Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens

This photo of the view of the Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, London is part of one of the panoramic images found on the PanoramicEarth.com Tour of London. There are over 100 images taken from around London linked to an interactive map.

Plan your visit to London by taking advantage of these London Hotel Specials or Thomson City Breaks. Get the most of London with these London Guide Books

The Serpentine Gallery is surrounded by Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, just a short distance form the Serpentine. It looks nothing like a traditional gallery, being housed in a Grade II listed former tea pavilion that was built in 1934. In 1998 the Serpentine Gallery was refurbished with a £4 million grant.

The grounds at the entrance to the Serpentine Gallery house a permanent work dedicated to Princess Diana, former patron of the Serpentine Gallery. This piece was made by Ian Hamilton Finlay and Peter Coates.

In contrast to the classical surroundings, many of the exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery feature modern artists, and the list of those who have exhibited here is long and prestigious, including Henry Moore, Bridget Riley, Andy Warhol, Man Ray, Damien Hirst and Rachel Whiteread to name a few.

Unlike many other galleries in London, the special temporary exhibitions at the Serpentine Gallery remains free for all to visit. The gallery used to only be open during the summer months, but this may now have changed. Check the Serpentine Gallery website for current exhibition information and opening times.

Given the patronage of the late Princess Diana of the Serpentine Gallery, it is fitting that the Diana Memorial Fountain is just across the road from the gallery near to the Serpentine lake. Also near to the Serpentine Gallery are the Albert Memorial and the Royal Albert Hall, while Hyde Park Corner, and the Wellington Arch, are just a few minutes away.

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The nearest tube station is Hyde Park Corner, while South Kensington is about 10 minutes away down Exhibition Road and past the V&A and Science Museums.

The full panoramic image taken from the junction of the Serpentine Gallery can be found on the London tour by PanoramicEarth.com. An enlargement of this photo can be found on Flickr. You can also find a marker for Parliament Square on Tagzania.

For more articles on London see the London Index or select one of the labels at the bottom.

South Kensington Tube Station - London

This photo of South Kensington Tube Station in London is part of one of the panoramic images found on the PanoramicEarth.com Tour of London. There are over 100 images taken from around London linked to an interactive map.

Plan your visit to London by taking advantage of these London Hotel Specials or Thomson City Breaks. Get the most of London with these London Guide Books

South Kensington is now a very fashionable area of London in which to both live and shop. As is the nature of such things, South Kensington is also a very expensive area for both activities. The area is also well know for the museums and galleries nearby, for South Kensington is the stop you need if you plan on visiting the Natural History Musuem, Earth Galleries, Science Museum of the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum. Entrance to all of these museums is free, though you may have to pay for special exhibitions.

Because of it’s proximity to the museums, South Kensington Tube station is often very busy. Thankfully, given that the area is also surrounded with very busy roads, a tunnel links the tube station to each of the museums, including, since 2005, the V&A. You will often find buskers playing music in the tunnel and selling their cd’s.

If you exit South Kensington tube at street level, you will immediately be confronted with several busy roads all lined with boutiques, restaurants and other shops. The station was opened in 1868 and little has changed since, except that now it is estimated that over 2 million people a month pass through it. Originally the station accessed the District Line, but then access to both the Piccadilly and Circle lines were added.

The area of South Kensington (part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) was fairly undeveloped until the Great Exhibition of 1851 when large areas of land were purchased for the institutions dedicated to the arts and science. These gradually became the museums and Imperial University all located in the surrounding area.

South Kensington Tube is also the closest tube to the Royal Albert Hall, Albert Memorial, Diana Memorial Fountain and the Serpentine Gallery. Other nearby tube stations include Knightsbridge, next to Harrods.

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The full panoramic image taken of South Kensington Tube Station can be found on the London tour by PanoramicEarth.com. An enlargement of this photo can be found on Flickr.

For more articles on London see the London Index or select one of the labels at the bottom.