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Manchester Square
London W1U 3BN
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
020 7563 9500
London W1U 3BN
Neighbourhood: Marylebone
020 7563 9500
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bond Street (Central, Jubilee)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10:00 - 17:00
- Good for Children:
- Yes
20 reviews for The Wallace Collection
All Reviews
It's free people, and it's beautiful. Seriously, if you have not yet visited the Wallace Collection please explain. It is a stone's throw away from Selfridges *and* it now also houses a cafe/restaurant. No excuses.
Either rush through it for an opulent pick me up or stroll through it and savour every piece or renaissance art, every cornice and every coin it has to offer. There is usually something unusual and ever changing going on downstairs as well.
I'm not an art buff, and I'm not pretentious, but once in a while there is a time for a mansion house, luxurious fabric wall paper and gold gilt and in this regard the Wallace Collection will sort you out.
Anyway, the real reason I am here is to write a review about the Cafe. I stopped by here for afternoon tea which is on offer from 2.30 to 5.30pm each day with two selections, standard english (that's with a giant scone, some sarnies and some cakes - as you can tell, this is the one I went for) or a more extensive version, whose name escapes me, which offers more substance of the salmon and sausage variety. Both come with a glass of champagne option if desired.
The set up is great, the internal courtyard that houses the restaurant has a glass ceiling, making the space very light even on a cloudy day. The seats are extremely comfortable, service was good and staff were very professional, and plenty of tea to choose from of course. With orange juice instead of champagne it came to about £25 per head including service, which some may find pricey relative to other afternoon tea offerings such as the Wolseley or Sketch, but cheaper than others like the Mandarin Oriental or other big ticket hotels in the City.
For other afternoon tea offerings in the neighbourhood, I hear that the Mandeville Hotel has launched a new afternoon tea menu (and I think it has one for men too?!) but I have not tried it yet.
Enjoy.
x
OK .. I admit it. I love art! I love art of a certain age and of a certain style. I am not an art snob but I know what I like. And I definitely, without reservation, like the Wallace Collection.
So what makes the Wallace Collection such a great place? Well for a start it's a private collection that was bequeathed in perpetuity to the nation and the collection is extensive. But more importantly the bequest was a permanent one. That means that no piece in the museum can be loaned out to any other exhibitions.
That's right. No more arriving at a gallery to see a work of art only to find it's half way across the world being hosted at another gallery. When you want to see a piece ... it's there. It will always be there.
With such a wide variety of art on display from Frans Hals The Laughing Cavalier to Canalettos, Velasquez, Van Dyck, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt etc to the widest collection of Marie Antoinettes furniture anywhere in Europe to an extensive and bold collection of arms and amour you have plenty to look at. Miniatures, furniture, clocks, even the wallpaper and decor is true to the period and designed to give you the feel of what it must have been like to live there.
Add to that the wonderful enclosed courtyard restaurant/cafe which adds an air of elegance to the entire proceedings and you have a little bolt-hole of elegance and period sophistication that is well worth savouring.
And where is this haven of art? Tucked away in the suburbs? No ... a three minute walk from Oxford Street and right next to the start of the wonderfully eclectic Marylebone High Street.
If you like art and period furniture collected during the 18th and 19th Century then you owe it to yourself to visit the Wallace Collection.
Daddy - I want a pony...and a room which looks like the Wallace Collection. There may be people in London whose homes look like this, but for us plebes, this is as close to the sumptuous life as we'll get.
I could wander for hours amidst all the splendors, head to the divine atrium for a cup of tea on rose colored cushions, then meet the Knight of my dreams in the sword collection.
A girl can dream.
It is sensual. I met Marie-Antoinette in a consumed talk to share her love of fine things. Charcoal & drawing paper gave us the delight of revisiting old friends in the Collection. I was enlightened by the artist in residence at the little draw workshop.
My favourite is the small drawing room, where Watteau's music party is on :) Rembrandt's Artist's Son also draws me in where the intimate encounter happens. Many cupids are flying around... Love conquers all.
Against my intuition, Boucher's 2 large paintings, the rising of the sun and the setting of the sun set the public tune for the Wallace collection, combining the delicate Frick Collection in New York and the lavish Newport mansions. The stunning courtyard restaurant is a good place to take visitors out for lunch or afternoon tea. Very French!
So this place is utterly BRILLIANT! Since I am an architect with strong classical urges, I love this massive towne house turned museum. The interiors are just wonderful and I spent a good afternoon just roaming the vast rooms and halls looking at furniture and paintings. There is a great collection of miniature portraits on the first floor, spent 20 mins picking out the hottest birds and blokes. Whilst I was there, Damien Hirst had an exhibit, No Love Lost, his blue paintings. They were brilliant, and very refreshing from his pickled animals, though I am quite fond of the preserved cow.
