Housed in a wing of Somerset House on the Strand, the Courtauld's permanent collection is one of the finest in Europe, with over 22,000 works including Van Gogh's Self Portrait with a Bandaged Ear, Manet's Bar at the Folies-Bergeres, and Renoir's La Loge.

Bequeathed to the gallery in 1932 by Samuel Courtauld, the original collection includes masterpieces by Cezzane, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas and Modigliani. This is an astounding and important set of works, housed in a suitably grandiose building.

Absolutely required visiting for any lover of the arts.