Yale Center for British Art

Top choice in New Haven


Reopened in 2016 after extensive restoration, this fabulous gallery was architect Louis Kahn’s last commission and is the setting for the largest collection of British art outside the UK. Spanning three centuries from the Elizabethan era to the 19th century, and arranged thematically as well as chronologically, the collection gives an unparalleled insight into British art, life and culture. A visit is an absolute must for anyone interested in beautiful things. And yes, it's free.

Public and private group tours are available.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby New Haven attractions

1. Tomb

0.05 MILES

The Tomb is not open to the public. This is the home of Yale’s most notorious secret society, the Skull & Bones Club, founded in 1832, and its list of…

2. Yale University Art Gallery

0.05 MILES

This outstanding museum was architect Louis Kahn's first commission and houses the oldest university art collection in the country; it includes Vincent…

3. New Haven Green

0.18 MILES

New Haven's spacious green has been the spiritual center of the city since its Puritan fathers designed it in 1638 as the prospective site for Christ's…

4. Yale University

0.27 MILES

Each year, thousands of high-school students make pilgrimages to Yale, nursing dreams of attending the country's third-oldest university, which boasts…

6. Artspace

0.36 MILES

Specializing in contemporary visual arts and community outreach, Artspace runs this bright contemporary gallery and organizes the annual City-Wide Open…

7. Grove Street Cemetery

0.42 MILES

Three blocks north of the green, this cemetery holds the graves of several famous New Havenites behind its grand Egyptian Revival gate, including rubber…

8. Peabody Museum of Natural History

0.75 MILES

It's hard not to be fascinated by this vast collection of animal, vegetable and mineral specimens, including wildlife dioramas, meteorites and minerals…