Sotheby's
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Located in London's Mayfair district, Sotheby's auctions offer an extraordinary diversity of objects and works of art. Exhibitions in the Sotheby's galleries change frequently, depending upon upcoming auctions. For the most up-to-date exhibition schedules, please refer to the Sotheby's website. Sotheby's Café, located in the New Bond Street auction house, serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Sotheby's galleries are open to the public and free to visit.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Mayfair
Set beside some of London's best parks and home to world-class galleries, luxurious hotels, and famed thoroughfares, the ultra upscale Mayfair is one of London's most exclusive haunts. Here the shopping is haute, the dining is exquisite, and the nightlife is vibrant. A casual stroll through the area’s chic streets will reveal that Michelin stars and chauffeured cars are practically the norm here. Even if you're on a tight budget, this exceptionally well connected swath of Central London is worth exploring, if only for the chance to take a peak at the goings on of upper crust English society.
How to get there
- Oxford Circus • 5 min walk
- Bond St • 6 min walk
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2,341 within 10 kms
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
71 reviews
Excellent
51
Very good
11
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
4
Love and laughter 😍
London, UK683 contributions
Sept 2020
I visited today whilst shopping on New Bond Street. The gentleman on the door was lovely and recognised me from dining at the cafe which is now closed. He encouraged me to come in any way and possibly have a coffee in the main restaurant. I gave in and what a regret that was the staff were all SO rude and pretentious. The restaurant was unattended when I went to look at the menu and it was extremely unwelcoming. I couldn’t wait to escape!
Written September 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elizabeth B
6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
This exhibition is mind blowing. It overwhelmed me and I was overwhelmed. It’s a unique opportunity to view these objects together in one place; the displays are logically arranged and the objects amazing.
However, my main negative point is an important one. There is absolutely nowhere to sit at any point of the exhibition. The exhibition is arranged over what feels like several floors. With all the crowding and the relative heat of the galleries, I was overwhelmed not so much by emotion as by exhaustion. Unable to take another step, I slumped in a corner, feeling very unwell and worried that I would be sick on the expensive carpet. Some helpful people asked for a chair for me - thank you guys, I hope I wasn’t dismissive but I really did feel very I’ll for a little while. My friend gave me her water and 15 mins later I was able to get back on my feet again. We quickly viewed what we wanted to see and made our way home. There were spots where chairs could be provided if you thought about it; the chair I had came up from the ground floor and seemed to take ages to arrive. There was no first aider. The accessible toilet and lift need to be more clearly signposted. Some staff were charming, others were more like the Sloane KGB, silent and forbidding.
A great exhibition but please think of customers who are no longer as fit as they were. The odd stopping point with seating and a notice at the beginning to remember your water and be aware the exhibition is over multi levels would help.
However, my main negative point is an important one. There is absolutely nowhere to sit at any point of the exhibition. The exhibition is arranged over what feels like several floors. With all the crowding and the relative heat of the galleries, I was overwhelmed not so much by emotion as by exhaustion. Unable to take another step, I slumped in a corner, feeling very unwell and worried that I would be sick on the expensive carpet. Some helpful people asked for a chair for me - thank you guys, I hope I wasn’t dismissive but I really did feel very I’ll for a little while. My friend gave me her water and 15 mins later I was able to get back on my feet again. We quickly viewed what we wanted to see and made our way home. There were spots where chairs could be provided if you thought about it; the chair I had came up from the ground floor and seemed to take ages to arrive. There was no first aider. The accessible toilet and lift need to be more clearly signposted. Some staff were charming, others were more like the Sloane KGB, silent and forbidding.
A great exhibition but please think of customers who are no longer as fit as they were. The odd stopping point with seating and a notice at the beginning to remember your water and be aware the exhibition is over multi levels would help.
