckoning you to linger. The environment is tranquil, the decor sumptuous, the furnishings decadent, the art subtle and nuanced. The contemporary viewer may not recognize that some of the paintings were highly controversial in their day, but many of them were. Rather, they seem innocuous and charming, innocent and proper. The individual pieces in this collection are each exquisite. From the delicate Sevres porcelain, to the Riesener secretaire, to the Boule wardrobes, even the paintings...many from the French, Spanish, and Dutch masters...are all truly extraordinary works. There is also a collection of fine European and Asian armoury that seemed to capture the attention of many of the male visitors. Most of it appeared quite decorative with inlaid stones and fine metals, appearing more appropriate for a triumphal parade rather than a proper battle. In truth, the Wallace Collection is worth every moment of your time spent here. If you have the opportunity, steal away for an hour, or three, surround yourself in the decadent luxury of another time, and perhaps enjoy a leisurely full breakfast or afternoon tea at the Wallace Restaurant, set amidst the atrium in the courtyard. For me, this is now a *must visit* for every trip to London from here forward, no matter the season. TIP: Even the chef is French, so be sure to splurge and try the foie gras if you dine at the Wallace Restaurant.

Stayed at a nearby hotel and happened to see it on Google maps. Although I've been to numerous art museums all over I'm not an expect by any stretch. The collection is excellent and the armor collection is first rate as well. The staff is very friendly and eager to answer questions for people like me. I only spent an hour there, could easily have spent all day, plus there's a restaurant in the Courtyard.

People love to give London a hard time- personally, I think it's a bit of a cop out. Yes, it's crowded. Yes, it's smoggy. Yes, you'll be charged £5.40 for the privilege of standing under a sweaty man's armpit for 55mins on what should have been a quick trip between Angel and Tottenham Court Road. Still, when you trip up over wonders like The Wallace Collection it's all worth it. Located just behind Oxford Street and Selfridges this little museum truly is a diamond in the rough! Housing art from the 17th and 18th centuries it's a tranquil, stunning building to take in old masterpieces. Rembrandt, Titan, Canaletto...they're all here and better still, you don't have to wrestle with the hoards to see them! If you're planning a visit make sure you time it for the free guided tour (3 o'clock most days). The woman that took us around really knew her stuff and had a great sense of humour to boot! Currently showing at the Wallace Collection is the 'Treasures of the Black Death' exhibition- a collection of medieval gold and silver hords hidden by Jewish families during their persecution at the time of the plague. Although the exhibition is small, it's really impressive and the organisers have smart enough to provide visitors with magnifying glasses. This little touch gives you the chance to really appreciate the intricacies of the jewellery and coins. Afternoon tea fans make a note, the atrium cafe is beautiful and I'm told they do cakes like no other. Unfortunately I missed out this time but like a moth to a flame, an Evey to cake is a force not to be reckoned with and I know I'll be back. Well recommended for a visit any time you're getting those London blues.

It is sensual. I met Marie-Antoinette in a consumed talk to share her love of fine things. Charcoal & drawing paper gave us the delight of revisiting old friends in the Collection. I was enlightened by the artist in residence at the little draw workshop. My favourite is the small drawing room, where Watteau's music party is on :) Rembrandt's Artist's Son also draws me in where the intimate encounter happens. Many cupids are flying around... Love conquers all. Against my intuition, Boucher's 2 large paintings, the rising of the sun and the setting of the sun set the public tune for the Wallace collection, combining the delicate Frick Collection in New York and the lavish Newport mansions. The stunning courtyard restaurant is a good place to take visitors out for lunch or afternoon tea. Very French!

My A-Level history told our class once that the Wallace Collection is rather feminine and a great museum to take a girl - so, naturally, a few weeks later I went with my mum. I revisited a couple of weeks ago with non-familial company and set about rediscovering the place. The Wallace Collection is tucked away in Manchester Square, north of Bond Street Station, just off Wigmore Street. The beautiful building houses an extraordinary collection which, whilst not as eclectic as Oxford's Ashmolean, is impressively varied. Being very interested in Early Modern Europe, the ground floor is absolute heaven with its collection of both pre-Reformation and Reformation trinkets, paintings, coin portraits, and the collection of bizarre wax miniatures. Then there's the armoury: if there is a zombie apocalypse, I'm making a beeline for that place and the 2,500 pieces of C13-18th armour, guns and pointy things from Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East that it harbours. The painting collection is likewise impressive and varied, featuring a lot of late Baroque and Neo-Grec French pieces (such as Paupety's somewhat comic Temptation of St. Hilarion), as well as plenty of Dutch still life (woman with lobster; cat with monkey; dead fish amongst pineapples...). The collection is also home to the famous "Laughing Cavalier". We ended up spending close to 3 hours there, and we could've spent longer. It really is one of the best museums in London (as well as being free), a wonderful counterpoint to the hub-bub and chaos of Oxford Street - I can't recommend it enough.

What an amazing gem in central London. This was the last outing with the parents before they head back to Australia, and they were really delighted with it (which is good). In other parts of the world you might pay attrocious sums of money to visit such a collection; but what is so unique (and other people have indicated here), is that this was a private collection basically given to the nation for ever - tucked away in one of the back rooms is an honour given from the Spanish government for helping preserve Spanish art during the 1930s and 40s. Just a great place. And for boys who hate art, they have a spectacular amount of historical military stuff - some of which you can even try on!!!

