London's Hidden Museum

London has some of the world’s most impressive museums and you could easily spend a week just visiting the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Gallery, etc. All are highly impressive, but can be overwhelming and crowded. So, if you want to see something museum-like that is less popular and crowded yet equally impressive, I suggest you take a trip to see the wonderful Wallace Collection.

A staff member at the Victoria & Albert Museum actually gave us the recommendation to see the Wallace Collection on a prior trip. We never made it there due to time constraints (but it gave us a great reason to come back). So this last trip we just had to make a point to make it to the Wallace Collection.

Since 1900, this collection has been the best kept national museum secret in London. Displayed at the lovely Hertford House (once an aristocratic private home) in Manchester Square, it displays art collected by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, son of the last Marquess. What makes this place unique is, unlike a true “museum”, all works are displayed in rooms that are also exquisitely decorated and collected by this single family!

History is overflowing here with everything from furniture, sculptures, paintings, furnishings, rare books, decorative art, and armor -- all set in this mansion from the 1800s.

We started on the first floor and headed straight to the Great Gallery which highlights works from the old masters like Velázquez, Rembrandt, Ruben, Canaletto, and other great artists of that time. All are situated near exquisite decorative clocks and furniture from the same time periods (17th and 18th century).

The ground floor contains the Armory Collection which has many European armor items but also rare pieces of Oriental arms and armor too. You can even see some pistols owned by King Louis XIV (aka the Sun King of Versailles). This floor also houses The Wallace Restaurant & Café which was once the courtyard when it was a home, but is now covered with a glass roof serving wonderful food. I could have honestly stayed longer looking at the antique weapons, but it had already been a long day and our stomachs were screaming for food. We had a nice lunch but could’ve stayed for afternoon tea, which would’ve been a fun location for such an occasion but we needed to move on with our day.

I have to say a bonus to our visit is there were very few people while we were touring, which was so refreshing after visiting a few other museums that week that were crowded. This must be a well kept secret because we asked a few locals if we were headed in the right direction after getting off the tube and many had never even visited themselves – what a shame they haven’t yet discovered this gem in their own city!

Another bonus is that admission is free! However, you can purchase the audio guide which is only 4 pounds. The Wallace Collection is a nice way to experience old London aristocratic flair while viewing historic culture at the same time. Plus you really can’t beat the price! My recommendation, take a break from the crowds everywhere else and spend a nice afternoon at the Wallace Collection instead (open daily from 10am to 5pm).