Art in London – The Top London Art Galleries are Free:
London has some of the best art galleries in the world and the sheer amount of world-class artworks will keep art lovers quite busy during their London holidays. And the good news is that most of the city’s top art galleries in London are Free to the public. If you’re interested in enjoying art in London, this is really good news as it means that you don’t have to rush through the galleries and you can visit as many times as the artwork inspires you.
Apart from the world-renowned collections of the National Gallery, Tate Modern and the National Portrait Gallery, there are just as many smaller galleries, such as the Serpentine Gallery, and some of these smaller galleries have astonishing treasures for the art lover to discover. If you’re looking for free things to do in London, plan on visiting London’s top art galleries.
Below is a list of some of the free art galleries in London:
| Galleries | Description |
| The National Gallery |
 National Gallery, London At London’s National Gallery art lovers can enjoy Western European artwork from about 1250-1900. The Gallery holds works by grandmasters like Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne and Van Gogh. There are special exhibitions, lectures, video and audio-visual programs, guided tours and holiday events for children and adults. |
| Tate Modern |
Housed in the former Bankside Power Station on the banks of the Thames, the Tate Modern gallery of modern and contemporary art is unmissable. The Tate collection from around the world includes artists such as Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, Dalí, Pollock, Warhol and Bourgeois. Entry to the Tate Modern is free but there may be fees for the special exhibitions. Entry is free except for major exhibitions. Opening Times: Sun-Thur 10:00 – 18:00; Fri & Sat 10:00 – 22:00. Closed Dec 24-26. Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London, SE1 9TG Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8888 www.tate.org.uk |
| Tate Britain |
 Beata Beatrix at the Tate Britain Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00 (Late Night opening first Friday of month) Closed Dec. 24-26. Address: Tate Britain, Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8888 www.tate.org.uk |
| National Portrait Gallery |
The National Portrait Gallery houses the world’s largest portrait collection of personalities and faces, from the late Middle Ages to the present day. In the Gallery, visitors will see history brought to life through its extensive display, exhibitions, research and other programs. Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00 (Late Night opening Thurs and Fri till 21:00). Closed Dec 24-26. Address: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London WC2H 0HE Tel: +44 (0)20 7306 0055 www.npg.org.uk |
| Serpentine Gallery |
This popular contemporary art gallery has a program of modern and contemporary art exhibitions ranging from Andy Warhol to Piero Manzoni, Cindy Sherman and Chris Ofili. Coinciding with the London Olympics, the Serpentine Gallery will open the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, a new innovative space housed in a Kensington Gardens building formerly known as The Magazine. Opening Times: Daily 10:00 – 18:00 Address: Serpentine Gallery, Kensington Gardens, London, W2 3XA Tel: +44 (0)20 7402 6075 www.serpentinegallery.org |
| Guildhall Art Gallery and London’s Roman Amphitheatre |
The Guildhall Art Gallery is the City of London’s collection of art treasures with works dating from 1670 to the present. It includes 17th century portraits, Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces and a fascinating range of paintings documenting London’s dramatic history. Visitors also get to step into the ruins of London’s Roman Amphitheatre. Lost for centuries, it was rediscovered by archaeologists in 1988. Admission to the Guildhall Gallery is free however there may be fees for temporary exhibitions. Opening Times: Mon-Sat 10:00 – 17:00; Sun 12:00 – 16:00 Address: Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London, EC2V 5AE Tel: +44 (0)20 7332 3700 www.cityoflondon.gov.uk |
| Whitechapel Art Gallery |
Internationally renowned for its exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, the Whitechapel Art Gallery is also a pioneer in its education and public events programs. Opening Times: Tue-Sun 11:00 – 18:00 (Late Night opening till 21:00 on Thur) Address: Whitechapel Art Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7QX Tel: +44 (0)20 7522 7888 www.whitechapelgallery.org |
| William Morris Gallery |
The William Morris Gallery is housed in the mid-18th century boyhood home of William Morris. It has a permanent exhibition on his life and work, including wall- papers, fabrics, carpets and stained glass. It also has displays of work by his associates and The Century Guild, paintings by Pre-Raphaelites and Frank Brangwyn. The reference library and reserve collection open by appointment only. GALLERY IS CLOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT UNTIL JULY 2012 Opening Times: Wed-Sat 10:00 – 17:00 (Closed public holidays) Address: William Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park, Forest Road, London, E17 4PP Tel: +44 (0)20 8496 4390 www.walthamforest.gov.uk/william-morris |
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All the galleries have really great websites that work very hard at bringing their content to the public. Since I started my research in things to do with kids in London, I have been so impressed with the level of resources available. If you spend a little time and follow the links in the post above, you can really create a buzz about visiting these great galleries – even if you do not know much about art (yet).
London still has the best art around….thanks for the info.