A free art gallery in London is said to have fewer visitors than the National Gallery.
While the National Gallery and the Tate Modern are constantly busy, some galleries are less popular.
These venues boast free access and art collections, despite being less well-known among some tourists.
The Guildhall Art Gallery in the City of London is one such hidden gem.
As well as showcasing art, the gallery also features a Roman amphitheatre.
Why you should visit the Guildhall Art Gallery in London
Dating back to 1885, the Guildhall Gallery was first built to display the City of London Corporation’s vast art collection.
Inspired by other successful local galleries in Leeds and Liverpool, the organisers aimed “to cater to an ‘increased taste for Art’ evident in Victorian society.”
The original Victorian gallery was nearly all destroyed during World War II, resulting in 164 paintings, drawings, watercolours and prints, and 20 sculptures lost.
In 1985, the City of London decided to redevelop the Guildhall Gallery with new levels, a library and more.
When demolishing the original Gallery, the Museum of London Archaeological Service discovered the remains of London’s Roman Amphitheatre.
Now, the Roman Amphitheatre is open to the public to explore the surrounding Guildhall collection of Roman artefacts and art.
Officially opened back up to the public in 1999, the Guildhall Art Gallery now houses art with direct relevance to the capital, whether to the artist or to the subject of the work.
But despite its rich history and art, the Guildhall Art Gallery is often left empty by visitors who are unaware of what it has to offer.
However, award-winning local guide, The London Spy – David Harry, recently took to TikTok to share the gallery and encourage visitors to explore the Guildhall.
In a video gaining more than 100k views and counting, David said: “The Guildhall Art Gallery is one of my favourite London galleries.
“It’s full of amazing treasures and is rarely busy, which is such a shame because it is a fantastic place to visit.
“It includes this key pre-Raphaelite painting, by Rossetti, as well as a genuine Roman amphitheatre only discovered in the late 80s.”
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On Tripadvisor, Guildhall Art Gallery has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 from more than 500 reviews, with one guest sharing: ” happened upon the Guildhall Art Gallery and decided to stop in.
“Admission was free, and the collections here were fascinating.”
Another guest said: “Hidden gem. The gallery has paintings from a range of periods by lesser-known artists but of excellent quality.”
The Guildhall Art Gallery is free to visit, no matter what age, and is open every day, Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm with the last admission at 4.45pm.
Will you be visiting the Guildhall Art Gallery? Let us know in the comments.
