enjoy culture without breaking the bank

The high cost of living in London is no excuse to miss out on the rich culture the capital has to offer.

Many of the city’s art exhibitions and events are affordable — and, better yet, a great number of them are completely free.

This guide proves you can immerse yourself in London’s vibrant cultural scene without breaking the bank.

After all, the best things in life are free (though, to quote Coco Chanel, the second-best things are usually very, very expensive).

Giuseppe Penone: Thoughts in the Roots

Featuring sculpture, drawing, painting, installation and photography, this hugely popular exhibition encompasses over five decades of the Italian artist’s work. The forests of Northern Italy was a major inspiration to Penone, who was fascinated by the relationship between humans and nature, organic and artistic practices.

Serpentine South Gallery, until September 7, serpentinegalleries.org

Alexandra Metcalf: Gaaaaaaasp

The first solo exhibition of London-born artist Alexandra Metcalf, Gaaaaaaasp is an exploration of gender and interiority through depictions of psychological turmoil. Comprised of both paintings and spatial installations, navigating the exhibition is a visceral experience, harking back to England’s psychiatric spaces in the mid-20th century.

The Perimeter, until 26 July, the perimeter.co.uk

Fake Barn Country

Co-organised by three London-based artists, Fake Barn Country is an experimental selection of eclectic mixed-media artworks created by over two dozen artists.

Raven Row, until 6 July, ravenrow.org

Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser: Art Now Hylozoic/Desires

Devised by artist duo Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser, this new moving image installation is an exploration of the “hedge” as poetic and political space. Through experimental poetry, music and film, the artwork unpacks the symbolism of a 2,500 km hedge grown by the British Empire in the 1800s.

Tate Britain, until 25 August, tate.org.uk

Andrea Mantegna: The Triumphs of Caesar

Since 2023, the National Gallery has displayed six of the Renaissance artist’s greatest masterpieces, which have been loaned from the King. Regarded as one of the finest achievements of Italian Renaissance art, Mantegna’s nine canvases depict the power and eventual collapse of Ancient Rome.

The National Gallery, ongoing, nationalgallery.org.uk

Black Sound London

The Barbican Music Library is hosting Black Sound London, an exhibition showcasing British black music and its global influence, spanning jazz, lovers’ rock, jungle, grime and drill.

Bringing together vintage mixtapes, renowned magazine covers and fly-posted walls, the exhibition unpacks how movements such as grime and lovers’ rock reshaped the sound of Britain — and have evolved into powerful statements of identity and resistance today.

Barbican Library, until Jul 19, 2025 barbican.org.uk

Arpita Singh: Remembering

In her first solo exhibition outside of India, Kolkata–born Arpita Singh tells the stories of womanhood, political turmoil, and social injustice across 60 years of art at The Serpentine Galleries.

From black and white watercolours in her youth, through to the vibrant and colourful Bengali folk oil paintings that dominate her career, Singh’s work is a chronology of emotion, culture, and female experience.

Blending surrealism with traditional Indian motifs, her art explores everything from motherhood to vulnerability, reflecting a life shaped by both domestic intimacy and public struggle.

Serpentine North Gallery, until Jul 27, 2025 serpentinegalleries.org

Materials and Objects

Eleven rooms of the Tate are dedicated to this visual exploration of the varied materials that artists have used over the decades. Expect to see works such as Doris Salcedo’s famous metal structures, Marcel Duchamp’s toilet seat and Sarah Sze’s installations.

Tate Modern, ongoing; tate.org.uk

Sculpture in the City

If it’s the rare English sunshine you’re after, Sculpture in the City is an open-air gallery, featuring 11 artworks across the City of London district. Embark on a treasure hunt across the city to see installations by Maya Rose Edwards, Richard Mackness and Ai Weiwei.

Various locations, until spring 2026 , sculptureinthecity.org.uk

Keith Piper & Rex Whistler: Viva Voce

This commission reunites two pieces of art created nearly a century apart, designed for the same Tate Britain space. One is a mural from the 1920s, painted directly onto the gallery’s walls, while the other is a film installation created in response to the mural. Together, these works raise important questions about our interaction with historical art.

The goal is to spark a conversation about engaging with historical works. “I know there is an argument among young people now that these images retraumatise, but I think we either look or forget,” said Piper. “To keep a clear sense of history, we need to see these things. We need to recognise the importance throughout black struggles and the significance of difficult images.”

Tate Britain, ongoing; tate.org.uk

Eileen Perrier: A Thousand Small Stories

London-born photographer Eileen Perrier presents a striking portrait series that documents individuals within their communities, from Peckham to Paris. Her work challenges traditional beauty standards and questions the commodification of identity. While each image captures a distinct personality, the collection as a whole offers a broader reflection on community, representation, and belonging.

The Autograph, until Sept 13, 2025, autograph.org.uk

Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader: 1880 THAT

1880 THAT is all about sign language. A playful exhibition meets a powerful and very real cause, created due to the frustration with the exclusion of deaf people. The exhibition comprises video, Pop Art, and sculpture replicating and representing the feeling of losing a language.

Wellcome Collection, until Nov 16, 2025, wellcomecollection.org