London & Partners

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES
Take a walk on the wild side
For wildlife lovers and nature
enthusiasts, the annual Veolia
Environnement Wildlife
Photographer Of The Year
exhibition at the Natural History
Museum is an unmissable
experience. More than 100 stunning,
surprising and sometimes shocking
images are on display, including
heart-wrenching six-picture
stories shortlisted for The Wildlife
Photojournalist Of The Year Award,
and provocative images of the natural
world under threat, commended for
The World In Our Hands award. But
each of the beautiful images, taken
by the some of the best amateur
and professional photographers
from around the world, have their
own fascinating story to tell. The
winning image, for instance, was
one of many striking shots taken by
wildlife snapper Paul Nicklen. who
dove beneath Antarctica’s ice to
photograph penguins surfacing. While
the winner of the Young Wildlife
Photographer Of The Year award,
Owen Hearn, claims his picture of
a red kite and aeroplane was partly
down to a fluke of timing.
Natural History Museum, p. 54.
LONDON CANAL
MUSEUM
Discover the history of the
capital’s canals through
displays, arts and crafts, plus
guided walks and boat trips.
Download an MP3 tour from
the website before your visit.
Tues-Sun & bank holiday
Mon 10.00-16.30 (until
19.30 on the first Thurs of
the month). Admission £4,
child £2.
12-13 New Wharf Road,
N1. 020 7713 0836.
canalmuseum.org.uk
Ë t King’s Cross
St. Pancras. Off map.
SHERLOCK HOLMES
MUSEUM
Dedicated to the famous
fictional detective and kept
exactly as described in
author Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle’s thrilling stories. Mon-
Sun 09.30-18.00. Admission
£6, child £4.
221b Baker Street, NW1.
020 7224 3688.
sherlock-holmes.co.uk
Ë Baker Street. Map A3.
Bubble-jetting Emperors by
Paul Nicklen
Flight Paths by Owen Hearn
SIR JOHN
SOANE’S MUSEUM
The celebrated 19th-century
architect’s Georgian hometurned-museum
designed
to show off his collection of
antiques and art. Candlelit
opening first Tues of the
month (18.00-21.00. Ticket
£5). Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00.
Admission free.
13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields,
WC2. 020 7405 2107.
soane.org Ë Holborn.
Map B6.
V&A MUSEUM
OF CHILDHOOD
National collection of
childhood objects dating
back to the 16th century.
Until 1 Sep A Treasured
Collection. Showcase of
mini museums – individual
collections of objects and
keepsakes that tell a unique
personal story. Daily 10.00-
17.45. Admission free.
Cambridge Heath Road,
E2. 020 8983 5200.
vam.ac.uk/moc
Ë Bethnal Green. Off map.
WANDSWORTH
MUSEUM
Charting the history of
London’s Wandsworth
area, including its Ice Age
landscapes, plus regular
exhibitions. The De Morgan
Centre (p. 56) is in the same
building. Tues-Sun 10.00-
17.00. Admission £4.
38 West Hill, SW18.
020 8870 6060.
wandsworthmuseum.
co.uk Ë East Putney.
Off map.
WALLACE COLLECTION
The former Wallace family
home displaying their
collection of rococo art,
sculpture and furniture.
Paintings include Jean-
Honoré Fragonard’s
18th-century masterpiece
The Swing. Until 13 Jan
Journeys East: A Discovery Of
Hidden Treasures. Exhibition
of eastern-inspired art
from the local community
to celebrate the reopening
of the refurbished East
Galleries. Daily 10.00-17.00.
Admission free.
Hertford House,
Manchester Square, W1.
020 7563 9500.
wallacecollection.org
Ë Bond Street. Map B4.
WELLCOME
COLLECTION
Medicine, life and art
explored in a fascinating
collection including
shrunken heads and ancient
remedies. Until 28 Feb
Death: A Self-Portrait.
Major showcase dedicated
to the iconography of
death, with more than 300
works including prints by
Rembrandt and Goya, war
art, anatomical drawings,
Incan skulls, sculptures
of strange deities and art
installations. Tues, Wed, Fri
& Sat 10.00-18.00; Thurs
10.00-22.00; Sun 11.00-
18.00; bank holidays 12.00-
18.00. Admission free.
183 Euston Road, NW1.
020 7611 2222.
wellcomecollection.org
Ë t Euston. Map A5.
WILDLIFE IMAGES COURTESY OF THE NATIURAL HISTORY MSUEUM © OWEN HEARN AND PAUL NICKLEN
58 | visitlondon.com|LONDON PLANNER|January 2013