It’s safe to say that we’re finally in the swing of summer (even though it’s still rather soggy), and for a full-on art attack, London has got you well and truly covered. Below, we’ve rounded up all the current and upcoming art exhibitions from London’s top galleries and museums, from the Tate Britain and Tate Modern to Somerset House, the V&A and the National Gallery.
These art exhibitions in London encompass everything from classic works to cutting-edge modern pieces, but all offer something for the curious. Prices quoted are generally for adults in advance. On-the-day, walk-up tickets will be a few pounds more, while students and other concessionary fares may be slightly less. There are even a fair few free art exhibitions for the penny-pinchers among you here – winner, winner!
Exhibitions in London now
Until February 23, 2025
Well, if you still happen to have Barbie on the brain, you’ll be delighted to hear the news that an entire Barbie exhibition has opened at London’s Design Museum. It’s set to be a must-visit for fans of the beloved toy doll. We have the Design Museum’s Danielle Thorn to thank for the exhibition, which maps the incredible legacy that Barbie has created. To create the exhibition, the museum was granted special access to the Barbie archives in California so they’ve dug deep into the past. The exhibition features all sorts of rare and unique items giving you an exclusive look into the making of the iconic doll.
📍 The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG.
🚇 Nearest stations are High Street Kensington and Kensington (Olympia).
🎟️ Price from £14.38. More info here.
Until April 6, 2025
As a household name, Naomi Campbell likely needs little introduction, but an entire career retrospective is sure to have crowds flocking to learn more about the fashion model’s fascinating story. In a spectacle that spans the trailblazing 40-year career of Naomi Campbell, visitors will be able to discover details from all through her career. Learn how the Streatham-born model was scouted in Covent Garden aged just 15. Marvel at her becoming the first black model to appear on the cover of Paris Vogue – aged 18 – in 1988. And dive deep into her activism and championing of creatives that ‘transcend traditional parameters of the fashion catwalk model role’ today. Visitors can clap their eyes with outfits from the era-travelling wardrobe of Naomi Campbell, including over 100 looks in the collection.
📍 Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL.
🚇 Nearest stations are South Kensington.
🎟️ Price from £18. More info here.
Open indefinitely
With previous locations in Amsterdam and Barcelona under its belt, Moco Museum is likely a familiar name. Home to one of the world’s leading collections of modern and contemporary art (‘moco’ stands for ‘modern contemporary’), the museum will now be located in Marble Arch, central London. Moco Museum aims to provide an inclusive, accessible and inspiring space for visitors and artists alike; and you can expect to see works from Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Yayoi Kusama, Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, KAWS, and many more.
📍 Moco Museum, 1 Marble Arch,
🚇 Nearest station is Marble Arch.
🎟️ Price from £19.90. More info here.
Until January 26, 2025
Zanele Muholi is easily one of the most critically acclaimed photographers today and this June, with over 260 photographs on display, this exhibition presents the full breadth of their career to date. Muholi presents them selves as a visual artist who has documented and celebrated the lives of South Africa’s Black lesbian, gay, trans, queer and intersex communities. Most of their work captures moments of love, intimacy, addresses issues of oppression and discrimination and empowers non-binary people and trans women.
📍 Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Southwark.
🎟️ Price from £18. More info here.
5. Yinka Shonibare CBE: Suspended States, Serpentine South Gallery
Until September 1, 2024
Known for his vibrant use of socio-political commentary, Yinka Shonibare’s latest body of work at the Serpentine delves into themes of colonialism, identity, and the environment, offering a provocative yet rightful reflection on the state of our global consciousness. The beloved Hyde Park gallery has been transformed into a labyrinth of thought-provoking installations, each one a testament to Shonibare’s ability to merge historical critique with contemporary aesthetics – and it’s an absolute delight to behold.
📍 Serpentine South Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Lancaster Gate and Marble Arch
🎟️ Free but booking is advised. More info here.
Until September 8, 2024
To absolutely no-one’s surprise, Taylor-mania is still alive-and-kicking in the capital city. A temporary exhibition featuring a number of objects on loan from Taylor Swift’s personal archive will go on display at the V&A this summer. Taylor Swift | Songbook Trail opens on July 27, and will give visitors the chance to see costumes, accessories, music awards, storyboards, and many previously unseen items – all without paying a penny.
📍 Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL.
🚇 Nearest station is South Kensington.
🎟️ More info here.
Until 20 October 2024
Delve into the weird and wonderful world of hobbies at this must-see exhibition in Croydon. Come As You Are is a fabulous curation of work by hobbyists nationwide, put together by British-Gujarati artist Hetain Patel. From upholstered cars to a mind-blowing soft toy collection, each hobby represents individuality and the commitment to living life on your terms under capitalism and consumerism. For more information on this fascinating exhibition, click here.
📍 The Hobby Cave, located on High Street, CR0 1GT
🚇 Nearest stations are George Street, East Croydon, and Church Street.
🎟️ Admission is free but booking is advised. Click here for more information.
