10 London Art Galleries to Explore Virtually With Kids

You can explore London’s incredible art galleries from home with your kids through amazing virtual tours and interactive features. The National Gallery offers guided tours of Renaissance masterpieces, while the British Museum brings ancient history alive with AR experiences and QR code challenges. Tate Modern showcases contemporary art in themed galleries, and Tate Britain houses Turner’s spectacular collection. The Wallace Collection, Courtauld Gallery, and Dulwich Picture Gallery provide family-friendly digital experiences that’ll spark your children’s creativity and imagination through expert storytelling.

National Gallery: Renaissance Masterpieces and Interactive Adventures

When you step into London’s National Gallery, you’ll discover over 2,400 incredible paintings that span 700 years of European art history. You can explore Renaissance masterpieces through Google’s immersive 360° virtual tour, which covers eight rooms including the Central Hall.

You’ll see amazing works by Leonardo da Vinci, including The Virgin of the Rocks, and Michelangelo’s unfinished The Entombment. Don’t miss Titian’s colorful Bacchus and Ariadne, where you’ll spot Bacchus leaping from his chariot in an exciting mythological scene. Leonardo’s masterpiece showcases his pioneering aerial perspective technique that creates infinite depth and mysterious atmosphere in the rocky landscape.

The gallery’s YouTube tours offer guided adventures with expert curators who’ll share fascinating stories about each artwork. You can use interactive search tools to uncover Renaissance treasures from Leonardo to Dürer, making art discovery feel like an exciting treasure hunt.

British Museum: Ancient Treasures and Time-Travel Experiences

Step into the British Museum and you’ll begin an incredible time-travel adventure that spans over 2 million years of human history! You’ll discover amazing ancient treasures from five continents, including the famous Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and stunning Parthenon sculptures from Greece.

Try the exciting Museum Missions where you’ll scan QR codes to complete fun challenges like finding objects, posing for photos, and solving puzzles.

For ages 7-11, grab a tablet tour with cool augmented reality features that bring ancient sites to life!

Can’t visit in person? Join live-stream Zoom tours for just £10 per family. Expert guides will take you on interactive adventures through Egyptian galleries and Roman treasures, complete with quizzes and stories that’ll transport you back in time! These engaging virtual experiences are specifically designed for children aged 10-16 and allow unlimited questions during the tour.

Tate Modern: Contemporary Art and Abstract Pioneers

As you cross the Millennium Bridge toward the towering brick chimney of Tate Modern, you’ll enter one of the world’s coolest art galleries housed inside a former power station!

This free gallery showcases over 100 years of modern art from global artists like Picasso, Kusama, and Matisse.

Start your adventure in the massive Turbine Hall, where you’ll discover ambitious large-scale installations. Look for Louise Bourgeois’ giant spider sculpture Maman during the 2025 anniversary celebrations!

Explore themed galleries like “In the Studio” and “Materials and Objects” to see how artists experiment with shapes, colors, and unusual materials. The gallery also features Quiet Rooms on various levels where families can take peaceful breaks when needed.

Try describing artworks without words, or close your eyes and imagine textures. Find your favorite piece and explain what surprises you most about it!

Tate Britain: Turner’s Legacy and British Artistic Heritage

Where can you discover the artist who painted swirling storms and golden sunsets that look almost magical? You’ll find Turner’s incredible works at Tate Britain, home to the world’s largest collection of his art. Joseph Mallord William Turner donated nearly 300 oil paintings and 30,000 sketches to the nation, and they’re housed in the special Clore Gallery.

Turner lived from 1775-1851 and painted everything happening around him – from steam trains to sailing ships. His famous painting The Fighting Temeraire shows an old warship being towed away. You can explore his sketchbooks and see how he experimented with bright colors and light effects. Turner’s will originally specified that two of his paintings should hang alongside works by Claude to reflect his deep admiration for the master landscape painter.

Many people call Turner the “father of modern art” because his swirling, colorful style influenced artists like Claude Monet.

National Portrait Gallery: Famous Faces and Inspiring Stories

Have you ever wondered what Shakespeare actually looked like, or wanted to see a real portrait of Queen Elizabeth I? The National Portrait Gallery lets you meet history’s most fascinating people face-to-face! Founded in 1856, this unique museum collects portraits based on who’s painted, not who painted them.

You’ll discover Tudor royals like Henry VIII, scientists like Charles Darwin, and modern stars like David Bowie. Each portrait tells amazing stories about people who overcame obstacles and changed the world. Florence Nightingale’s portrait shows how she revolutionized nursing, while Winston Churchill’s image captures wartime leadership. The gallery also features groundbreaking artists like Lubaina Himid, the first woman of color to win the Turner Prize in 2017.

