20 Best Art Galleries in London: Museums, Exhibitions and Walking Routes
A practical guide to 20 London art galleries, including collections, addresses, opening hours, ticket prices, free admission, visitor tips and self-guided art routes.
20 Art Galleries in London: A Practical Guide to Collections and Exhibition Spaces
Helios Guide · 18 October 2026
In London, you can spend the morning looking at Old Master paintings and the afternoon visiting a contemporary sculpture or installation exhibition. To choose the right place, it helps to know more than a familiar name: the character of the collection, the location, the visiting conditions and the time required all matter.
This guide brings together 20 London addresses: national museums, non-profit exhibition spaces and commercial galleries that are open to visitors. Each entry includes a description, address, telephone number, opening hours, admission information, practical advice and links for planning your visit.
How to choose a gallery
Information was checked on 18 October 2026. Before travelling, always open the page for your chosen venue: opening hours may change during public holidays, installation periods and major art events.
The suggested visiting time is a planning estimate and does not include travel. Mentioned artworks belong to the relevant collections, but their current display location should be checked separately.
1. The National Gallery
Area: Trafalgar Square Focus: European painting Recommended time: 1.5–2 hours
The National Gallery is one of the best places to begin exploring European painting, from the early Renaissance to Van Gogh. Highlights in the collection include Jan van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait, Botticelli’s Venus and Mars and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
It is particularly suitable for visitors who enjoy learning the stories behind paintings and comparing different artistic periods.
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN Telephone: +44 20 7747 2885 Opening hours: daily 10:00–18:00; Fridays until 21:00. Admission: the permanent collection is free; some exhibitions are ticketed. A free ticket can be booked for faster entry, although entry without a reservation is also available.
Good to know: the main entrance is through the Sainsbury Wing. If you are visiting for a particular painting, check its location before travelling, as some galleries may be closed for works.
2. National Portrait Gallery
Area: Trafalgar Square Focus: Portraits and British history Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours
The National Portrait Gallery is ideal for visitors interested in people: writers, monarchs, actors, public figures and the histories represented through their portraits.
The collection includes the famous Chandos Portrait, which is highly likely to depict William Shakespeare, as well as portraits of Virginia Woolf.
It is a strong choice for anyone interested in literature, biography, British culture and social history.
Address: St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE Telephone: +44 20 7306 0055 Opening hours: Sunday–Thursday 10:30–18:00; Friday–Saturday 10:30–21:00. Admission: the main collection is free; individual exhibitions are ticketed. The gallery recommends booking free entry in advance.
Good to know: the main entrance is on Ross Place. The last entry to paid exhibitions is one hour before closing.
3. Tate Britain
Area: Millbank Focus: British art Recommended time: 1.5–2 hours
Tate Britain is a good choice for visitors who want to see how British art developed, from historical portraits and landscapes to contemporary works.
Pay particular attention to J. M. W. Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites. For visitors interested in poetry, literary subjects and Romantic painting, this is one of the best places to start.
Address: Millbank, London SW1P 4RG Telephone: +44 20 7887 8888 Opening hours: daily 10:00–18:00. Admission: the permanent collection is free and advance booking is not mandatory; tickets for special exhibitions are sold separately.
Good to know: do not confuse Tate Britain with Tate Modern. They are different museums at different addresses. If you want to visit both, allow separate travel time.
4. The Courtauld Gallery
Area: Strand, Somerset House Focus: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours
Smaller than London’s national museums, The Courtauld Gallery contains an outstanding collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art.
Two major highlights are Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère and Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with a Bandaged Ear.
The gallery is well suited to a focused visit when you want to spend time looking closely at a small number of important works.
Address: Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN Telephone: +44 20 3947 7777 Opening hours: daily 10:00–18:00; last entry 17:15. Admission: adult admission to the collection starts at £14; temporary exhibitions may require an additional fee. Visitors aged 18 and under enter free.
Good to know: the entrance is on the Strand side. When booking, check whether your ticket covers the collection only or also includes the temporary exhibition.
