Image: By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35481652

Description:

Join me for four fabulous art filled days in London. There is nowhere quite like it in the world in terms of art collections. We will explore centuries of art from Britain, Ireland and the rest of the world as well as the stories behind the works and the history of the societies and periods they reflect. Summer 2026 is an extra special time in London as our trip will coincide with three exceptional exhibitions,Frida: The Making of an Icon and Tracey Emin both at Tate Modern and James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain.

We will also visit the permanent collection of the following wonderful art museums:

National Gallery, London

Truly one of the best art collections in the world, we will trace the development of art through key pieces from the Renaissance to the Impressionists. Looking at works by Leonardo da Vinci, Holbein, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Constable, Monet, Degas and many more.

Courtauld Gallery London

My alma mater, the Courtauld is an internationally renowned centre for the teaching, research of art history and a major public gallery in the beautiful Sommerset house. The collection is especially known for important Realist, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works including Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère.

Tate Britain

The history of Britain and Ireland can be explored through this wonderful collection. Our focus will be on any works with an Irish connection as well as works from the Georgian, Regency and Victorian period to compliment recent and upcoming course. Artists included are Hogarth, Reynolds, Gainsborough and the Pre-Raphaelites. We will also visit the James McNeill Whistler retrospective exhibition the first major European exhibition of Whistler’s work in 30 years – brings together the artist’s world-famous paintings alongside rarely, or never seen, works.

Tate Modern

An art gallery in London, housing the United Kingdom's national collection of international modern and contemporary art (created from or after 1900). The main collection displays consist of 8 areas with a named theme or subject. Within each area there are some rooms that change periodically showing different works in keeping with the overall theme or subject. We will visit with the exhibitions Frida: The Making of an Icon and Tracey Emin.

The Wallace Collection

This gem of a collection is not as well known as it should be given that it houses one of the finest personal collections ever amassed. 'One of the sexiest collections in Europe' according to the The Guardian with famous works like Fragonard’s The Swing and Frans Hals’ Laughing Cavalier. We will explore the history of the collection and the practise of collecting while examining paintings, decorative arts and furniture.

Foundling Museum

The Foundling Hospital Collection includes works of art by some of Britain's most prominent eighteenth-century artists: William Hogarth, Thomas Gainsborough, Joshua Reynolds, Louis-Francois Roubiliac and many others. These paintings and sculptures, donated by the artists themselves, were given in order to support the Foundling Hospital and effectively made the institution the UK's first public art gallery.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

One of the largest and most varied collections in the world, we will explore the history of art from the ancient Greeks to the present day through art objects including sculpture, painting, stained glass, fashion, jewellery, ceramics and much more. We will also get to see the famous cast room which includes full size casts of Michelangelo’s David, Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise and the Trajan’s Column.

Apsley House

This historic house was home to Wellington and still houses his extraordinary collection of art including some of the finest works by Velasquez outside of Spain and the famous sculpture by Canova of Napoleon.

Leighton House Museum

An art museum and historic house in the Holland Park area of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in west London. The museum has on permanent display works of art by various members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, including John Everett Millais, Edward Burne-Jones and George Frederic Watts, as well as 81 oil paintings by Leighton himself. Not to mention the extraordinary design of each room in the house after a major £8 million refurbishment.

Dates: Tuesday 30^th June to Friday 3^rd July

Fee: €850 per person for 4 days

Included:

All entry fees to Museums and Galleries

Travel when we are together.

Your own personal art historian!

Not included:

Accommodation and flights are not included.

There is an option to have a flight and accommodation tailor made for you with an executive travel company. Please email me for details.

Travel and health insurance

Please make sure you have your own insurance

T&C: Please pay in full by May 1^st 2026

Cancellation Policy:

If you cancel before December 1^st 2025 there will be a full refund.

If you cancel between May 1^st 2026 and June 1^st 2026 there will be 50% refund.

After June 1^st 2026 there will be no refund if you cancel. You may give your place to a friend.

If I cancel the trip there will be a full refund.

Refunds will not cover any other costs.

N.B. Please do not book any non-refundable accommodation etc before confirmation on May 2nd 2026 as I will need a minimum number of travelers to run the trip.

Please note:

Final itinerary to be confirmed.

There will be plenty of breaks throughout each day.

We will use public transport for long distances, shorter distances will be on foot, no more than 30 minutes walking at a time.

London Art History Trip