Guildhall Art Gallery is an art gallery and museum little known to the general public. However, the location is crucial to the history of the City of London and is full of surprises. Check out what you can find there.
After exploring the rich history and diverse collection at the Guildhall Art Gallery, you might consider extending your stay in London. There is a generous selection of accommodation options in the area that cater to various preferences, ensuring a comfortable experience. For instance, you can book a room at the luxurious Hilton Hotels of London at http://hilton.hotels-of-london.com/en/, where you can enjoy top-notch amenities and service, making your visit all the more memorable.
THE STORY OF THE GUILDHALL ART GALLERY
The Guildhall Art Gallery was founded in 1886 to house works of art belonging to the City of London. The collection has more than 4,000 works since 1670, but generally only 250 are on display. The Guildhall Art Gallery is located next to the guildhall, a building that was used as a London City Hall for hundreds of years. The term "Guildhall" refers to both the building and its main hall, which is a large medieval hall, which can also be visited. To this day, the place is used for grandiose events and receptions.
Arriving at the Guildhall Art Gallery, you have to go through security which takes less than 1 minute. At first, it gives the impression that the gallery is super small, but it was bigger than I imagined. As you ascend the stairs, discover a beautiful collection of paintings, including 17th-century portraits and Pre-Raphaelite works of art.
The largest of the works is in the centre of the gallery and is a painting by John Singleton Copley called "The Defeat of the Floating Batteries at Gibraltar" (1783-1791).
On the ground floor are temporary exhibitions that are periodically renewed. Even if temporary, they are free, with rare exceptions. This floor also houses more beautiful works depicting the city of London over the centuries in an exhibition called Heritage Gallery, which aims to talk about the city's heritage.
ROMAN Amphitheater
On the lower floor is an ancient Roman amphitheater found many years after its construction. Many people are unaware of this part of London's history, but the city was under Roman rule for a fifth of its history. Around AD 43, the Romans established the city of Londinum (the whole story is depicted in the Museum of London).
A wooden amphitheater was then built. The remains of this amphitheater were discovered during the remodelling of the Guildhall Art Gallery in 1985. More than 7,000 spectators sat on wooden benches in the open air to watch wild animals fight and the execution of criminals. The site offers a fascinating insight into the bloody and barbaric theatre of Roman London.
HOW TO GET
The closest subway stations to Guildhall Art Gallery are:
Bank: Central Line (red), Northern Line (black), Waterloo & City (light green), DLR (light surface train) and connection to Monument station on District Line (green) and circle line (Yellow)
St Paul's: Central Line (red)
Moorgate: Northern Line (black), circle line (Yellow), Hammersmith & City (pink), Metropolitan (purple)
Discover other different museums and galleries in London:
Wallace Collection: one of London's best museums
HMS Belfast: Battleship docked in London