OK .. I admit it. I love art! I love art of a certain age and of a certain style. I am not an art snob but I know what I like. And I definitely, without reservation, like the Wallace Collection. So what makes the Wallace Collection such a great place? Well for a start it's a private collection that was bequeathed in perpetuity to the nation and the collection is extensive. But more importantly the bequest was a permanent one. That means that no piece in the museum can be loaned out to any other exhibitions. That's right. No more arriving at a gallery to see a work of art only to find it's half way across the world being hosted at another gallery. When you want to see a piece ... it's there. It will always be there. With such a wide variety of art on display from Frans Hals The Laughing Cavalier to Canalettos, Velasquez, Van Dyck, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt etc to the widest collection of Marie Antoinettes furniture anywhere in Europe to an extensive and bold collection of arms and amour you have plenty to look at. Miniatures, furniture, clocks, even the wallpaper and decor is true to the period and designed to give you the feel of what it must have been like to live there. Add to that the wonderful enclosed courtyard restaurant/cafe which adds an air of elegance to the entire proceedings and you have a little bolt-hole of elegance and period sophistication that is well worth savouring. And where is this haven of art? Tucked away in the suburbs? No ... a three minute walk from Oxford Street and right next to the start of the wonderfully eclectic Marylebone High Street. If you like art and period furniture collected during the 18th and 19th Century then you owe it to yourself to visit the Wallace Collection.

Amazing. Simply Amazing. Boasting 25 galleries containing some of the worlds well known artists and art pieces the Wallace Collection takes my breath away every single time. This collection of art is attributed to Lady Wallace's request that no items may be taken away or added, and because of this very little has changed since she lived within its walls. Whether you only have 20 minutes to breeze through or 2 hours to silently explore, this is a museum to cater to everybody's tastes. Containing paintings such as the Laughing Cavalier, ceramics, sculptures, exquisite furniture, Rococo designs, and lastly ARMOUR AND WEAPONS (I wrote that for you manly men out there) you are flush with opportunities to be astounded. KEY NOTE: Do NOT touch the armoured horses, it seems there are alarms that will go off should your little hands decide they want to touch history.

Baroque - if you are into the Dutch Masters including Rembrandt or an amazing collection of armoire this is your place. Lots of great places to drink nearby.

This museum houses a prestigious private collection of art bequeathed by Lady Wallace in 1897. The Collection is located in Hertford House, a beautiful mansion in Manchester Square, in the heart of London. This is one of the best collections of French 18th-century pictures, porcelain and furniture, plus a fantastic array of 17th-century paintings. While I am not a complete fan of French art, I was just "gobsmacked' by the sheer scale and quality of items on display here. The highlights for me were Rembrandts self portrait and the Laughing Cavalier. Tips: Admission is FREE A short walk from either Marble Arch or Bond Street Nice cafe for lunch or afternoon tea Plan on spending a couple of hours here

I'm a huge fan of museums and galleries, and this a lovely gem in London's already impressive repertoire. A red-plushed grand staircase greets you as you walk in the double doors and the surrounding rooms are decadent in typical 18th-19th century decorate style with the massive art collection of the Wallace family. I wasn't a big fan of Rembrandt-era paintings before, but I have warmed up to them and appreciate them after perusing through several in this collection. There were more people than I expected, but then again it was a Saturday afternoon ... but definitely not the crowded feel one often gets at places like the British Museum on a weekend. There was a temporary contemporary exhibit by William Hirst when I visited and it was an interesting contrast to the traditional decadence of the previous galleries. Best thing - it's free! (Though they accept donations)

A few steps away from Oxford Street, lies this verry special metropolitan oasis, one of London's hidden gems. This is arguably the world's most beautiful and interesting collections of paintings, and certainly one of the most important art collections in existance -- so it's well worth a visit! If you're ever in London, this is one of very few unique attractions I would designate with a coveted "must see" status. You could spend a lunch break or a whole day taking in the paintings in this vast collection, and enjoying the surroundings of Hertford House. The armory in the basement is a fascinating little museum of weapons and armour. The building, a high-class London townhouse with a richly-designed interior, would be worth a look even without the paintings! While you're there, be sure to sample the atrium cafe, which I've reviewed separately. (Hertford is my home town, so Hertford House along with its contents and history have a special resonance for me.)

This is my first five-star review on here. Definitely a must see (and free, to boot). The collection of paintings and art objects is well curated, and each room intriguingly leads into the next. It is far removed from the hubbub of other museums (V&A, I'm looking at you) and you can actually see everything you want to see at a leisurely pace without feeling crowded or rushed. Each room tells a story and all of the details are well thought out--even the chains are painted to the wall colors so as not to detract from the paintings. A breathtaking range of pieces are on display, including Canalettos and Fragonards. Some of the pieces are out for restoration, and a couple of others need to be restored, overall the collection is spectacular. Be sure to check out the restaurant for lunch or afternoon tea. The gift shop is also not to be missed.

The Wallace Collection contains works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess. It was bequeathed to the British nation by Sir Richard's widow, Lady Wallace, in 1897. These folks collected a LOT of stuff over 5 generations - all pristine, prime quality. Dozens of paintings hang on the walls - so overcrowded your eye doesn't know where to go. Overwhelming. Yet...if you sit for awhile and focus on one or two paintings or works of art, a calm descends and you can tune everything else out. There is just so much beauty to choose from. I particularly like museums that were once residences, admiring the architecture, the furniture and the refurbishment to its former glory. You can't separate one from the other...and it adds up to a whole lot of wow. Five stars!