There’s a great opportunity at the moment to visit museums and landmarks from home. Google Arts and Culture is an online platform (also available on the app store and Google Play) where you can get your daily dose of arts and culture. There are videos, high res images and street views with activities to do with the kids as well. Here’s a list of some of the museums and landmarks offering virtual or 360-degree tours.
The Acropolis
The Acropolis in Greece is one of the most important sites in the Western world. Standing over Athens in Greece, the buildings and statues can be viewed from almost everywhere in the city.
Anne Frank House
If you’ve not been to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, now’s your chance. The museum celebrates the life of Anne Frank who hid from the nazi’s in 1942 for two years. She is one of the most discussed victims of the Holocaust.
British Museum
London’s British Museum has over two million years of human history and culture. Its virtual tours, digital resources and museum podcast are currently available plus there’s Curator’s Corner on YouTube.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace in Central London is home to The Queen, the focus of many UK celebrations and Trooping the Colour which marks The Queen’s official birthday. It is also one of the world’s most iconic buildings, welcoming thousands of people every year. Virtual tours currently available include the Grand Staircase, the White Drawing Room, the Throne Room and the Blue Drawing Room. Or check out the YouTube tour.
The Catacombs
The Catacombes in Paris are underground ossuaries which hold the remains of more than six million people. Situated in a part of a tunnel network, they span from the Barrière d’Enfer and cover 11,000 m² of underground space.
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street is the residence of the British Prime Minister. Situated in London, the office helps the Prime Minister establish and deliver the government’s policies to Parliament and the public.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The most iconic building in Paris, it is one of the most visited in the world.
The Louvre
The Louvre in Paris is one of the most famous museums in the world. It’s home to the likes of the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Their virtual tours take you through the Egyptian Antiquities, the remains of the Louvre’s Moat and the Galerie d’Apollon.
Guggenheim Museum
Designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Guggenheim Museum in New York was recently designated part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. While we’re in lockdown, you can discover artists, exhibitions and collections from the comfort of your home.
Hampton Court Palace
At Hampton Court Palace you can experience the lives of Henry VIII, his wives and children, admire the Great Hall, the Haunted Gallery and the Tudor kitchens. Have a look at the 360-degree tour to get a taste of what this London palace is like.
Houses of Parliament
Parliament in London is made up of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarchy. Typically tours are available but until these are reinstated, it’s possible to explore Parliament through a virtual tour.
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay on the banks of the River Seine was formerly the Gare d’Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built between 1898 and 1900. It houses the largest collection of masterpieces in the world including paintings by the likes of Monet and Van Gogh, sculpture and photography.
The National Gallery
The National Gallery is art museum which is situated in Trafalgar Square in Central London. One of the world’s most visited galleries, it houses over 2,000 paintings dating from the 13th century to the 1900’s.
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in London is a great way to find answers to those big questions through their collections, scientists and research learning about the largest mammals to the smallest insects.
National Portrait Gallery
London’s National Portrait Gallery has virtual tours offering views of its gallery rooms. These span the Tudor period, 17th century and 18th century through to the Victorian period.
Palace of Versailles
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Palace of Versailles is offering a virtual reality experience which allows visitors to relive the visit by the Ambassador of Siam to the Court of Louis XIV in 1686 and the Yew Ball held by Louis XV.
Pergamon Museum
Situated on Museum Island (Museumsinsel) in Berlin is the Pergamon Museum. Combining the vast history of the ancient East, it has collections that cannot be seen anywhere else with artefacts from Iran, Asia Minor, Egypt and the Caucasus.
Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum in Barcelona houses one of the most extensive collections of Picasso artwork with over four thousand pieces exhibited. It was the first museum dedicated to Picasso’s work and as such declared a museum of national interest.
Rijksmuseum
Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch’ is to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam what the ‘Mona Lisa’ is to the Louvre. Across 80 galleries some 8,000 objects tell the story of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages to Mondrian spanning 800 years.
Roald Dahl Museum
Situated in Great Missenden in England is the Roald Dahl Museum which is offering everyone the opportunity to explore their three galleries from the comfort of your armchair.
The Sistine Chapel
Situated in the Vatican City in Rome is the Sistine Chapel – the site of the Papal conclave. Known for its frescos, the Sistine Chapel is most well known for The Last Judgment by Michelagelo.
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, Britain which consists of a ring of standing stones. Each stands around 13 feet high and 7 foot wide. It is believed Stonehenge was constructed from 3,000 BC to 2,000 BC.
St Paul’s Cathedral
St Paul’s, with its world-famous dome, is an icon of London’s skyline. Visitors can currently experience St Paul’s online through Google Arts and Culture, through a multimedia guide or YouTube.
Tate Modern
Located in the City of Westminster, London the Tate Modern is Britain’s national gallery of modern art. Forming part of the Tate Britain, it holds the national collection of British art from the 1900’s to the present day. It is one of the largest museums of contemporary art in the world.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the largest collection of artwork by Vincent van Gogh in the world. The museum is running a new 4K tour from its YouTube channel every Thursday.
Visit London
Finally, if you’re looking for a 360-degree tour of London, check out this link which features many of the city’s landmarks including the London Eye, Gherkin and Big Ben to name but a few.
