Ultimate Guide to London Galleries: Which to Visit and Why
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Who doesn’t love art museums? The past, the future, the unknown in art in between are all laid out for you to explore and understand at one of these fine cultural institutions. In the case of London, there are a ton of fantastic art museums in London to visit.
Whether you’re an art lover or just love learning about new things, you’ll find something perfect for you at one of these best art museums in London. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting famous art museums in London.
Tate Modern
The Tate Modern museum houses the world’s largest collection of modern art and is one of the best museums in London. The modern art museum London opened in 1897 and has become one of the city’s top tourist attractions.
It hosts a wide selection of modern art, including Tate Modern exhibitions. It is full of the weird and wonderful, and prides itself on being the home of the most unique art in the UK.
If you’re a fan of the Avant Garde, installations, or if you are simply a fan of discovering new things, then this is the gallery for you. Don’t miss the impressive Tate Modern architecture of the Turbine Hall.
The Tate Modern opening hours are daily from 10AM to 6PM. Admission to the museum is free admission, but you’ll have to pay for tickets to some of the museum’s exhibits.
Ticket prices start at £7.50 for adults, but can go as high as £11.50 for “Cinema” tickets that let you see films that are viewable from the restaurant or the studio. Look out for exciting Tate Modern exhibitions 2024.
National Gallery
The National Gallery’s collection focuses on National Gallery European art from across the century. The National Gallery’s permanent collection was started in 1859, and today the museum houses around 2,300 pieces of art.
There are paintings and sculptures, and a number of rotating exhibits that help keep the collection fresh. This is the London gallery to head to if you want to see some of the most famous National Gallery masterpieces ever created.
The gallery hosts pieces by Van Gogh, da Vinci, Picasso, Matisse, and Rembrandt. If you’re a big fan of paintings, Impressionist paintings, Renaissance art, landscapes, or if you’re just dipping your toes into the artistic waters, this has exciting exhibits for anyone and everyone
The National Gallery opening times are daily from 10AM to 9PM. Admission to the National Gallery London is free.
You can pay £65 for a yearly membership that grants you unlimited admission to the museum, additional discounts on certain exhibits and access to members-only events.
Take A Tour Around The National Gallery Online
Take a full tour around the National Gallery online so you know exactly where to go before you visit.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A museum is the largest museum of its kind in the world. The museum, which is named after Queen Victora and Prince Albert (who both helped fund it), is home to over 2.3 million pieces in its Victoria and Albert Museum collections.
You’ll find art from all over the world, from ancient antiquities to modern pieces. If you can’t decide what type of art you might like to see, the V&A has everything.
This includes paintings, sculptures, jewellery, costumes, furniture, decorative arts, and fashion. It is one of the most varied of all the London art galleries. The museum, which was established in 1899, is located in South Kensington.
Admission to the museum is free, but there are some special exhibits that require you to pay a fee. There are also a number of membership options.
The V&A is open daily from 10AM to 5.45PM. Admission to the museum is free, but you’ll have to pay a fee to enter certain exhibits. Victoria and Albert Museum tickets for membership options at the V&A include student memberships that grant reduced prices on certain exhibits.
National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is home to over 2,000 portraits of people from all walks of life. The gallery was founded in 1896, and today it is one of the most prominent museums dedicated to art and history of people in the UK.
The gallery’s collection includes a large number of British artists, but there are also pieces from around the world. It is located next door to the National Gallery, another of the London art galleries, so these can be combined – if you can manage to fit them both in!
The National Portrait Gallery is open daily from 10AM to 6PM. Admission to the gallery is free, but there are some exhibits that require you to pay a fee.
Tate Britain
The Tate Britain is the country’s main art museum that focuses on hosting art by British artists. The Tate Britain houses a collection encompassing British artists from the 12th century to the 21st century, arranged in chronological order.
To discover the history of British art, this is the most comprehensive collection you can find. One of the highlights of this gallery is its collection of paintings by the Pre-Raphaelites, including Millais, Rosetti and Hunt.
