This 220,000-work collection captures the essence of British society. There is a vibrant painting of Zadie Smith by Toyin Ojih Odutola as well as oils of Shakespeare and Lord Byron, and the annual Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait exhibition is always a joy. For anyone passing, it’s worth stopping just to look at the bronze doors scribbled with the faces of 45 women by Tracey Emin.

This world-class address houses the greatest collection of paintings in the country. There’s Jan van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait, the medieval Wilton Diptych and, in the Sainsbury Wing, a phenomenal collection of Italian Renaissance works. The exhibition programme is also wonderful. What a lot of people don’t know is that it’s open until 9pm on Fridays, so go late and then nab a table around the corner at The Portrait.

We can hardly think of a more "London" restaurant than J. Sheekey. This absolute classic serves some of the best seafood in the city; it’s no wonder it’s been a fine dining fixture for decades. In our book, J. Sheekey is the perfect place for a treatsie meal before or after the theatre.