Picked up a brooch from Sothebys after a successful bid but found the overall experience wanting…read more They were very disorganized - my initial outreach, to inquire about collection logistics (picking it up versus shipping), required multiple emails before someone finally acknowledged my request & I was advised picking it up would the more cost-effective option.....since I was visiting London in a couple of months, we agreed I would stop by I provided the date I would be there to collect my item and they requested my departure documentation, about 6 weeks in advance, so all the export paperwork would be ready.....you see where this is going..... They were not prepared, at all. They couldn't find me in their system, then they couldn't locate the item. The paperwork had not even been started & it took over 2 HOURS to prepare....... when I sent them everything, as requested, 6 weeks prior and I had emails assuring me everything would be ready At one point, I was told they weren't expecting me until 12 days later - which would have been my departure date FROM GERMANY. Again, simply reading our correspondence would have shown that you acknowledged the date I stated I would be there to collect the item - maybe a calendar entry on your part would solve these mix-ups in the future? The paperwork I was provided forced me to get TWO sets of customs stamps leaving the UK and then the EU, and they were also bold enough to charge a £90 "administration fee" for refunding MY VAT! And this not to mention the buyer's premium they charge (which everyone does so can't fault there) but they also charged another £60 for storage, for not picking up my item within 30 days. Are you serious?! I love Sothebys & the items you offer for auction but I will definitely think twice before purchasing from this London location. All the extra fees and disorganization may prove the experience unworthy - I've seen better!

Steer clear. I entered a watch that was running well (I kept…read morea video of that), into the sale, agreed value £30-50k. Before auction they said it needed a revision by their watchmaker and it would cost £800 but it would be deducted from auction sale, I agreed. It took a further 2 months then I received news it was all going ahead in the December 2020 auction. However because they decided just before auction there was a problem with the back case they refused to sell it. I had wasted 4 months and had to pay for the revision before it was returned. It was only returned after I paid the revision cost but not running at all, they blamed the parts in the movement that were running perfectly until it went to them, remember I have a video. Steer clear. Edit DeleteShare

Frestonian Gallery undoubtedly takes its name from the Independent Republic of Frestonia, a…read moresquatters community who took over this bit of nomansland in the 70s. Fast forward a few decades and head quarter towers are replacing the low-rise warehouses and other nondescript buildings. Frestonian Gallery is the latest addition to a growing number of cultural venues in the area. Based in the building of the original People's Hall, I discovered the gallery when they were showing a photographic exhibition of the 70s community. I have been back a couple of times since and enjoy the programme of exhibitions that tend to combine well established with lesser known artists. The gallery and neighbouring Griffin and Unit 1 are helping put this neglected West London neighbourhood on the art map, and it's just a short walk from Westfield if you need a break from the shopping mall ...

My girlfriend being a designer dragged me to an art gallery the other day. Now I love art, but, it…read morehas to have a certain dimension to it. I'm not being picky, I just want to see something that I couldn't do. (Now for my rant) I get irritated when I go to a gallery and there in front of me in all its glory is an A4 piece of paper with a blue square on it. No frills, no beautiful flowing brush strokes, just a blue square. Now you can put all the artistic blurb you want as a write up but it 'ain't gonna impress me.' Fortunately the Ray Johnson Please Add to and Return gallery wasn't like this. Ray Johnson was the pioneer for the mail art movement. The movement is where he would start a piece of art and mail it to somebody else, they would add to it and send it back, and on it went like this until the piece was deemed complete. The percentage of his work is collages, that in the beginning of the exhibit I couldn't connect with. As the exhibit went on I found I was coming around to Ray's extraordinary ability to combine complete randomness, humour and skill in his work. What truly inspired me about Ray's collection wasn't his art, but his random letters and snippets of notes he wrote when he forwarded his work to colleagues and friends. His mind fluctuated like an arachnophobia suffers bum-hole whilst watching, well, Arachnophobia. His chat was hilarious, he would have made a sensational yelper. One of my favourite letters was "THIS IS JUST TO SAY" I have eaten the limes that were in the iceb ox and which y ou were probably saving for breakfast forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold (The mistakes were as he made them) Ray's collection is bizarre, imaginative and often funny. His work is theoretical in approach and follows the Gestalt laws. Occasionally though he throws artistic theory out of the window with pieces that cause the viewer anxiety. If you are interested in collage or font, you should go to this exhibit. It is entertaining, creative cheese for the mind and best of all, free.

Marvelous gallery owned & run by Alex Sainsburythe socialist son of the famous family. This is a…read moremustsee place.Even if you dont see an erxhibition,a visitis worth it for the buidling alone.I went on a fabulous, free organised walk with a localhistorian, who showed us all the famous buildingsassociated with the silk & fashion trade of the 17th& 18th centuries in the area. Most houses were bothlived & worked in, & attempts were even made to growmulberry trees in the house gardens for the silk worms.English climate prevented this, so silk was imported& woven here & stretched on the lawns or "tenterdowns'with 'tenter hooks' to make the clothes for the rich famous. Street names reflect this industry

I purchased and paid for a lot at aution and paid 10 days ago. After 3 unanswered emails i still…read moredont know if the item has shipped. Problem solved.