You can also gain an insight in the current artistic climate in Britain with it’s collections from contemporary British artists like Turner.
Back in 1897, the Tate Gallery was opened as a small collection of paintings, but today the Tate Britain houses a number of other pieces of art. It is open from 10AM to 6PM. Admission to the Tate Britain is free, but you’ll have to pay a fee to enter certain exhibits.
Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery is located in Sloane Square and is best suited to those who want to keep on-trend in the art world. This gallery houses art from contemporary artists across the globe, including up and comers.
Whilst not quite as out there as the Tate Modern exhibitions, this gallery showcases a selection of unique and interesting art and design. If you prefer a mainstream art style while still wanting to stay up to date with the work of contemporary artists, then this is the one for you.
Opened in 1985, this gallery has been on-trend since it’s conception. It is open from 10AM until 6PM. Admission is £5 for the general public, however those with a membership are able to enter for free as many times as they like.
Dulwich Picture Gallery
The Dulwich Picture Gallery is the oldest public art gallery in England. In keeping with this, it has a large and impressive collection of paintings by the old masters. These include Rembrandt, Reynolds and Rubens.
Head to this one to see the great, traditional painters that have been consistently held in high regard for their talents and masterpieces. This one is slightly out of town, located in South London, and gives you the opportunity to explore a different part of the city too.
The Dulwich Picture Gallery is set in an impressive old building, having opening in 1817. It’s opening hours are 10AM to 5PM. The general admission to the gallery is free, however you will need to book tickets to attend any of their special events.
Royal Academy of Arts
Connected to London’s most prestigious art school, this gallery hosts exhibitions often created by its own students. It is renowned for hosting big and impressive exhibitions, and often sells merchandise designed by their own students too.
If you’re wanting to see art created by the artists of tomorrow, and be at the forefront of the London art world, the RAA is where to head. A trip here will ensure you see a wide range of art styles, and many different interpretations on certain topics.
This gallery is open from 10AM – 6PM. It is free to enter, however if you want to enter a specific exhibition then you will have to buy tickets for that.
Serpentine Gallery
The Serpentine Gallery is named as such, as it can be found in Hyde Park next to the Serpentine lake. Located in the beautiful scenery, the Serpentine Gallery hosts only temporary exhibitions, so there is a level of exclusivity to each collection of art that you see.
It hosts some of the most adventurous contemporary art exhibitions in London. It has hosted art by Damien Hurst and Jeff Koons in the past. Head here to push the boat out and challenge your conceptions of art.
Combine this one with a walk around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, and you have an inspiring day out on your hands.
The Serpentine was opened in 1970, during a period of massive growth in the Avant Garde scene. It is open from 10AM – 6PM. This gallery is also free to enter.
Whitechapel Gallery
The Whitechapel Gallery calls itself “The Artist’s Gallery For Everyone”. It’s goal is to make great art accessible for all, as well as assisting in the growth of contemporary artists.
They have hosted art by the likes of Jackson Polloc, Frida Kahlo and David Hockney. They also have an educational centre, with a focus on continuing the education of the public in art.
This one’s perfect for beginners to the arts, particularly contemporary art, and those who feel less confident about visiting an art gallery. It really is one of the most accessible out of all the London art galleries.
This gallery opening in 1901 as one of the first public galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is open from 11AM – 6PM. It is free to visit, and open every day except Mondays.
Conclusion
I hope I’ve supplied you with plenty of options to choose from when you come to visit London’s museum district. From the Tate Modern gallery to the National Gallery London, there’s something here for everyone.
With some of the greatest art collections in the world, make sure to visit at least one when you come to visit. You certainly won’t regret it! With free admission, there’s no excuse. They also make a wonderful option to dip into to escape the drizzly British weather.
Make sure to check out this page to discover the best discounts and exhibitions currently available.
For more ideas on what you can do when you come and visit, check out my Ultimate Guide to London. You can also consider London art museum tours to see the highlights.
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Ta-ta for now! x
