Best art exhibitions to see in London for 2024
London is so full of art, it can be hard to know where to begin. Here's our guide to the best exhibitions in big and small galleries to see right now.
There's so much going on in London, it can be difficult to know where to start. Whether you consider yourself a Londoner, have recently moved to the Big Smoke or are visiting the city for a few days, the RadioTimes.com team have worked hard to become experts in what's going on – and we're here to share the wisdom.
Whether it's theatre you're after, something a bit out of the box, or perhaps you're in need of some well-deserved R&R in the capital city, we've put together guides on the top London walking tours, best immersive experiences and top London spa experiences, plus many more.
If it's art that tickles your fancy, London is one of the best places in the UK to see an art exhibition. Home to many of the biggest galleries in the country (and the world) there's a huge amount to see in the permanent collections, let alone the exhibitions.
Different galleries are known for different specialisms, from the National Portrait Gallery which houses and exhibits different kinds of portraiture, to the Victoria and Albert museum (the V&A) which is known for its speciality in fashion and textiles. So, if you're interested in a particular medium or type of exhibition, it can be good to keep an eye on a gallery or museum which specialises in that.
Cost is obviously something that we are all keeping an eye on at the moment. The good news for art lovers is that many London museums and galleries have huge amounts that you can usually view for free, especially elements of the permanent collections.
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However, you often have to pay to see particular exhibitions with tickets costing between £10-£20, with most galleries offering concession prices for students, children and seniors. If you are a fan of a particular museum or gallery, many have the option of becoming a member which includes perks like access to a members' café and opportunities to get tickets to popular exhibitions early, or even in private viewings.
The Going Out team have been lucky enough to try out some of the experience we recommend, and you can take a look at our BBC Earth Experience review, what is Frameless?, 2:22 A Ghost Story review and The Cauldron review. here.
Jump to:
- Best limited-time art exhibitions in London
- Best art gallery tours in London
- Best small art exhibitions in London
- Best gallery lates in London
Best art exhibitions in London at a glance:
- The Last Caravaggio, free
- Suzie Larke: Unseen, free
- The Conservatory x Ranjani Shettar, free
- Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2024, from £4
- Japan: Myths to Manga, from £10
- Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, from £12
- Illusionaries, from £17.90
- Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art, from £18
- Frameless Lates, from £20
- Sargent and Fashion, £22
- Wonders of Civilisation: A crash course in archaeology, £82
- The National Gallery official guided tour and cream tea for two, £66
Best art exhibitions in London for 2024
Best limited-time art exhibitions in London
Japan: Myths to Manga
This next exhibition is located at Young V&A in Bethnal Green, and it invites guests to take a trip to Japan and uncover how Japanese landscape and folklore have influenced art, technology and design.
The title image for Japan: Myths to Manga is a still from Studio Ghibli's My Neighbour Totoro, and this is just one of the mediums the exhibition explores. Also on display is a Sylvanian Families camping set, a Hello Kitty rice cooker, personal robots, and so much more.
Japan: Myths to Manga is running from now until Sunday 8th September, so there's still plenty of time to visit this family-friendly exhibition.
Buy Japan: Myths to Manga tickets from £10 at V&A
Did you know My Neighbour Totoro is coming to London's West End? Here's how to get My Neighbour Totoro West End tickets today.
The Last Caravaggio
The year is 1610 and Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (known mononymously as Caravaggio) is in Naples working on the last painting he'd ever created. Just two months later, he died in mysterious circumstances...
This free exhibition at The National Gallery is on from now until 21st July, and it showcases the work of Caravaggio. Some of the paintings include The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula, which is coming to London for the first time in 20 years, as well as Salome with the Head of John the Baptist.
Get The Last Caravaggio tickets for free at The National Gallery
For more exciting things to do in London, take a look at the best London experience gifts and top London walking tours.
Illusionaries
The third exhibition from art hub Illusionaries is landing in Canary Wharf, London, from 14th June this year.
Illusionaries presents 'Entheon', A Sanctuary of Visionary Art by internationally celebrated artists Alex Grey and Allyson Grey. Alex Grey is celebrated for his intricate portrayals of the human form and its energies.
Grey’s artwork spans across painting, sculpture and performance art, and in this particular exhibition, we see his detailed anatomical drawings with spiritual imagery, which uncovers the body, spirit and cosmos relationships. Celebrated artist Allyson Grey is a conceptual abstract painter.
Buy Illusionaries tickets from £17.90 at Ticketmaster
Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a creative? Then take a look at the best UK pottery experiences and best photography courses.
Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition
There are few filmmakers with as recognisable an aesthetic as Wes Anderson, director of beloved movies such as The Grand Budapest Hotel and Fantastic Mr Fox. His love for a bold colour palette, symmetry and pastels mean that he has a very distinctive style, which can often occur naturally, without him having any involvement.
American Wally Koval realised this and in 2017 opened an Instagram account called Accidentally Wes Anderson as a personal travel bucket list for him and his wife. Since then, the account has grown into a community of one million followers and has led to a New York Times bestselling book.
