City: New Haven, CT

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (203) 432-2800

Address: 1080 Chapel St.

Insider Pick:

Description: This modern building designed by Louis Kahn, with its calming oak and linen interior, boasts the largest collection of British art outside Great Britain itself. After blithely strolling in at the corner of Chapel and High Streets (it’s free) and heading up the elevator or winding staircase, you’ll find 3 floors of paintings, decorative arts, and sculptures from the 1500s to today. Check out the wonderful seascapes of Turner, the clever drawings of Hogarth, and the crumbling ruins of Constable. Don’t miss Whistler’s Nocturne in Blue and Silver, one of the paintings that prefigured modern art. The museum runs lectures, tours, concerts, and films, and they also bring in great temporary exhibits, so check their schedule. And don’t forget the gift store, one of the best museum shops you’ll find this side of the Met.