8. Expressionists: Kadinsky, Münter and The Blue Rider, Tate Modern
Until October 20, 2024
A group of artists, friends and early collaborators known as The Blue Rider came together in the early 20th century – Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Franz Marc and Paul Klee came together to form ‘a union of various countries to serve one purpose’ – to transform modern art. Experimenting with colour, sound and light – artists Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter made bold and vibrant art. Expressionists is a story of friendships told through art. It examines the highly individual creatives that made up The Blue Rider, from Franz Marc’s interest in colour to Alexander Sacharoff’s freestyle performance.
📍 Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Southwark.
🎟️ Price from £22. More info here.
Until September 1, 2024
This striking new exhibition at the Tate Modern delves deep into the “powerful, participatory work of artist and activist Yoko Ono”. Spanning over seven decades, ‘Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind’ ranges across some of the most important moments in her life, including meeting John Lennon, and her creative practices in the United States, Japan, and the UK. There are over 200 works included in the exhibition, with everything from instrumental scores to films, photography, and more. Dive into the artistic world of one of the most misunderstood and maligned creative forces in recent history.
📍 Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Southwark.
🎟️ Price from £22. More info here.
10. Six Lives, The National Portrait Gallery
Until September 8, 2024
Divorced, beheaded, or survived, the wives of Henry VIII left a lasting legacy that lingers around the notion of the most notorious monarch in English history. Pay a visit to the National Portrait Gallery to witness this must-see exhibition that delves into the lives of the Tudor King’s Queens. Expect historic paintings, drawings and ephemera, contemporary photography, costume and film, beautifully blending fact and fiction for a comprehensive study on this fascinating time in history.
📍 National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Pl, London WC2H 0HE.
🚇 Nearest stations are Charing Cross and Leicester Square.
🎟️ Price from £21. More info here.
Until 29 September, 2024.
Art and nature collide at Kew Garden’s fabulous summer exhibition, transforming their magnificent grounds into a must-see, outdoor gallery. Seven stunning sculptures are now nestled all around the gardens, alongside a presentation of other works like paintings, drawings, and beyond, for this fabulous exhibition by beloved British artist Marc Quinn. Book your tickets here, or to read more about this gorgeous exhibit, click here to check out our article.
📍 Kew Gardens, Ferry Lane, near Brentford Gate, TW9 3AF.
🚇 Nearest station is Kew Bridge .
🎟️ Entry with General Admission which costs £20. More info here.
Until January 5, 2025
The V&A will showcase 300 never-seen-before prints from 140 photographers taken from Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s private art collection. The exhibition hopes to tell the story of modern and contemporary photography across a variety of subjects such as fashion, celebrity, reportage and the male body.
📍 Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL.
🚇 Nearest station is South Kensington.
🎟️ Price £20. More info here.
Until October 13, 2024
Now You See Us is a dazzling celebration of women artists throughout art history, all of which boldly reclaimed their visibility and furthering the collective representation. This beautiful showcase features an eclectic mix of paintings and works that confronted societal norms to elevate female voices in the art world. This must-see exhibit not only highlights the incredible talent of the artists, but also underscores the importance of visibility as a form of resistance.
📍 Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, UK.
🚇 Nearest station is Pimlico.
🎟️ Price £20. More info here.
Until September 30, 2024
An entire London residence will dedicate its space to exhibit the forgotten photographs of Andy Warhol and American printmaker central to the pop-art movement, Robert Indiana. Photographed by William John Kennedy who was known to document the ‘bohemian New York life,’ these images were said to be lost to the world for nearly 40 years. These rare photographs can now be seen in The Warhol Kennedy Residence in London, nestled just a few minutes away from The Strand. The Warhol Kennedy Residence will be the only place that one can experience the entirety of the collection with purchase editions available for the stunning and iconic images.
📍 29 Sackville Street, W1S 3DX.
🚇 Nearest station is Piccadilly Circus.
🎟️ By appointment only.
15. The World To Me Was A Secret, The Cosmic House
Until December 20, 2024
A postmodern masterpiece created by Charles and Maggie Jencks between 1978 and 1983, they call it a ‘idiosyncratic private house turned museum, in a residential neighbourhood.’ Situated in the affluent Holland Park, it not only served as a living space for the couple but also a point of discussion for creatives and architectural enthusiasts alike.
📍 19 Lansdowne Walk, W11 3AH.
🚇 Nearest station is Holland Park.
🎟️ Price is £8, while students pay £5. More info here.
Until 2025
As if Borough Yards wasn’t enough of a vibrant destination already, the district is now home to Pulse: Beyond Delight, an innovative media art exhibition that’ll take you on a journey into the heart of Seoul, South Korea. You’ll discover 13 immersive and interactive art installations, thanks to the use of cutting-edge technology. Visuals, sounds, lighting, and more come together to truly transport you.
📍 Borough Yards, London
🚇 Nearest stations are London Bridge, Borough, and Southwark
🎟️ From £12.30. More info here.
Until October 13, 2024
Ever wanted to go to space with the legendary, two-time Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks? Well, now you can with this fantastic new exhibition, which ‘offers a unique new perspective on humankind’s past and future voyages to the moon‘. Hanks narrates and provides an insight into all the different Apollo missions in intimate detail. Of course, this being Lightroom in King’s Cross, you can also expect some pretty epic projections and installations! Pop this on your list of art exhibitions that you can’t miss.
