The National Gallery · London United Kingdom

This gallery certainly knows its Monet from its Manet. Established in 1824, the National Gallery houses one of the largest and most important art collections in the world, with more than 2,300 works of art residing within the 500,000-sq.-ft. museum. The permanent collection focuses primarily on artists from Western Europe, spanning the medieval period through the 20th century, including da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Monet. It also hosts special exhibitions and offers educational programs. The museum, which is funded through the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport, welcomes more than four million visitors each year. To read the full description, subscribe now.