Best art exhibitions to see in London for 2023
London is so full of art, it can be hard to know where to begin. Here's our guide to the best exhibitions in big and small galleries to see right now.
There's so much going on in London, it can be difficult to know where to start. Whether you consider yourself a Londoner, have recently moved to the Big Smoke or are visiting the city for a few days, the RadioTimes.com team have worked hard to become experts in what's going on – and we're here to share the wisdom.
Whether it's theatre you're after, something a bit out of the box, or perhaps you're in need of some well-deserved R&R in the capital city, we've put together guides on the best West End shows, best immersive experiences and top London spa experiences, plus many more.
If it's art that tickles your fancy, London is one of the best places in the UK to see an art exhibition. Home to many of the biggest galleries in the country (and the world) there's a huge amount to see in the permanent collections, let alone the exhibitions.
Different galleries are known for different specialisms, from the National Portrait Gallery which houses and exhibits different kinds of portraiture, to the Victoria and Albert museum (the V&A) which is known for its speciality in fashion and textiles. So, if you're interested in a particular medium or type of exhibition, it can be good to keep an eye on a gallery or museum which specialises in that.
Cost is obviously something that we are all keeping an eye on at the moment. The good news for art lovers is that many London museums and galleries have huge amounts that you can usually view for free, especially elements of the permanent collections.
You often have to pay to see particular exhibitions with tickets usually in the range of £10-£20, with most galleries offering concession prices for students, children and seniors. If you are a fan of a particular museum or gallery, many have the option of becoming a member which includes perks like access to a members' café and opportunities to get tickets to popular exhibitions early, or even in private viewings.
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We'll keep this page updated with all the most exciting exhibitions on in the capital at the moment.
Here are the best art exhibitions in London right now.
We were lucky enough to be invited to the BBC Earth Experience launch, and you can read our BBC Earth Experience review here.
Jump to:
- Best limited-time art exhibitions in London
- Best art gallery tours in London
- Best immersive art exhibitions in London
- Best small art exhibitions in London
Best art exhibitions in London at a glance
- The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance free
- Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2023 from £8
- Frameless from £15
- Magdalena Abakanowicz: Every Tangle of Thread and Rope from £16
- Maria Bartuszová from £16
- Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis £16
- Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now from £16
- Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience from £16.40
- Alice Neel: Hot Off the Griddle from £18
- Hallyu! The Korean Wave from £20
- Dalí : Cybernetics - The Immersive Experience from £22.90
- After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art from £24
- Wonders of Civilisation: A crash course in archaeology two for £80
- Private guided museum tour of the Tate Modern from £93
- Highlights of the National Gallery official guided tour and afternoon tea two for £99
Best art exhibitions in London for 2023
Best limited time art exhibition in London
Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the V&A
The V&A is well known for it's exploration in different mediums, particularly in textiles, and this exhibition is no different. Focusing on the popular culture of South Korea, the show explores where the foundations of the Korean Wave lie. It goes on to discover the global influence of South Korean culture on everything from cinema to beauty and fashion.
This show runs until 25th June.
Buy tickets for Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the V&A from £20
After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art
Up until 13th August 2023, you'll have the opportunity to experience an exhibition dedicated to three art trailblazers: Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art explores how these artists took risks and broke tradition to lay the foundations for a lot of artwork in the 20th and 21st centuries. From paintings to sculptures and Expressionism to Cubism, this exhibition really has it all.
Buy tickets for After Impressionism: Inventing Modern Art at The National Gallery from £24
For more exciting things to do in London, take a look at the best London experience gifts and top London walking tours.
Magdalena Abakanowicz: Every Tangle of Thread and Rope
The Tate is one of the most famous art galleries in the UK, and is part of a family of four galleries in London, Liverpool and Cornwall. This particular exhibition is at the Tate Modern in London, and is running until Sunday 21st May.
Magdalena Abakanowicz's exhibition is comprised of towering, woven sculptures which hang from the mammoth ceilings at the Tate Modern. The pieces hang like a forest in the 64-metre long gallery, and is perfect for those Instagram-worthy photographs.
Buy tickets for Magdalena Abakanowicz: Every Tangle of Thread and Rope at the Tate Modern from £16
The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance
This next exhibition proves that nothing is as it seems. Seemingly fantastical and grotesque in their appearance, these artworks show how women were satirised and demonised in the Renaissance period. Located at The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, this exhibition has free admission.
The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance is showing until 11th June this year.
Maria Bartuszová
Prague-born artist Maria Bartuszová created thought-provoking sculptures made mostly from her signature material, white plaster, and was inspired by nature. The pieces are unusual and striking, and unlike anything we've seen before. You only have a limited time to see this exhibition, though, as it finishes on the 25th June this year.
Buy tickets for Maria Bartuszová at the Tate Modern from £16
Do you fancy yourself as a bit of a creative? Then take a look at the best UK pottery experiences and best photography courses.
Best art gallery tours in London
Private guided museum tour of the Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is one of the world's biggest museums of modern and contemporary art. While this is part of what makes it so exciting, it can also be a bit daunting, especially if you're a first time visitor.
That's where a private tour can be an amazing way to see the gallery. These tours are for up to eight people and last anywhere between one and a half and two hours. You'll have a professional tour guide all to yourselves as you get to know the history of this unique exhibition space and gain insights on some of the artwork.