5. The Wallace Collection
Area: Marylebone Focus: Old Masters and decorative arts Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours
Paintings, furniture, porcelain and arms are displayed inside Hertford House. The collection includes Fragonard’s The Swing and Frans Hals’s The Laughing Cavalier.
Choose the Wallace Collection if you enjoy seeing art in historic interiors and noticing how paintings interact with the objects and rooms around them.
Address: Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN Telephone: +44 20 7563 9500 Opening hours: daily 10:00–17:00. Admission: the permanent collection is free; check the programme for conditions relating to temporary exhibitions and events.
Good to know: the visit combines well with a walk through Marylebone. If you plan to have lunch in the courtyard, book the restaurant separately.
6. Dulwich Picture Gallery
Area: Dulwich Focus: Old Masters and architecture Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours plus travel
Dulwich Picture Gallery is in south London and deserves a dedicated trip. The gallery combines Old Masters by Rembrandt, Rubens and Poussin with a building designed by Sir John Soane.
It is a good choice for a relaxed day of art, gardens and a walk through Dulwich Village.
Address: 14 Gallery Road, London SE21 7AD Telephone: +44 20 8693 5254 Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–17:00; closed Mondays. Admission: collection entry is £10 with a donation option; exhibition entry including the collection starts at £16 with a donation option. Under-18s enter free. The sculpture garden is free.
Good to know: this is not a stop between two central museums, so check the journey in advance. General enquiries can also be sent to [email protected].
7. Royal Academy of Arts
Area: Piccadilly and Mayfair Focus: Major temporary exhibitions Recommended time: 1.5–2 hours
The Royal Academy is an important address for large-scale exhibition projects and the annual Summer Exhibition, where work by well-known artists is shown alongside pieces selected through an open submission process.
It is best to visit with a particular exhibition in mind, as the programme shapes the experience. The building itself and the free displays are also worth seeing.
Address: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD Telephone: +44 20 7300 8000 Opening hours: basic hours are Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00. Check late-opening dates before visiting. Admission: major temporary exhibitions are ticketed, with prices depending on the project. Some displays are free.
Good to know: when buying a ticket, make sure you have selected the correct exhibition, as several projects may be running in the building at the same time.
8. Tate Modern
Area: Bankside Focus: International modern and contemporary art Recommended time: 2–3 hours
Tate Modern houses a major collection of 20th- and 21st-century art in a former power station beside the Thames.
Painting is shown alongside sculpture, video and installation, while the Turbine Hall provides an experience of its own. Tate Modern works both as an introduction to contemporary art and as a place to return to for a specific exhibition or theme.
Address: Bankside, London SE1 9TG Telephone: +44 20 7887 8888 Opening hours: Sunday–Thursday 10:00–18:00; Friday–Saturday until 21:00. Admission: the main collection is free; some exhibitions and events are ticketed.
Good to know: for a first visit, choose a few rooms or one paid exhibition. Trying to see the entire museum in one visit can quickly become tiring.
9. Hayward Gallery
Area: South Bank Focus: Temporary exhibitions and installations Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours
Hayward Gallery is a contemporary art venue in the distinctive Brutalist building of the Southbank Centre.
It is especially interesting for visitors who enjoy spatial works, video and exhibitions that transform their sense of familiar surroundings.
Choose a specific project before visiting: there is no permanent route through a collection of famous paintings.
Address: Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX Telephone: +44 20 3879 9555 — Southbank Centre information line Opening hours: Tuesday–Friday and Sunday 10:00–18:00; Saturday 10:00–20:00; closed Mondays. Extended hours and gaps between exhibitions are possible. Admission: major exhibitions are ticketed and prices depend on the project. Smaller HENI Project Space exhibitions are usually free.
Good to know: check the dates of your chosen exhibition before travelling. For organised tours, contact Southbank Centre: external guides and tour groups are not admitted.
10. Serpentine
Area: Kensington Gardens Focus: Contemporary art and architecture Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours for both venues
Serpentine consists of two galleries in Kensington Gardens, making it easy to combine a visit with a walk through the park.
The programme focuses on contemporary art, while the seasonal architecture pavilion gives visitors another reason to return.