Now, Accidentally Wes Anderson has been brought to life in South Kensington, giving you the opportunity to explore and learn more about picturesque settings from each of the seven continents, all within a very aesthetically pleasing exhibition space of course. Who knows, you might even spot a few familiar locations.
Buy Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition tickets from £12 at Fever
Suzie Larke: Unseen
Suzie Larke's Unseen will be at the Southbank Centre from the 8th June until the 8th September, and this exhibition aims to raise awareness and spark conversations about mental wellbeing.
Larke has collaborated with individuals and mental wellbeing groups over three years for this project, and during this time, Larke observed a recurring theme: the impact belonging has on mental wellness.
Speaking about this, Larke said: "The essence of belonging is like the invisible thread that weaves through the fabric of our mental wellbeing. It's not just a fleeting desire or a passing fancy; it's a fundamental need within us. When we feel connected, valued, and accepted by others, it nourishes our sense of self-worth and contributes significantly to our overall happiness."
Get Suzie Larke: Unseen tickets for free at Southbank Centre
Sargent and Fashion
Up until 7th July, Tate Britain is hosting an exhibition dedicated to John Singer Sargent; the exhibition explores how Sargent worked like a stylist to craft the desired image of the sitters he painted. For example, Sargent uses fashion as a tool to express identity and personality, and he more often than not he chose the outfits of his sitters.
It's worth noting that Tate members would get this exhibition for free, whereas for non-Tate members, the exhibition would set you back £22.
Visiting a gallery would be a great date activity, and for more best London date ideas, take a look at our guide.
Best art gallery tours in London
The National Gallery official guided tour and cream tea for two
The National Gallery is one of London's most iconic buildings, situated in Trafalgar Square. The home of the masterpieces, on this hour-long tour you'll be guided between some of the more famous European works in the gallery by an expert tour guide.
And after all that art you'll probably need a snack, so you'll head to Ochre for afternoon tea including savoury sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and seasonal pastries.
Wonders of Civilisation: A crash course in archaeology at the British Museum
Be guided by a qualified archaeologist as you make your way around the British Museum and see how our relationship with design and stonework has evolved over time. You'll get to hear the history behind some of the world's most famous artefacts, and learn more about the science behind archaeology.
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Best small art exhibitions in London
Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2024
This RadioTimes.com writer loves The Photographer's Gallery — it's easy to get to (it's located right by Oxford Circus station), and it always has fantastic exhibitions on, and this next exhibition is no different.
We were lucky enough to visit the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2024 exhibition, which includes artwork by shortlisted artists Valie Export, Gauri Gill and Rajesh Vangad, Lebohang Kganye and Hrair Sarkissian.
Sarkissian's photography was our favourite. Born in Syria, Sarkissian uses photographs, film and installations with the aim of evoking emotional responses, awareness and a sense of solidarity.
Buy Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2024 tickets from £4 at The Photographer's Gallery
Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art
Be quick with this next exhibition, you have until Sunday 26th May to head on down to the Barbican in East London and experience it.
In this group exhibition, 50 international and intergenerational artists use textiles to communicate with the audience ideas about power, resistant and survival. The pieces in Unravel range from intimate hand-crafted artworks to sculptural installations.
Buy Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art tickets from £18 at Barbican
The Conservatory x Ranjani Shettar
The Barbican Conservatory is open all of the time and, occasionally, The Conservatory collaborates with an artist to make the space even more special. From now until July 2024, you can see artist Ranjani Shettar's work at The Conservatory.
Shettar's installation 'Cloud songs on the horizon' is the artist's first major show in Europe, and the exhibition features handcrafted sculptures that draw inspiration from nature. Shettar uses materials such as wood, stainless steel, muslin, and lacquer, and utilises techniques which have been adapted from traditional Indian crafts.
Get The Conservatory x Ranjani Shettar tickets for free at Barbican
If you like to consume art through film, be sure to take a look at our guides to the best luxury cinema experiences and how to get cheap cinema tickets.
If it's through music, we have the best candlelight concerts and how to get cheap concert tickets guides for you.
Best gallery lates in London
Frameless Lates
The newly launched Frameless Lates sessions take place every Friday and Saturday night, and is open exclusively to over-18s. With a drink in hand and music from Soho Radio filling the exhibition, late-night guests will be able to visit all four galleries, as well as the occasional artist in residence, for example, Maliha Abidi.
In October 2023, Frameless Lates showcased the work of Pakistani-American artist, author, and women’s rights activist, Maliha Abidi. Our Digital Writer Joanna was lucky enough to be invited to Frameless Lates, and here's what she thought of it: "There’s nothing cooler than art after dark, especially when it’s at Frameless. The gallery showcases art in such a unique way, and it’s amazing how you can interact with art from so long ago.
"Hearing some tunes from Soho Radio really added to the unique atmosphere of the night, and they were perfect to listen to while grabbing a drink at the end. I especially loved seeing the work of the featured artist, Maliha Abidi, come to life and learn more about her artwork."
Check out our Going Out section to stay on top of what's going on in London and beyond, such as the best London theatre shows and Manchester theatre shows.
