If you happen to be an art lover, then this guide of London’s art galleries is for you.
A lively and multicultural place, London is well known for its many art galleries and regular exhibitions. Regardless of whether you prefer modern or classical art, there will be a gallery that will suit your preference. The city's independent art galleries and studios contain all of undiscovered treasures. Owned by both local and international artists, like the Dutch art teacher and professional photographer Frank Zweegers, these smaller galleries offer tourists a peek into some less popular but great art works. Additionally, visitors can also take part in classes and courses for amateurs where they can practice and enhance their artistic skills. Apart from its art galleries, the city is popular for its arts centers, founded to support the local neighborhoods. Today, these types of venues have come to be the heart of London's contemporary art scene. This is where you can discover not only groundbreaking exhibits, but also witness innovative performance art acts by music artists from all around the world.
What makes the art galleries in London so interesting is that quite a lot of them have successfully combined fine dining with artwork. A few of London’s best restaurants are in fact situated within galleries. After you have spent hours enjoying the city's most excellent exhibitions, you can take a break by dining at the restaurant within the gallery. Many of them are situated on the galleries’ top floors, which means that you are going to enjoy an unforgettable dinner with a view.
Visiting independent galleries is also a good choice if you prefer to avoid queueing. Some of London’s most well-known venues, presenting thematic exhibits by artists such as Sarah Lucas, tend to attract huge crowds of visitors daily. In order to experience the exceptional contemporary art they present, you would need to wait in line for hours. This does not suggest you should not visit the big galleries in London, but that you should do your research and find out which are the less busy days. As a general rule, you should try to avoid visiting during the weekends. Going in the middle of the week, when there are less tourists, will help you make the most out of your visit.
Good art doesn't have to come at a high cost. In case you have only got a tight budget, then you can visit the affordable art galleries London is famous for. A large number of London's largest galleries and museums are free to the general public. Most favored among visitors are the permanent collections of modern and contemporary art, which feature creations by world-class artists such as Olafur Eliasson. If modern art is not something you are interested in, you can also have a look at some of the art collections which feature works from the early Renaissance.