📍 Lightroom, 12 Lewis Cubitt Square, London, N1C 4DY.
🚇 Nearest station is Kings Cross St Pancras.
🎟️ Price £25. More info here.
18. Mantegna: The Triumphs of Caesar, National Gallery
Until 2026
Considered to be among the finest achievements in Italian Renaissance art, a total of nine exquisite canvases were painted by legendary artist Andrea Mantegna in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. For the first time ever, six of them are leaving their Royal palace abode, the UNESCO-listed Hampton Court, while the Mantegna Gallery is under renovations. This means dear reader that you can get to see them with zone one – in none other than the National Gallery we might add – plus, it’s free to enter! Win, win.
📍 The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN.
🚇 Nearest station is Charing Cross.
🎟️ Free! More info here.
Until September 8, 2024
Art of the Brick is a world-travelling exhibition of over 150 LEGO® artworks, currently located at the Boiler House (the irony of a LEGO® exhibition on Brick Lane is not lost on us). The artworks span original works – fun pieces, and thought-provoking comments on the creator’s life – as well as recreations of some of the world’s most iconic art. Expect stunning reimagined versions of Michelangelo’s David to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa – not to forget the 20-foot Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.
📍 The Boiler House, 152 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU.
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
🎟️ Price from £16. More info here.
20. Beyond The Bassline, The British Library
Until August 26, 2024
Major exhibition at The British Library? It makes sense as Beyond The Bassline aims to provide a map through Black music in Britain. Whether its soundscapes, artworks or films produced by artists and collectives across the UK. The British Library is the perfect home for archival footage. It’s about more than just music but also the plaace where these sounds were born whether its clubs, carnivals, stages.
📍 96 Euston Rd., London NW1 2DB.
🚇 Nearest station is King’s Cross.
🎟️ Price from £15. More information here.
21. Peter Kennard: Archive of Dissent, Whitechapel Gallery
Until 19 January, 2025
Celebrating fifty years of ground-breaking work that bridges art and political activism, Whitechapel Gallery has an unmissable exhibition on display devoted to the British, photomontage artist Peter Kennard. Delving head first into the dark and macabre, witness some of the most iconic and influential images of resistance and dissent to date, touching on topics and influential events like the Vietnam War, Anti-Apartheid Movement, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), and beyond.
📍 77-82 Whitechapel High St, London E1 7QX.
🚇 Nearest station is Algate East.
🎟️ Free . More information here.
Exhibitions in London later this year
Open September 25 and runs until November 4, 2024
Fans of the iconic Infinity Room series can visit the show at Victoria Miro gallery in Islington from the end of summer. And the best part is it’s free.While the tickets for Yayoi Kusama at Victoria Miro are free you still need a ticket. They will be released on Monday, September 2. So be sure to save the date as they’re sure to sell out quickly!
📍 Victoria Miro, 16 Wharf Road, N1 7RW
🚇 Nearest station is Old Street and Angel.
🎟️ More info here.
Opens October 25, 2024 and runs until March 30, 2025
Vogue: Inventing the Runway is the next immersive exhibition heading to Lightroom in King’s Cross. Vogue: Inventing the Runway will take a deep-dive into the history of the runway show. From the intimate couture salons of the early 20th century all the way through to the unforgettable large-scale events of the present; the exhibition will be transport viewers through locations and eras utilising Vogue’s extensive archives which date back to its very first publication in 1892.
📍 Lightroom, 12, Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4DY.
🚇 The nearest station is King’s Cross St. Pancras.
🎟️ More info here.
Opens October 25, 2024 and runs until April 21, 2025
Giving you a curious little insight into the magically whimsical mind of treasured film director Tim Burton is hitting London at the end of the year, coming hot on the heels of the release of the long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel. Whether you’ve been a fan of his work since Edward Scissorhands or Batman or came in fresh on the success of Netflix smash Wednesday, there’s something for all to be bowled over by at this exhibition, which is making its last stop here in London after a decade-long tour. With illustrations, paintings, and notes, you’ll be able to see beyond his work on the screen and gain a view into the artistic process of Tim Burton.
📍The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG.
🚇 The nearest stations are High Street Kensington and Kensington (Olympia).
🎟️ More info here.
Opens 21 November 2024 and runs until 5 May 2025.
Get ready to take a trip back in time through the medium of photography, as Tate Britain prepares to unveil its dynamic exhibition The 80s: Photographing Britain. This eagerly anticipated showcase dives deep into the transformative era of the 1980s, capturing the spirit, struggles, and stories of a nation through the lenses of some of the decade’s most influential photographers, as well as some lesser-known gems. Check out our article on the exhibit, here.
📍The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG.
🚇 The nearest stations are High Street Kensington and Kensington (Olympia).
🎟️ More info here.
So there you have it – a rundown of some of the best art exhibitions in London now and the rest of 2024. So what are you waiting for culture vultures? Get out there and explore!
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