This museum houses a prestigious private collection of art bequeathed by Lady Wallace in 1897. The Collection is located in Hertford House, a beautiful mansion in Manchester Square, in the heart of London. This is one of the best collections of French 18th-century pictures, porcelain and furniture, plus a fantastic array of 17th-century paintings.
While I am not a complete fan of French art, I was just "gobsmacked' by the sheer scale and quality of items on display here. The highlights for me were Rembrandts self portrait and the Laughing Cavalier.
Tips:
Admission is FREE
A short walk from either Marble Arch or Bond Street
Nice cafe for lunch or afternoon tea
Plan on spending a couple of hours here
Do you like swords?
Really?
I mean a lot?
Then you've struck gold!
I've never seen a more comprehensive collection of armory in my life, which isn't necessarily my thing, but they do have many other beautiful collections as well as a very picturesque restaurant run by Peyton & Byrne. It is a nice stop if you're looking for the remedy to the typical gallery and want to experience something a bit more intimate.
I'm a huge fan of museums and galleries, and this a lovely gem in London's already impressive repertoire. A red-plushed grand staircase greets you as you walk in the double doors and the surrounding rooms are decadent in typical 18th-19th century decorate style with the massive art collection of the Wallace family. I wasn't a big fan of Rembrandt-era paintings before, but I have warmed up to them and appreciate them after perusing through several in this collection. There were more people than I expected, but then again it was a Saturday afternoon ... but definitely not the crowded feel one often gets at places like the British Museum on a weekend. There was a temporary contemporary exhibit by William Hirst when I visited and it was an interesting contrast to the traditional decadence of the previous galleries.
Best thing - it's free! (Though they accept donations)
The Wallace collection is a lovely little gem of an art gallery located in Manchester Square that was once the palatial town house of the late Lady Wallace. Upon entering, I am reminded of the Frick Museum in New York and even more-so of the Musee d'Jacques Andre in Paris, perhaps due to the fact that much of the collection is French.
I am someone who does not appreciate art from the 17th and 18th centuries, however I found my time spent perusing the three floors of this collection to have a calming, rejuvenating effect. There is a peacefulness here from the moment you step in the door, and it draws you in, beckoning you to linger. The environment is tranquil, the decor sumptuous, the furnishings decadent, the art subtle and nuanced. The contemporary viewer may not recognize that some of the paintings were highly controversial in their day, but many of them were. Rather, they seem innocuous and charming, innocent and proper.
The individual pieces in this collection are each exquisite. From the delicate Sevres porcelain, to the Riesener secretaire, to the Boule wardrobes, even the paintings...many from the French, Spanish, and Dutch masters...are all truly extraordinary works. There is also a collection of fine European and Asian armoury that seemed to capture the attention of many of the male visitors. Most of it appeared quite decorative with inlaid stones and fine metals, appearing more appropriate for a triumphal parade rather than a proper battle.
In truth, the Wallace Collection is worth every moment of your time spent here. If you have the opportunity, steal away for an hour, or three, surround yourself in the decadent luxury of another time, and perhaps enjoy a leisurely full breakfast or afternoon tea at the Wallace Restaurant, set amidst the atrium in the courtyard.
For me, this is now a *must visit* for every trip to London from here forward, no matter the season.
TIP: Even the chef is French, so be sure to splurge and try the foie gras if you dine at the Wallace Restaurant.
Pure art museums can wear me out--the National Gallery, the Louvre, the Prada, whatever, it's just a little bit much after a while. Places like the Wallace are different.
The Wallace was a private collection, still displayed in the owner's house, something like the way it was when they lived in the house. To me, this is a much more interesting experience, to see the art and the house and imagine the people living there. Now these were ridiculously wealthy people living there of course, so I'm not saying I can relate from my own experience at all! My point is that I am enjoying the art while also getting a bit of lifestyles of the rich and famous (and long dead).
Worth doing!
People love to give London a hard time- personally, I think it's a bit of a cop out. Yes, it's crowded. Yes, it's smoggy. Yes, you'll be charged £5.40 for the privilege of standing under a sweaty man's armpit for 55mins on what should have been a quick trip between Angel and Tottenham Court Road. Still, when you trip up over wonders like The Wallace Collection it's all worth it.
Located just behind Oxford Street and Selfridges this little museum truly is a diamond in the rough! Housing art from the 17th and 18th centuries it's a tranquil, stunning building to take in old masterpieces. Rembrandt, Titan, Canaletto...they're all here and better still, you don't have to wrestle with the hoards to see them! If you're planning a visit make sure you time it for the free guided tour (3 o'clock most days). The woman that took us around really knew her stuff and had a great sense of humour to boot!