It is a good option for a short cultural outing that combines an exhibition with time outdoors.
Address: South: Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA; North: West Carriage Drive, London W2 2AR Telephone: +44 20 7402 6075 Opening hours: both galleries Tuesday–Sunday 10:00–18:00; closed Mondays. Temporary closures may occur between exhibitions. Admission: free. Check the website for booking conditions for individual events.
Good to know: check which building hosts the exhibition you want to see. The architecture pavilion is seasonal.
11. Whitechapel Gallery
Area: Whitechapel Focus: Contemporary art and curatorial research Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours
Whitechapel Gallery is suited to visitors who enjoy exploring an artist’s ideas and discovering names beyond the most popular museum programmes.
The gallery presents solo and thematic contemporary art exhibitions. It is also a convenient starting point for a cultural walk through east London.
Address: 77–82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX Telephone: +44 20 7522 7888 Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday 11:00–18:00; Thursdays until 21:00; closed Mondays. Admission: some exhibitions are free. Standard admission to a paid exhibition is £16.50 without a donation. Pay What You Can operates on Thursdays from 18:00 to 21:00.
Good to know: Aldgate East station is nearby. Groups of more than nine people must be arranged with the gallery at least two weeks in advance.
12. Saatchi Gallery
Area: Chelsea Focus: Contemporary art and changing exhibitions Recommended time: 1.5–2 hours
This spacious gallery near King’s Road presents contemporary art, photography and thematic exhibitions.
Saatchi Gallery is a good place to discover new artists and visually varied projects. Choose it according to the current programme, as the character of its exhibitions can change considerably from season to season.
Address: Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, London SW3 4RY Telephone: +44 20 7811 3070 Opening hours: daily 10:00–18:00; last entry to paid exhibitions is usually 17:00. Admission: some exhibitions are free and others are ticketed. There is no single price for every project.
Good to know: check which rooms are included in your ticket. Saatchi Gallery and the online platform Saatchi Art have different owners and contact details.
13. The Photographers’ Gallery
Area: Soho Focus: Photography Recommended time: 1–1.5 hours
The Photographers’ Gallery is a specialist venue for anyone who wants to look at and understand photography through artists’ series, documentary projects and experiments with the image.
The building includes a bookshop and a separate Print Sales Gallery. It is particularly suitable for photographers, visual-content creators and emerging photography collectors.
Address: 16–18 Ramillies Street, London W1F 7LW Telephone: +44 20 7087 9300 Opening hours: Monday–Wednesday and Saturday 10:30–18:00; Thursday–Friday 10:30–20:00; Sunday 11:00–18:00. Admission: £12 online and £14 on the door; prices include a voluntary £2 donation. Visitors aged 18 and under enter free.
Good to know: entry is free after 17:00 on the first Friday of each month. On other Fridays, entry after 17:00 costs £5. One ticket covers all exhibitions on the day.
14. White Cube Bermondsey
Area: Bermondsey Focus: Commercial contemporary art gallery Recommended time: 45–90 minutes
White Cube Bermondsey is a large exhibition space with several rooms. Large-scale painting, sculpture and installation are particularly effective in its spacious, restrained architecture.
It is a good choice for anyone who wants to experience a major international gallery and view contemporary art outside the traditional museum setting.
Address: 144–152 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ Telephone: +44 20 7930 5373 Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00; Sunday 12:00–18:00; closed Mondays. Admission: free.
Good to know: White Cube also has a Mason’s Yard venue. This entry refers to Bermondsey, so check the exhibition address before travelling.
15. Gagosian Grosvenor Hill
Area: Mayfair Focus: Commercial gallery of 20th- and 21st-century art Recommended time: 30–60 minutes
Gagosian Grosvenor Hill is a convenient place to explore the international gallery scene. It presents solo exhibitions as well as projects connecting art history with contemporary practice.
For example, the autumn 2026 programme engages with the legacy of René Magritte.
The gallery fits easily into a walking route through Mayfair.
Address: 20 Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3QD Telephone: +44 20 7495 1500 Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00; closed Sundays and Mondays. Admission: standard gallery exhibitions are free.