The gallery’s virtual tours make exploring easy from home. Their online Tudor Gallery walk-through explains every portrait’s secrets, and special videos designed for families bring these historical figures to life.

V&A Museum: Design Wonders and Decorative Arts

Step inside the V&A Museum and you’ll enter the world’s largest treasure trove of beautiful objects and incredible designs! This amazing museum spans 145 galleries across 12.5 acres, showcasing 5,000 years of human creativity from around the world.

You’ll discover incredible collections including the world’s largest Iznik pottery display, over 6,000 glass pieces spanning 4,000 years, and 14,000 furniture items like Henry VIII’s walnut writing desk.

The Cast Courts feature dramatic full-scale replicas of Michelangelo’s David and Trajan’s Column that’ll make you feel tiny!

Explore interactive digital galleries filled with fashion, jewelry, and decorative arts. From ancient Chinese ancestor portraits to Art Deco ceramics by Clarice Cliff, you’ll find beautiful objects that tell fascinating stories about how people lived throughout history. The museum’s main entrance features a stunning blown glass chandelier created by artist Dale Chihuly that sparkles above visitors as they begin their journey.

Wallace Collection: European Art and Armour Displays

The museum’s virtual experiences make it perfect for home exploration. Use the Bloomberg Connects digital guide in over 30 languages, or plunge into Google Arts & Culture’s “Whispers from the Wallace Collection” for kid-friendly online stories.

Your children will discover complete knight and horse ensembles, learn about myth versus reality of medieval warriors, and spot details in Old Master paintings through interactive games that bring European history to life. The digital guide provides an easy and direct way to explore the collection remotely with your family.

Courtauld Gallery: Impressionist Paintings and French Masters

Moving from medieval armor to colorful brushstrokes, your family will find London’s most celebrated Impressionist collection at the Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House. You’ll discover masterpieces by French artists like Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh, all housed in one stunning space called the LVMH Great Room.

Don’t miss Van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” – kids love hearing the dramatic story behind this famous painting.

Manet’s “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère” shows bustling Parisian nightlife, while Cézanne’s colorful landscapes demonstrate how artists experimented with new painting techniques. The gallery offers virtual tours that let you zoom into individual brushstrokes and examine the intricate textures that make each masterpiece unique.

The gallery’s 530 paintings span centuries, but the Impressionist works steal the show. These French masters changed art forever by painting outdoors and capturing light in revolutionary ways that’ll spark fascinating conversations with curious young minds.

Dulwich Picture Gallery: Old Masters and Family-Friendly Tours

Hidden away in leafy Dulwich village, you’ll discover England’s oldest public art gallery, where Old Master paintings have welcomed families since 1817. Dulwich Picture Gallery houses over 600 European masterpieces in Sir John Soane’s architectural gem, originally built specifically for these treasures.

Your kids will love spotting famous works like Rembrandt’s “Girl at a Window” and Gainsborough’s elegant portraits hanging densely in ornate gilded frames. The collection spans French, Italian, and Spanish Baroque masters alongside British portraits from Tudor times through the 19th century.

Don’t miss the ArtPlay Pavilion, designed especially for under-8s to discover art through play. Mini Masterpieces offers family-friendly experiences that make baroque masters like Rubens, Van Dyck, and Poussin accessible to young visitors. The gallery’s intimate size makes it perfect for families who prefer exploring a carefully curated selection rather than feeling overwhelmed by vast museum halls.

Whitechapel Gallery: Modern Art and Creative Workshops

Since its doors opened in 1901, Whitechapel Gallery has introduced London families to groundbreaking modern and contemporary art in the heart of East London’s vibrant art quarter.

You’ll discover works by famous artists like Picasso, Pollock, and Frida Kahlo alongside contemporary stars such as Tracey Emin and Yayoi Kusama.

The gallery’s website offers fantastic virtual exploration opportunities. You can access online exhibition texts, filmed artist interviews, and detailed catalogues that work perfectly for family screen time.

Past exhibitions like “ISelf Collection” explore identity through self-portraits, sparking conversations about emotions and creativity with your kids. The collection featured 25 works from artists including Louise Bourgeois and Cindy Sherman, examining how artists stage bodies and self-reflections.

Many displays offer free entry, and the education program provides artist-led activities and learning resources designed specifically for young people and families to enjoy together.

The Sum Up

You’ve discovered amazing virtual adventures waiting at your fingertips! From Renaissance masterpieces to modern sculptures, London’s galleries offer incredible online experiences you can enjoy from home. Don’t forget to grab some art supplies before you start exploring – you’ll want to create your own masterpieces after seeing all this inspiration. Pick your favorite gallery, gather the family, and learn about London’s incredible art world. Your virtual adventure starts now!