Best Free Art Galleries In London

London

London is an artistic city filled with sophisticated buildings and parks. Other than that, it is home to a lot of beautiful art galleries and theaters. You couldn’t visit London without going to at least one of the amazing galleries! Here are the best free art galleries in London for you to choose from!

Below are the best free art galleries in London that you should not miss if you love visiting art galleries

Best Free Art Galleries in London

The National Gallery

Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross
Image by Iperionch

The National Gallery is the perfect place for art lovers!

With its collection of masterpieces by the work of world famous artist such as Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Renoir, Turner and many more. Free guided tours are available as well as various audio guides! So you do not need to worry about the language barriers! Children wouldn’t be bored in the gallery because there are a variety of family activities available for them. 

Opening Hours:
Everyday (10am – 6pm)
Friday (10am – 9pm )

Note: Closing commences five minutes before time stated

Free admission to the collection and some special exhibitions. Charges apply for major loan exhibitions.

Find It Here:

National Portrait Gallery

St Martin's Place
Image by earchitect

Opened in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery was the first portrait gallery in the world. This Italian Renaissance style building is the house of a huge collection of famous and essential historical British people and character. The collections are in the form of portrait, painting, drawing, medallions, photographs, sculptures, motion pictures and video recordings. 

Do pay this gallery a visit if you are interested in the history of Britain!

Free except charges for special exhibitions.

Opening Hours:
Everyday (10am – 6pm)
Fri (10am – 9pm)

Note: Closed 24 – 26 December

Find It Here:

Guildhall Art Gallery & Roman Amphitheatre

Guildhall Yard
Image by artuk

Step into the historical London’s Roman Amphitheatre in Guildhall Yard which was rediscovered by the archaeologists in 1988 and experience the ambiance of the amphitheatre where it was once an arena for animal fighting, public executions and gladiatorial combat! 

Don’t worry if your imagination can’t take you back to the Roman’s day, the marvelous digital projections got your back! And while you’re at there, you could enjoy the art treasures dating back to 1670s in the art gallery! 

Opening Hours:
Mon – Sat (10am – 5pm) *Last entry is 4:30pm
Sunday (12pm – 4pm) *Last entry is 3:30pm

Note: Entry to the gallery is free – special exhibitions are charged

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Tate Modern

Bankside
Image by londonist

Formerly as a Power Station, Tate Modern is now the house of modern and contemporary arts from around the world. In this gallery, you could enjoy the awesome works of Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, DalÍ­, Pollock, Warhol and Bourgeois.

Opening Hours:
Sun – Thurs (10am – 6pm)
Fri and Sat (10am – 10pm)

Note: closed on 24, 25 and 26 December

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Tate Britain

Millbank
Image by visitlondon

Tate Britain has the largest collection of British arts and you will get to experience the history of British art from 1500 to the modern days in this gallery. 

You need to visit here if you are a fan of British art because you’ll get to witness the masterpieces of MW Turner, John Constable, John Everett Millais, and not forgetting contemporary arts by Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Barbara Hepworth, David Hockney and Bridget Riley.

Opening Hours:
Sat – Thurs (10am – 6pm)
Friday (10am – 10pm)

Note: Closed 24, 25, 26 December (open as normal on 1 January)

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Serpentine Galleries

Kensington Garden
Image by visitlondon

Located in the beautiful Kensington Garden is the Serpentine Galleries; with the Serpentine Gallery and Serpentine Sackler Gallery at both sides of the Serpentine Lake. All that was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. 

If you are into architecture, you should visit these galleries in the summer, where they would present their annual Serpentine Pavillion which is a marvelous architecture program. This program also showcase outdoor sculpture projects, art commissions and digital commissions. 

Opening Hours:
Tue – Sun (9am – 6pm)

Find It Here:

21,503 Responses
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