Long and cold winter days are the perfect excuse for you to visit London’s museums, all the more as half-term is around the corner! Add The Wallace Collection to your list: this free gem in central London offers incredible art, guided walks, family-friendly trails, stunning architecture, and a gorgeous glass-roofed courtyard restaurant. Forget dull museums; this one will make you love art!
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON takes you to the astounding Wallace Collection!

1. The Wallace Collection, a free London museum

The museum is ideally located in the heart of London, in a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, yet just a short walk away.

The Wallace Collection is exhibited in the former house of the Seymour family, Marquesses of Hertford. It was named after Sir Richard Wallace who built this large collection, along with the Marquesses of Hertford, in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The collection features “fine and decorative arts from the 15th to the 19th centuries with important holdings of French 18th-century paintings, furniture, arms and armours, porcelain and Old Master paintings arranged into 25 galleries”.

This amazing collection can easily compete with the other renowned museums in London. The first main advantage – in addition to the large number of works of art presented here – is that this museum is completely free!

I’m always amazed that London offers so many opportunities to experience art for free. This is a privilege no one should refuse, right? Now let’s dive into the collection’s treasures…

2. An extensive Art Collection

My purpose here is not to show you all the works of art featured here -it would be too long and obviously would spoil the visit- but more to convince you the Wallace Collection is an outstanding gathering of artistic treasures you can’t not see when you’re in London.

An exceptional collection of paintings

The Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace were savvy art collectors with a particular attraction for European grandmasters’ paintings.

While the 1st Marquess of Hertford (1719–94) acquired paintings by Canaletto and commissioned portraits of two of his daughters from Sir Joshua Reynolds, the 2nd Marquess (1743–1822) was loyal to Reynolds but also bought portraits by George Romney and Thomas Gainsborough.

The collection displays other Italian grandmasters like Caravaggio, Guardi, and Titian, to mention just a few.

The 3rd Marquess of Hertford (1777–1842) on the other hand was a fan of Dutch painting, which is a strength of the Wallace Collection, with three galleries dedicated to these works. You’ll see paintings from Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, and even the famous The Laughing Cavalier (1624) by Frans Hals…

The 4th Marquess of Hertford (1800–70) and Sir Richard Wallace acquired the major part of this collection between 1840 and 1888 and as they spent most of their adult lives in Paris, they developed a strong interest in French painters of the 18th and 19th centuries like Antoine Watteau, Boucher, and Nicolas Lancret (it’s, again, just a selection of what’s showcased at The Wallace Collection).

It is Lady Wallace (1819-97), widow of Sir Richard, who left the entire collection to the British nation in 1897 that opened three years later as the Wallace Collection, a national museum.

Honestly, one visit won’t be enough for you to explore all the rooms and galleries, but you can choose to focus only on your favourite styles and painters to make it more “digestible”.

Interesting sculptures

I love the sculptures presented at The Wallace Collection: they’re very expressive, sometimes with weird poses, some of them looking very modern and funny.

Whether you like the sculpture or not, I think they will not leave you indifferent.

Stunning objects

There are so many different objects with a rich history, this could be the subject of a museum in itself…

All objects always have a little description associated with them, there are so many anecdotes and facts around them it’s fascinating. My advice would be to select just a few you’re drawn to and take the time to learn their stories.

Astonishing collections of arms and armours

Fans of arms and armours will particularly appreciate the visit, the collection is huge!

French Furniture and Decorative Arts

You will also find, alongside the paintings and sculptures, the 18th-century French furniture and decorative arts. Again, a treasure for all fans, which I am not particularly so I’ll let you make up your own mind about it.

3. A fabulous al fresco dining setting

This restaurant is absolutely stunning! The glass roof floods the courtyard with natural light, making it a delight to enjoy lunch amidst beautiful architecture and elegant sculptures.

Discover Peyton and Byrne’s French-style brasserie and drop-in café, serving a simple yet flavourful menu of fresh, delicious dishes. Perfect for a relaxed meal!

The restaurant is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea – and as I mentioned, it’s ideally located. You can even dine here without visiting the museum. 😊

4. A modern museum

Nowadays, museums are getting more creative to stay exciting, and The Wallace Collection is no exception! They’ve launched a free app with Bloomberg Connects, letting you explore 400+ artworks and exhibits anytime, right from your phone. Super easy to use and packed with fascinating info!

The Wallace Collection website is also an incredible source of information with analyses, explanatory videos on certain subjects relating to the works of art presented in the museum, and downloadable resources for families, to make the visit even more attractive to kids.

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I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are about to explore the Wallace Collection soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

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To go further:
The Wallace Collection: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN
Website

Check out my other London museum reviews here for more inspiration!

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