Archives:

Leighton House Museum is the former home of the Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830-1896). The only purpose-built studio-house open to the public in the United Kingdom, it is one of the most remarkable buildings of the nineteenth century, containing a fascinating collection of paintings and sculpture by Leighton and his contemporaries. From modest beginnings it grew into a ‘private palace of art’ featuring the Read more...

We are home to an extraordinary range of documents, images, maps, films and books about London. London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) is open to everyone. Whether you’re tracing your family history or researching the history of your neighbourhood, if you’re interested in London or Londoners, LMA is the place to visit. The LMA puts on exhibitions using materials it holds. Open: Monday Read more...

London Transport Museum explores the story of London and its transport system over the last 200 years, highlighting the powerful link between transport and the growth of modern London, culture and society since 1800. We care for over 450,000 items – preserving, researching and acquiring objects to use in our galleries, exhibitions and other activities. As well as exploring the Read more...

Mall Galleries is one of central London’s largest, friendliest and most accessible exhibition spaces. Our aim is to promote, inspire and educate audiences about the visual arts. Each year we host a busy, diverse and exciting programme of exhibitions, including work by emerging as well as well-known established artists. Many of our exhibitions focus on contemporary representational art, each of them Read more...

Discover the national collection of childhood related objects, from ideas to design, toys to schoolbooks. The Museum is arranged into four main galleries – the Moving Toys Gallery, the Creativity Gallery, the Childhood Galleries and the Front Room Gallery. The Museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.45. Closed 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January. Admission to the Museum Read more...

Our galleries vividly tell the story of the city and its people. We receive over a million visitors each year and hold the largest archaeological archive in Europe. We care for more than two million objects in our collections. The museum’s entrance is located on a pedestrian high walk which can be reached by stairs, escalators or lifts from Aldersgate Street; London Read more...

Our vision is to be the leading authority on the history of the British Army and a first class museum that moves, inspires, challenges, educates and entertains. Our mission is to gather, maintain and make known the story of the British Army and its role and impact in world history. To provide a museum experience that meets the widest range Read more...

The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It is on show 361 days a year. With free access to over 2,300 paintings from altarpieces to the Impressionists, there’s something for everyone at the National Gallery. The Gallery hosts several exhibitions each year from small ones in Read more...

The National Maritime Museum is the world’s largest maritime museum with 10 galleries and a vast collection that spans artworks, maps and charts, memorabilia and thousands of other objects. We combine a proud heritage of preserving history with a commitment to advancing understanding. The Museum hosts major exhibitions every year. Open daily (except 24-26 December) 10.00-17.00.  Ground floor galleries are open Read more...

The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Founded in 1856, the aim of the National Portrait Gallery is ‘to promote through the medium of portraits the appreciation and understanding of the men and women who have made and are making British history and culture, and to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all media. Read more...

We use our unique collections and unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million specimens spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually. The Museum has a full programme of exhibitions and nighttime activities. Open every day 10.00-17.50 except 24, 25, 26 December. Admission is free. There is Read more...

The Photographers’ Gallery is the largest public gallery in London dedicated to photography. From the latest emerging talent, to historical archives and established artists, we’re the place to see photography in all its forms. The Gallery does not show a permanent collection. It is only open for viewing during its frequent exhibitions – Monday to Saturday 10.00-18.00 (until 20.00 on Thursday) Read more...

Once Queen Victoria’s chapel, the building on this site was destroyed during World War II.  It was rebuilt as a gallery space and hosts several exhibitions each year. Open 10am-17.30pm (opens 9.30am in August and most of September) the gallery is closed during most of October and early November. Check the website. There is an admission charge with concessions. Read more...

All the art on display at the Royal Academy is in exhibitions.  These range from blockbusters in the main galleries to small scale exhibitions in the Sackler Wing and the Burlington Gardens galleries. The exhibition programme is diverse ranging from ancient sculptures through Old Master paintings to contemporary installations. The Sackler Wing and our Burlington Gardens galleries provide the perfect space to Read more...

The Saatchi Gallery aims to provide an innovative forum for contemporary art, presenting work by largely unseen young artists or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. Free admission to all our own art exhibitions is part of the Saatchi Gallery’s aim to bring contemporary works to the widest audience possible.  There is Read more...

Striving to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum’s world-class collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. Exhibitions cover all areas of science and technology. Open seven days a week, 10.00–18.00, last entry 17.15. During school holidays our opening hours are 10.00–19.00 (last entry Read more...

The Serpentine Galleries do not have a permanent collection.  All the art displayed is in exhibitions. Championing new ideas in contemporary art since it opened in 1970, the Serpentine has presented pioneering exhibitions of 2,263 artists over 45 years, showing a wide range of work from emerging practitioners to the most internationally recognised artists and architects of our time. Today, Read more...

Somerset House Trust presents a site-wide programme of visual arts, bringing the building and public spaces alive with exhibitions, installations, performances and events. As well as developing and commissioning our own strand of artistic and cultural output. We also collaborate with world-class institutions to bring important work to London. We aim to inspire and delight with distinctive, bold and imaginative Read more...

Tate Britain holds the national collection of British art.. Their aim is to increase the public’s enjoyment of British art from the 16th century to the present day. The Tate presents large scale exhibitions every year. Opening hours are 10.00-18.00 every day.  Entry to the permanent collection is free, There is a charge with concessions for exhibitions. Read more...

Since it opened in May 2000, more than 40 million people have visited Tate Modern making it one of the UK’s top three tourist attractions.  The permanent collection covers international modern and contemporary art. The Tanks present performances, interactive art and video installations. Major exhibitions are held in the galleries. Opening hours are 10.00-18.00 Sunday to Thursday.  Friday and Saturday open Read more...

Two Temple Place is home to the Bulldog Trust, a charity founded in 1983. We host annual exhibitions, showcasing publicly-owned museum and art gallery collections from around the UK from January to April. Read more...