London has so many fantastic free activities for visitors (and locals!) of all ages. As part of our series of posts listing some of the excellent free activities London has to offer (check out our post on London's top ten free museums), here we list our top ten free art galleries in London.
London's art galleries (for free!)
Whether you like the classics, modern art or street art, London's art galleries have something for all tastes. Here are our top ten free art galleries:
1. National Gallery:
The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square and houses one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world. You can discover works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Turner, Renoir, Van Gogh and many more. nationalgallery.org.uk
2. Tate Britain:
Tate Britain is an art museum on Millbank in the City of Westminster in London. It houses a national collection and is the world centre for the study and display of British art. tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain
3. Tate Modern:
Tate Modern is a huge modern art gallery located on the banks of the Thames River opposite St. Paul's Cathedral. The gallery is set in what was formerly the Bankside Power Station which has been fantastically reincarnated as one of London's most impressive landmarks. Here you will find a wonderful collection of international and modern comtemporary art. tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
4. Whitechapel Gallery:
Just around the corner from famous Brick Lane sits the Whitechapel Gallery. For more than a century the Whitechapel Gallery has premiered world-class artists from modern masters such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo to contemporaries such as Sophie Calle, Lucian Freud, Gilbert & George and Mark Wallinger. whitechapelgallery.org
5. Saatchi Gallery:
The Saatchi Gallery is a London gallery for contemporary art, opened by Charles Saatchi in 1985 in order to exhibit his collection to the public. It is located in a central London location on Kings Road, Chelsea. saatchigallery.com
6. The Photographers' Gallery:
The Photographers' Gallery was founded in London in 1971, and was the first independent gallery in Britain that was devoted entirely to photography. It also hosts a café and bookshop (free admission to the gallery before 12pm). thephotographersgallery.org.uk
7. Guildhall Art Gallery:
Established in 1886 as 'a Collection of Art Treasures worthy of the capital city,' see works dating from 1670 to the present, including 17th-century portraits, Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces and a range of paintings documenting London's dramatic history. Guildhall Art Gallery
8. The Wallace Collection:
The Wallace Collection is a national museum in an historic London town house. In 25 galleries are unsurpassed displays of French 18th-century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and a world class armoury. wallacecollection.org
9. White Cube:
White Cube is a contemporary art gallery owned by art dealer, Jay Jopling, and has two excellent locations in London. whitecube.com
10. The Brick Lane Gallery:
Located in the heart of trendy Brick Lane, The Brick Lane Gallery houses eclectic displays of contemporary art by British and international artists, emerging or established. thebricklanegallery.com
Top tip: The Brick Lane Gallery is not far from the Whitechapel Gallery and so a great day can be had visiting the two galleries along with the fantastic markets and independent shops nearby. Also, keep an eye out for the incredible street art in the area!
Home swap: free London accommodation
One of the biggest budget busters when visiting London can be the cost of accommodation. However, rather than booking hotels or holiday rentals, arrange home swap accommodation and you can dramatically cut the cost of your London holiday. By home swapping you enjoy free accommodation and also enjoy the space and comfort of staying in a London home.
Home Base Holidays is a London based home swap holidays website and has a large number of tempting home swap holiday offers. Find your home swap accommodation in London
Check out our previous blog post on London's top ten free museums