This establishment is well known for its Medals, Coins, Stamps, Banknotes, Bonds, Share…read moreCertificates, Autographs, Books & Fine Wines from Great Britain, Republic of Ireland, the Commonwealth nations, and other non-Commonwealth nations from all around the World. The Spink auction department is much more interesting and educational than Christie's and much more unique than Sotheby's. Spink is literally located around the corner from the world famous British Museum; the establishment is under the London Borough of Camden council. Your visits to Spink are seriously worth your time and your effort. I was here as of yesterday (04-04-2012) with a friend of mine, and he was doing some business with them. I have to say that the staff at Spink at very poilte and helpful.

First time purchase with Bonhams. It was easy to get signed up for the auction, however there are…read morehidden fees that were not clearly explained online. When questioned about the fees, Bonhams said it is in the catalogs. I did not have a catalog, bidding online. Fifty years of buying items at auctions throughout the world and online, never have I been charged hidden fees like this.

What a great meal from start to finish! Excellent fixed menu even for pescatarians. We opted for…read morepremium wine pairing-- next time I would go with a nice bottle of red burgundy although the wine pairing was very good. Each food presentation as well as each bite was perfect. The food amount was just enough-- left feeling content. Note: The dining area is small. Not stuffy not crowded. A perfect place for if you just want a great meal with attentive service.

After my visit to the National Gallery, I went to the nearby National Portrait Gallery. Even…read morethough art museums aren't on the top of my list of attractions, the National Portrait Gallery was right there, and, like the National Gallery, it was free, so no reason not to go. As the name suggests, the National Portrait Gallery focused on portraits (paintings, busts, and photographs), and the portraits were grouped into categories, such as royalty, authors, and scientists. Since there was an informational plaque by each portrait that also included a brief history about the person, it was also educational. I visited the National Portrait Gallery for about an hour, and I also had a drink and snack in the Audrey Green Café. (The gallery also has a couple of full service restaurants.) [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; London, England; Museums and Art Galleries; Cheap Thrills]

A must do in London. It is free entry (donations accepted) . Portraits starting in the Tudor…read moreages but for me, the most interesting are the portraits of more current people - Amy Winehouse, Germaine Greer.... it is well laid out and you can easily spend a few hours. Even though it is free, you can 'buy' your tickets on line so then you bypass the line up. Worth doing if you are in London.

Abbott and Holder is a lovely picture dealers and conservators who specialise in English art just…read morenear the British Museum. I always like to go in for a browse as they often have some interesting pieces on display. The gallery is a lovely light and airy town house, and you are left to browse uninterrupted over the three floors in their tranquil house-like setting. The whole building smells of wood stain and the paintings are hung salon style on the crimson walls. There's a nice choice of watercolours, oils, prints and drawings, from small scale mounts (£100 and under) to huge, imposing modern oils (up to £10,000). At the moment their most dramatic modern piece is a James Boswell, 'The Dark Bride', and if I had a spare £7000 It would be in my hallway right now. If you are serious about collecting you can ask to be added to 'The List' which is a seven-weekly publication that announces their new acquisitions. On the second floor there's usually an exhibition on, so if you're not interested in buying it's still worth a look. I've only ever seen the same three people working there, all highly informative and friendly. As soon as you've rung the doorbell they welcome you in, taking your bags and coat so you can browse freely.

This gallery, which is just across the road from the British Museum, specialises in British…read morewatercolours, prints and drawings from the past 250 years or so. If this is the sort of art you want to buy you'll find it hard to imagine a better gallery than this. A very large stock, very reasonable prices, friendly and knowledgeable staff. None of your pretentious, snobbery here! If only all art galleries were like this. Watch out especially for their annual summer sale in June; you can get some great bargains.

I first came here for the Michael Craig Martin Private view which was some time ago. The difference…read morebetween going to a private view in the Gagosian and a private view in other galleries is there is no wine, I might have been a bit early but I didn't see a glass in sight. The space itself is great though, with one main large room and two smaller rooms to each side, I've been in the gallery in New York as well and it's a similar layout. The location could be better, situated in Britannia Street so the nearest tube station is Kings Cross.

Huzzah for UK Yelp! Finally! So I am going to Yelp a two year old show and gallery visit for my…read more400th review. Nyah. This gallery was the art highlight (and only art visit since I went with and for my two teenage sons who abhor art galleries/museums) of my very short trip to London two years ago. I came to see the Francis Bacon triptychs and was not disappointed. For an added bonus, Damien Hirst's works were being shown as well. The gallery is pretty nondescript from the outside located on a small side street near the Kings Cross Station. The front belies the large, well-lighted space inside. The Bacon works were positively glowing. This space seems nicer than the New York Gagosian but maybe I was just enamored by the Bacon paintings.