Royal Academy of Arts, London, Guida per visitatori e cosa fare nei dintorni

The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution housed in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London, founded in 1768 under King George III. It is run by artists, stages the long-running Summer Exhibition and sits in one of the oldest grand houses in Mayfair, so it is both a gallery and a piece of the city's history.

The story behind it

Burlington House dates from the 1660s and was among the first great mansions built in this part of Mayfair, then at the edge of London. It later passed to the Boyle family, the Earls of Burlington. The 3rd Earl was an architect and a well-known patron of the arts, and his house became a meeting place for writers, musicians and thinkers. The composer Handel lived and worked here in the early 18th century and dedicated two operas to Lord Burlington, Teseo and Amadigi di Gaula.

The Royal Academy itself was set up in 1768 with Joshua Reynolds as its first president, and it moved into Burlington House in the 1860s. Right next door is Burlington Arcade, a covered shopping street from the early 19th century. It still has its own beadles in traditional uniform, often described as the smallest private police force in the world.

What to look for

• The statue of Joshua Reynolds in the front courtyard, shown holding a palette and brush, a nod to the Academy's first president.
• The Palladian character of the older house behind the later additions, a reminder of the 3rd Earl's passion for architecture.
• The grand entrance from Piccadilly, which leads into a courtyard shared with several learned societies.
• The beadles in top hats and long coats at the entrance to Burlington Arcade, just beside the Academy.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 20 minutes to see the courtyard, the facade and the arcade from outside, or a few hours if you visit an exhibition.
• Exhibitions are usually ticketed, while some areas can be entered freely, so check current opening hours and entry details before you go.
• Morning is generally calmer, and the courtyard is pleasant in soft daylight.
• Fortnum & Mason, Green Park and the Mayfair streets are all within a short walk, so it combines easily with a wider stroll.

See it on a quest

Scandal & Glamour: The Mayfair Scoop passes the Royal Academy on foot as one stop of a longer route through Mayfair. The app tells you about the place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you, so you look closely at the building rather than just photographing it. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers your whole group.