Currently showing at the Wallace Collection is the 'Treasures of the Black Death' exhibition- a collection of medieval gold and silver hords hidden by Jewish families during their persecution at the time of the plague. Although the exhibition is small, it's really impressive and the organisers have smart enough to provide visitors with magnifying glasses. This little touch gives you the chance to really appreciate the intricacies of the jewellery and coins.
Afternoon tea fans make a note, the atrium cafe is beautiful and I'm told they do cakes like no other. Unfortunately I missed out this time but like a moth to a flame, an Evey to cake is a force not to be reckoned with and I know I'll be back. Well recommended for a visit any time you're getting those London blues.
What a charming museum! The collection is very impressive, the size of the museum is very manageable, and the admission is free! What more can one ask of a museum? Oh, and did I mention that there's hardly ever a crowd?
For a fun photo op, there's a (faux) suit of armor that you can try on. It takes a while to get all the stuff on and once you do don't be surprised if other visitors start snapping pictures of you.
Posh restaurant, too.
I don't like the French 18th century, but there are some gems here, too.
The Wallace is an amazing collection housed in a beautiful townhouse in Manchester Square. The art itself had all been gathered during the 18th and 19th centuries by the Marquesses of Hertford and was bequeathed to the British nation at the very end of the 19th century. There's something special about seeing art in a building that feels so residential and the whole experience brings together ideas of family and community. The work itself is immense; there are classic pieces from Titian, Rembrandt, Hals (The Laughing Cavalier) and Velázquez.
There is also a really nice restaurant at the back which styles itself as a French brasserie. It's in an atrium and the feel is slightly decadent and completely elegant. If you prefer to bring your own sandwiches there are a few little lawns out at the front and on a good day they're perfect before or after all the art.
After his adventures in the world, Sir Wallace decided he wanted to turn a new leaf. He decided to show his nobility by exposing his amassed wealth and installed items acquired in a grand gesture of display. No doubt it pales in comparison to the British Museum. Its collection is vast from the renaissance and post then on.
For this place is truly, a lot to learn about the fine arts and classical periods. Its displayed very well and surprisingly you get a bit claustrophobic after spending a few hours there. When one's eye is not used to too much ornamentation; it gives a lack of element of surprise. There is a solution to this my dears. The open tea house in the courtyard; the heart of the mansion. Oh its beauuuutiful to the eye and surprisingly modern contemporary but still works with the overall element of space.
Good service as one would expect in a semi-formal setting. And very well kept, for this place is a must visit to revive your senses in the classical arts.
For those pursuing the academia in art and crafts; education talks and seminars including workshops are a constant attraction for you. Keep checking the website for more details.
Open seven days a week spare a day for the Wallace Collection, will you.
This museum which holds a supreme exhibit of 'French 18th century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and world class armoury.' (The Wallace Collection)
However, what is most alluring about coming here is where it's set, in this beautiful London townhouse, in which you slowly take in as you meander through the galleries, in which each individual room has been designed in the most sumptuous manner.
This is a wonderful place to visit , especially if you want to escape the heated crowds of Oxford Street just around the corner.
Admission is free and it is open 7 days a week.
This museum houses a hodgepodge of art ranging from works by Old Masters like Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, and Gainsborough to sculpture, furniture, porcelain, and Asian and European arms and armour. A covered courtyard houses Oliver Peyton's brasserie The Wallace, where the money you saved thanks to the museum's free admission can be spent on foie gras, caviar, and the like.
The Wallace Collection, magnificent in all its grandeur is an amazing site to see. From the beautiful fabric walls of vibrant colors such as jade green, royal blue, magenta pink to the Armory room where aisle upon aisle you can check out Medieval weaponry and swords- you will be in awe. It's free to get in like most of the museums here in London; so you can't miss out. Expect to be there for more than just a few hours because there is so much to look at. If you get hungry, stop by the cafe situated in the middle of a courtyard with glass ceilings.
The Wallace collection is a museum of art collected in the 18th and 19th centuries and bequeathed to the british nation in 1897 by Sir Richard Wallace and his wife. Located at Hertford House, the main London townhouse of its former owners, the Wallace collection includes paintings by Titian, Rembrandt, Velazquez, and many more. This stunning collection also includes sculpture, furniture, porcelain, gold boxes, and armor. This unique place has many treasures and one can easily imagine how this place must have been when Sir Wallace held court here in the 1800's.
The Wallace Collection is a welcome curiosity, a jumble of French Classical painting, Old Masters, decorative work and weaponry. It almost defies reason. Its greatest virtue, aside from its eccentricity, is that it's entirely free and operates on regular hours, making it easy enough to pop in unexpectedly when you feel the need for a bit of the unexpected. Practical spittle in the eye of London's stolid, stodgy art institutions.
