Masterpieces of London: An Extraordinary Close Look

January 13 – 20, 2027

With Rika Burnham

January 13 – 20, 2027

Starting from

$10,999

Enjoy in-depth museum tours in London.

On this unique art journey, join leading art historian and educator Rika Burnham to connect with London’s extraordinary masterpieces on a deeper level. Rika specializes in close looking, which is “an in-depth viewing of a single work of art, in which we study everything from its history to its visual language,” says Rika. “So often, we rush through art museums. On this trip, we slow our pace and savor one masterpiece at a time.”

Enjoy special close looks with Rika at esteemed institutions, including the National Gallery, Tate Modern, Kenwood House, and the Wallace Collection. This program also includes visits to other prestigious London art spaces, including the Courtauld Institute of Art, home to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works from Van Gogh, Monet, and Cézanne. You may also have the option to attend a ballet or theater performance.

Highlights

Experience intimate, in-depth discussions led by art historian Rika Burnham. Delve into the stories and techniques behind world-renowned masterpieces.
View legendary works from the likes of Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Renoir, and explore masterpieces from the Middle Ages through the 20th century at the Courtauld.
Savor a traditional afternoon tea as part of a quintessentially British experience.
Explore the world’s largest collection of JMW Turner works at the Tate Britain and take in a unique art-viewing experience in a former power station at the Tate Modern.
Discover the Royal Collection at Hampton Court Palace, one of the most famous and treasured collections of art in the world.
Access an acclaimed collection of paintings, magnificent architectural interiors, and imposing grounds featuring 112 acres of charming parkland at the Kenwood House.
Stroll through Britain’s oldest institution devoted solely to the fine arts at the Royal Academy with a curator.
Admire celebrated works by Da Vinci, Monet, and other masters free from crowds during a guided tour of the National Gallery before it opens to the public.

Lecturer

Rika Burnham

Lecturer

Rika Burnham has served as Head of Education at the Frick Collection, Museum Educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Project Director for TIME/Teaching Institute in Museum Education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has given lectures and led workshops for art museums across the U.S. and in Europe and currently teaches as a Lecturer in the Columbia University School of Professional Studies. An influential author in her field, Burnham’s many publications include Teaching in the Art Museum: Interpretation as Experience (Getty, 2011, with Elliott Kai-Kee), winner of a PROSE Award for best title in education from the Association of American Publishers. Her catalogue, chapter, and other essays have appeared under the National Gallery of Australia, Barnes Foundation, and SITE Santa Fe, as well as in numerous academic journals. Burnham holds a degree in art history from Harvard University and was awarded the degree of Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2014.