Good to know: Gagosian has several London locations. Before visiting, make sure the exhibition you want is taking place at Grosvenor Hill.
16. Hauser & Wirth London
Area: Mayfair and Savile Row Focus: Commercial contemporary art gallery Recommended time: 45–60 minutes
Hauser & Wirth has two exhibition spaces on Savile Row, with a programme covering 20th- and 21st-century art.
The gallery works with artists and estates including Louise Bourgeois, Cindy Sherman and Philip Guston. It is suited to visitors who appreciate substantial solo exhibitions and want to complement a visit with a good art book.
Address: 23 Savile Row, London W1S 2ET Telephone: +44 20 7287 2300 Opening hours: usual hours are Tuesday–Saturday 10:00–18:00. Opening times may be extended during major art-event weeks. Admission: exhibitions are free; advance booking is not normally required.
Good to know: check both spaces, the North Gallery and the South Gallery. Do not confuse this venue with Hauser & Wirth Somerset outside London.
17. David Zwirner London
Area: Mayfair Focus: Commercial contemporary art gallery Recommended time: 30–60 minutes
David Zwirner’s London venue presents solo exhibitions and historical comparisons.
The programme may move from minimalism and abstraction to contemporary figurative painting. It is a good choice for anyone who wants to follow how art is displayed and discussed on the international gallery scene.
Address: 24 Grafton Street, London W1S 4EZ Telephone: +44 20 3538 3165 Opening hours: on the date checked, the venue page listed Monday–Saturday 10:00–18:00; closed Sundays. Check the current week before visiting. Admission: standard gallery exhibitions are free.
Good to know: open the London page specifically, as the main website presents exhibitions from several cities at the same time.
18. Thaddaeus Ropac Ely House
Area: Mayfair Focus: Commercial gallery and historic townhouse Recommended time: 45–60 minutes
Contemporary art is shown inside Ely House, an 18th-century townhouse. The presentation itself is part of the experience, as large works interact with the proportions and details of the historic rooms.
Choose this gallery if you enjoy looking at art and architecture together and want to add a less obvious Mayfair address to your itinerary.
Five self-guided London gallery routes
The durations below are planning estimates rather than measured walking times.
First introduction to painting and portraits
National Gallery → National Portrait Gallery
These two museums are next to each other. Allow around three hours, including a break. It is better to choose a theme or a few rooms in each museum.
Mayfair galleries
Thaddaeus Ropac → David Zwirner → Hauser & Wirth → Gagosian Grosvenor Hill
Choose two to four exhibitions and allow approximately three hours. Tuesday to Saturday is usually the most convenient time for this route. Before leaving, check that exhibitions are open at every venue.
Contemporary art along the South Bank
Hayward Gallery → Tate Modern
This route includes two major exhibition stops. Allow four to five hours, including travel and a break. If you want a lighter itinerary, choose only one major exhibition.
Classic and contemporary art in Marylebone
Wallace Collection → Lisson Gallery
Allow approximately three hours for both galleries and the walk between them. Compare how a historic interior and a contemporary exhibition space change the way artworks are perceived.
Art and the park
Serpentine South → Serpentine North → walk through Kensington Gardens
Allow two to three hours. Check the exhibition programme at both buildings and the seasonal dates for the pavilion.
Things to know before your visit
Choose the exhibition before travelling
Commercial galleries do not have a permanent display of works for visitors. Exhibition rooms may close between projects.
Check exactly what your ticket covers
Free entry to a building or permanent collection does not always include a temporary exhibition. Some prices also include a voluntary donation.
Visit open exhibitions without planning to buy
The commercial galleries in this guide welcome ordinary visitors. You do not need to be a collector to see an open exhibition.
Arrange group visits separately
Museums and galleries have different rules for groups and external guides. Free individual entry does not mean that a large organised group can arrive without prior notice.
Save several addresses
For one outing, two large museums or several smaller galleries in the same area are usually enough. This leaves time for careful viewing and conversation.
Save this guide and choose one gallery you have not visited before. Sometimes a new perspective on art begins with a short visit to an unfamiliar address.