London Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Ampitheatre
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When we had a little mini break in London in the Easter holidays we spent all our time in the City of London area of the city. This was an area we hadn’t really explored much previously and so I spent time looking for things to see and do that we might be interested in.
I came across the Roman Ampitheatre, found out that it was free to visit and that it was on display in the Guildhall Art Gallery so we added it to our itinerary and made plans to visit. LP loves anything Ancient Greek or Roman and so she was beyond excited at our plans.
Where is the Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Ampitheatre?
Guildhall Art Gallery is located in the heart of the City of London, not far from Mansion House, St Pauls and Moorgate underground stations. It’s easily accessible thanks to London’s great public transport but also on foot so a great addition to any day in London or short break.
What is the Guildhall Art Gallery?
Guildhall Art Gallery is home to the City of London Corporation’s art collection. It was established in the late 19th century and soon featured world famous masterpieces and works by great artists. The collection now holds 4,500 works, including over 1,300 oil paintings. They date all the way back to 1670 through to the present day.
Visiting the Guildhall Art Gallery
The Guildhall Art Gallery was easy to find and we just had to go through a simple, airport-style security process as we entered the building. This was quick and painless and we were then free to explore the Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Ampitheatre.
We picked up a free map of the gallery and decided to do the Roman Ampitheatre last as it was on the lowest floor of the building. We started with a gentle wander around the Guildhall Art Gallery, taking in the paintings as we moved from room to room. The artwork and sculptures are split into different collections with so much to see.
Victorian paintings
A large proportion of the artwork at Guildhall Art Gallery is Victorian and it’s all displayed in the original 19th century dense hanging style throughout the gallery. Paintings on display are things like Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, to Orientalism, Classicism and narrative painting, all displayed by theme so you can easily move through the changing culture and social history of the time that the paintings were created.
Pictures of London
The Gallery features many London paintings which showcase many moments from the city’s history. Dating from the 17th century onwards, the feature events like The Great Fire of London and the Frost Fair. The paintings cover the Thames, London’s architecture and people.
The City
The City of London is also featured in many paintings, with many showing images of the Square Mile and themes of economics, money, and the world of business.
Sir Matthew Smith Studio Collection
The Sir Matthew Smith collection features his paintings. He was one of the most significant British painters of the 20th century and his work has continued to influence generations of artists even today.
City of London Heritage Gallery
The City of London Heritage Gallery shows rarely seen artefacts held in trust for the nation. It showcases a rotating selection of rare, fascinating and often surprising documents that give you a feel of London’s and the nation’s political and social history spanning over 1,000 years.
We really enjoyed wandering around the art gallery and it was definitely something that we hadn’t done much of before. It houses such an eclectic mixture of art that there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Visiting the Roman Ampitheatre
After the Guildhall Art Gallery we ventured down into the basement of the building to the Roman Ampitheatre. On higher levels there are viewing windows that you can look through to get your first glimpses of the ampitheatre.
What is the Roman Ampitheatre?
London’s Roman Amphitheatre is an interactive and educational attraction. The original circular walls of the Amphitheatre were rediscovered by archaeologists working on the site of the new Guildhall Art Gallery building in 1988. Now, visitors can step into the preserved Roman ruins, seeing where crowds would once have gathered to watch wild animal fights, public executions and gladiatorial combats.
Throughout the Roman Ampitheatre there are signs to show you what you’re looking at, describing what would have been where and what each of the rocks and structures represents. It was really interesting to explore the Roman Ampitheatre and we spent over half an hour taking in the space and reading all the signs.
Guided tours of the Guildhall Art Gallery
Guildhall Art Gallery offered free guided tours. These are free introductory tours, conducted by the Guildhall Art Gallery’s team of City Guides, and are available every day, from Tuesday to Sunday, at 12:15pm and 1:15pm. The tours last just 30-45 minutes and no booking is required.
We really enjoyed our time at the Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Ampitheatre although the Roman Ampitheatre was definitely a highlight. If you’re planning a trip to London then the Guildhall Art Gallery is well worth a visit.
You can find out more about the Guildhall Art Gallery and Roman Ampitheatre over on their website. For reference, the address is: Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE
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