Written August 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander Z
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • Business
Rather negative experience with Sotheby's customer support overall. I bought way over 100 works of art from them in New York, London, Paris, and Hong Kong, just in the past 2-3 years. Condition reports were inaccurate in several cases. Two items were outright fakes. VAT or import tariff refunds were a nightmare with up to 50 e-mails exchanged for a 4-digit refund. Their shipping fees are outrageous. It is hard to get them to stop spamming you with their emails and their printed catalogues. I could go on and on. It seems to me that their support has gotten much worse since they went private (off the NY stock exchange), and it is now really bad when compared with Christies, Bonhams, or Heritage, to name just a few competitors. I hope that some day they will be able to improve it, and I will certainly update this review in case this happens.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samir Magdy EMILE Tawadrous
Reading, UK4,695 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
First time in here
Luckily I managed to find a table, sitting on the comfortable leather arm chair on this not very busy Monday afternoon ( around 13:00 ).
Usually is very busy, thus was very hard to find a table / seat
Enjoying my white cafe American with some hot milk on the side
Staff are good
My only drawback is that they only serve in take away cops !!
Luckily I managed to find a table, sitting on the comfortable leather arm chair on this not very busy Monday afternoon ( around 13:00 ).
Usually is very busy, thus was very hard to find a table / seat
Enjoying my white cafe American with some hot milk on the side
Staff are good
My only drawback is that they only serve in take away cops !!
Written June 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marc Checkley
Lausanne, Switzerland83 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Great exhibition space. If only the auction - main part of the business ran as smoothly and warmly. Still waiting on a call back from 8 weeks ago. Go to look, not to bid. Online bidding feature is not a fun or real experience
Written December 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saif Al-Nahhas
6 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Absolute bunch of clowns who, (even worse) feel that they don’t need your business. Arrogant and condescending beyond even beyond what you would expect as caricatures of the privileged posh who are trying to make money off of you. They have been dining out on their food name for far too long now.
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RA
Harpenden, UK1,401 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
What an outstanding collection and exhibition for the Freddie Mercury auction! Yes, there was a queue outside, but is lived very quickly and we must have been inside within about 20mins.
The exhibition guides you around Sotheby’s display rooms with good sign posting of the various lots.
Would highly recommend whilst it is still showing.
The exhibition guides you around Sotheby’s display rooms with good sign posting of the various lots.
Would highly recommend whilst it is still showing.
Written August 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aunty Snazzy
Somerset, UK83 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Queued for 2 hours to get into Sotheby's for the Freddie Mercury Exhibition. So well worth it. Fantastic inlook to the way he lived and his love of Japan. Such a talented man, surrounded himself with what he loved, very good taste and an eye for colour. The exhibition included all the items, furniture, collectables, clothes etc of his house where he lived, laid out into
replica rooms, that gave you a sence of how he lived and relaxed.
replica rooms, that gave you a sence of how he lived and relaxed.
Written August 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rajesh Parmar
High Wycombe, UK1,360 contributions
Sept 2023 • Solo
Its was my first here I came to see Freddie Murcury Auction.
I got off Green Park underground station. There was a queue outside. But, going fast. The staff were very friendly. I saw lots of Freddie Murcury 1500 lots going for auction.
I got off Green Park underground station. There was a queue outside. But, going fast. The staff were very friendly. I saw lots of Freddie Murcury 1500 lots going for auction.
Written October 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MartinWebber
Broadstairs, UK23 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
We automatically assume that a valuation from Sotheby's will be accurate and informed - but don't you believe it. I recently asked Sotheby's for a valuation of a rare "double red" Rolex watch. They told me it was worth about £5,000. I did not accept their valuation and went elsewhere. I eventually sold the watch to a dealer for £22,500.
Written August 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you want to see everything, give yourself 2 hours, but we didn’t see everything, lots of little things in cabinets, take your time, enjoy, and don’t be rushed, you can go around slowly, it is definitely worthwhile.
Written August 28, 2023
Hi, what is the opening hours of the gallery opening to public? I cannot search from the website.
Written October 14, 2018
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