‘Secret’ London gallery

One of my favorite London museums is the Guildhall Art Gallery (Gresham St., Guildhall Yard, London, EC2P 2EJ, U.K.; phone 020 7332 3700 or fax 020 7332 3342). This gallery is one of the best-kept secrets in London. I discovered the Guildhall while reading a newspaper article on the tube!

The original art gallery opened in 1885, but the modern building opened in 1999. The collection includes statues and busts of famous Britons, including a 2001 Neil Simmons statue of Margaret Thatcher. The collection also includes paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, William Lionel Wyllie, and Frederic, Lord Leighton.

The gallery hosts rotating exhibits, which tend toward modern art. When I visited in December ’06, the gallery had a special exhibit of Victorian paintings by William Frith.

The gallery basement houses a Roman amphitheater, which was unearthed in 1988. The amphitheater dates from the second century A.D. Signs explain the remaining structure and how the area was used. There is an excellent handout available, as well. Some of the finds from this site are exhibited in the nearby Museum of London.

The Guildhall is close to the Moorgate and St. Paul’s tube stops. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Regular admission is £2.50 (near $4.80), but admission is free on Fridays and after 3:30 p.m. on all other days.

DIANE HARRISON

Creve Coeur, MO