Masterpieces of London: An Extraordinary Close Look

September 10 – 17, 2025

Starting from

Art Destinations

Discover the art of mindful observation in London’s magnificent museums on this once-in-a-lifetime journey guided by celebrated educator Rika Burnham, whose decades at The Met and The Frick Collection transformed how thousands connect with art.

Through extended contemplation and engaging discussions of masterpieces at the National Gallery, Courtauld Institute, and Tate Modern, newfound observation skills unlock hidden meanings in every brushstroke. Beyond museum walls, the adventure unfolds at Windsor Castle’s royal galleries and amid the Georgian grandeur of Kenwood House. The elegant Brown’s Hotel—Queen Victoria’s chosen tea spot—serves as home base for seven days of exclusive access, including backstage tours of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and intimate dining at Fortnum & Mason.

Highlights

Lecturer

Rika Burnham

Lecturer

Rika Burnham, Lecturer, 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.

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