These tours can be in English, Spanish or French. Semi-private tour prices start from £93 at Fever, whereas private tours start from £465.
Buy tickets for a private guided museum tour of the Tate Modern from £93 at Fever
Highlights of the National Gallery official guided tour and afternoon tea for two
The National Gallery is one of London's most iconic buildings, situated in Trafalgar Square. The home of the masterpieces, on this hour-long tour you'll be guided between some of the more famous European works in the gallery by an expert tour guide. And after all that art you'll probably need a snack, so you'll head to Ochre for afternoon tea including savoury sandwiches, scones with jam and clotted cream and seasonal pastries.
Wonders of Civilisation: A crash course in archaeology at the British Museum for two
Be guided by a qualified archaeologist as you make your way around the British Museum and see how our relationship with design and stonework has evolved over time. You'll get to hear the history behind some of the world's most famous artefacts, and learn more about the science behind archaeology.
Best immersive art exhibitions in London
Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience
He’s one of the most influential artists in the modern world, and now you have the chance to see Vincent Van Gogh’s artwork in a 260 degree digital exhibition. Immerse yourself in the Dutch post-impressionist painter’s artwork, such as The Starry Night and Café Terrace At Night, with huge digital installations, then travel through eight of Van Gogh’s works and their inspirations with a one-of-a-kind VR experience complete with a headset.
Buy tickets for Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience from £16.40 at Fever
If VR experiences are your bag, be sure to take a look at the best London VR experiences.
Frameless
Frameless is the hottest new digital art experience located in central London. Like all immersive events, Frameless gives the visitor the experience of actually being inside the artwork, and with classical and contemporary music playing throughout the galleries, you'll feel fully immersed in the work. Step inside the pieces from famous artists such as Cezanne, Kandinsky, Monet, Dalí, Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Klimt, plus many more.
Standard tickets for Frameless will set you back £15, and there's also the option to buy a Premium Package and Flexi tickets, as well as Accessible and Chilled ones.
Buy Frameless tickets from £15 at Ticketmaster
To find out more about this digital art experience, take a look at our what is Frameless? guide.
Dalí : Cybernetics - The Immersive Experience
One of the RadioTimes.com team members went to the Dalí museum in Spain last summer. It was jam-packed with Salvador Dalí’s most famous surrealist pieces, and for an equally as fantastic exhibition on home soil, the Dalí : Cybernetics - The Immersive Experience is where it’s at.
The immersive experience uses projection mapping and sound effects to offer a unique way of seeing the Spanish artist’s work.
Buy tickets for Dalí : Cybernetics - The Immersive Experience from £22.90 at Fever
The RadioTimes.com team like to try out the things we recommend, just take a look at our 2:22 A Ghost Story review and The Cauldron review.
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Best small art exhibitions in London
Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2023
Located at The Photographer's Gallery in central London, this exhibition brings together pieces from four international shortlisted artists: Bieke Depoorter, Samuel Fosso, Arthur Jafa and Frida Orupabo. One of our RadioTimes.com team went to this exhibition the other week and loved it! Each of the photographer's work is hugely unique, and there's the option to vote for your favourite artist at the end.
Located on other floors of The Photographer's Gallery is A Hard Man is Good to Find! and A Brief Revolution: photography, architecture and social space in the Manplan project. Our writer's ticket covered admission to both of these exhibitions, too, but be sure to check online when you book your ticket.
This exhibition is running until the 11th June 2023.
Alice Neel: Hot Off the Griddle
In this limited time only exhibition, which runs from Thursday 16th February until Sunday 21st May this year, Alice Neel captures the shifting social and political context of 20th century America through portraits. Her paintings celebrate those who were often overlooked, such as Black and Puerto Rican children, pregnant women, civil rights activists and queer performers. It's the largest UK exhibition to date of Neel's work, so be sure to get yourself down to the Barbican to experience it.
Buy tickets for Alice Neel: Hot Off the Griddle at the Barbican from £18
If you like to consume art through film, be sure to take a look at our guides to the best luxury cinema experiences and how to get cheap cinema tickets. If it's through music, we have the best candlelight concerts and how to get cheap concert tickets guides for you.
Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis
This next exhibition is part of Hayward Gallery's Planet Summer – a season of climate care, hope and activism – which is explored through exhibitions, performances, talks, and so on.
Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis looks at how 14 different artists are using their artwork to help people deepen their understanding of the climate crisis. It's a truly important exhibition, and it'll be running at the Hayward Gallery at the Southbank Centre from 21st June to 3rd September this year.
Buy tickets for Dear Earth: Art and Hope in a Time of Crisis at the Hayward Gallery for £16
Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now
Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now focuses more on moving visuals than some of the other exhibitions, bringing together photographs, films and installations spanning over three decades. In the first major UK exhibition dedicated to Weems, gallery-goers will have the rare opportunity to see the iconic 1990 Kitchen Table Series and 2021 film installation, The Shape of Things.
You can book tickets for this show now, and it's running from 22nd June to 3rd September 2023.
Buy tickets for Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now at the Barbican from £16
Check out our Going Out section to stay on top of what's going on in London and beyond, such as the best London theatre shows and Manchester theatre shows, plus spa experiences in London.
