Considering the Travel House in London?
A VT member wrote the following comment about visiting London:
The National Gallery and the... by Pegasus74
The National Gallery and the neighbouring Portrait Gallery, accessible from Leicester Sq. or Charing Cross metro station, are both worth more than a glance. The former displays a superb cross-section of Impressionists and post-Impressionists while the latter offers a comprehensive display of portraits. Surprisingly admission is FREE! I never have thought anything can be free in London? Where one has to donate 20p (that's equivalent to almost 3 dimes!) at the washrooms in train stations for every nature call. Where convenient stores or fast food restaurants lock their washrooms unless one again pays to get in.
Anywayz I was particularly impressed by the good collection of Canaletto's paintings on Venice. Today scientists who are trying to save Venice from the effects of sinking and devastating floods have turned to his work to extract clues as to what the sustainable water level in the city should be, as his paintings are considered extremely accurate because he projected real images onto canvas before tracing the pictures with a pen. They are hoping to use the information to establish an optimum flood level if, as conservationists hope, the government decides to build huge flood barriers on the entrances to the Venice Lagoon.
[To be filled in soon. Stay tuned!]