Speciality Museums • Art Museums
Bloomsbury
THE 10 BEST London Art Museums
Art Museums in London
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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Art Museums
Trafalgar Square / Embankment
Admission tickets from AU$39
Historic Sites • Art Museums
Marylebone
Art Museums
Trafalgar Square / Embankment
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Open now
Speciality & Gift Shops • Art Galleries
Trafalgar Square / Embankment
Theatres • Art Museums
City of London
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Open now
Natural History Museums • Art Museums
Open now
Historic Sites • Art Museums
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
Trafalgar Square / Embankment
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Open now
Speciality Museums • Science Museums
Bloomsbury
Art Galleries • Art Museums
City of London
Art Museums • History Museums
Bloomsbury
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings
Westminster
Art Museums
South Kensington
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Open now
Art Galleries • Art Museums
Whitechapel
Art Galleries • Art Museums
Southbank
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Temporarily closed
What travellers are saying
- Zahid & Malti KhanLondon, UK887 contributionsThe British Museum is an treasure trove of artefacts enabling a visual journey through the history of the world and worth visiting more than once.
It can get overcrowded so go as early as you can and cover it over several days to avoid over-exposure to the herds of ‘tick list’ tourists rushing from one area to another taking photos rather than experiencing the exhibitions.Written 6 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - misanthropicdreamerSan Francisco, CA627 contributionsFirst book a time ahead. This is important. There are a million people trying to get in. Go early. The crowds get worse as the day goes on. Most of the museum is free. It costs to see the Wives of Henry the 8th exhibit (which is interesting but not essential). Most of the museum is air conditioned. Be prepared to deal with crowds, tour groups, tours of school children (nicely behaved) rude tourists (not nicely behaved) and shrieking babies.
Note to museum: you need better security at the entrance and exit of all the museum stores.
You will have fun seeing a lot of great art by a lot of great artists (as well as what I consider boring religious art). You can spend the entire day as we did. Don’t miss this museum.Written 29 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Patpav13 contributionsWe went to see the Elton John & David Furnish photographic exhibition at the V &A last week. The photos are fascinating and there are lots of them! There are quite a lot of black & white photos which I personally like very much. Some of them are achingly beautiful and others are heart breaking.Written 4 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- starlightShanghaiVictoria, Canada4,608 contributionsTate Modern on London’s South Bank was a pleasant surprise. My ‘take’ on Modern Art has usually been limited to a single dot on a canvas or a few squiggly lines that are supposed to mean something. I’m actually not that familiar with the concept of Modern Art. However, most of the exhibits I saw at Tate Modern were actually quite interesting.
Only one image had me questioning why on earth it would ever be considered a “work of art”. It struck me as a washing machine seeking revenge on a massive overload and having simply shredded everything within its interior! (Perhaps better placed in a back storage room out of public view!)
The Tate Modern is huge and is actually located in the old converted Bankside Power Station. Easy to reach.Written 26 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Thomas VOakland, CA17,482 contributionsThis is a good alternative to the very big museums in the city. The collection here is full of treasures, but the scale of the museum is easy to take. Staged in an old mansion where the family lived, and the atrium is devoted to a pretty cafe. So enjoy the art and go to the cafe to rest.Written 16 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LysandraKent, UK43 contributionsI always love coming here, as there is so much to see! This gallery is known for its great array of art from the late romantic period . If you love the Pre-Raphaelite period, William Morris, and William Blake, I recommend visiting. I always enjoy the cafe here, which completes the experience!Written 4 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Delius17London636 contributionsReally enjoyed the exhibition which throws a light on the unfortunate queens of Henry VIII.
Great to see so many portraits we've all seen in history books over the years although the one which has always been a questionable likeness of Catherine Howard was missing...
For many of us whose introduction to Tudor history was through The Six Wives of Henry VIII on television back in the sixties, it was also good to see some original costume designs from the production.
There's also an opportunity to see portraits of those instrumental in their rise or fall from power, together with letters and drawings, many by Mr Holbein.
The exhibition was fairly compact which meant that many of us found ourselves blocking a painting while we were reading another's explanation at times.
An enjoyable visit although the over-zealous chap on the door marred it somewhat- I watched him make a group of young women measure their shoulder bags (not big or bulky) against an airport style diagram only to send each of them over to the cloakroom where they were charged £2.50 to leave each item. The NPG must be making a tidy sum from this alone...Written 4 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - TheFarHorizonSydney, Australia60 contributionsThis was my first visit since its renovation in 2021. As expected the newly revamped rooms are exquisite, affording both a harmonious backdrop to the art and full recognition to the stunning interiors.
It is a small museum consisting of a number of substantial bequests and an ongoing acquisitions programme with further bequests incorporated over time. It is particularly strong in impressionist art, but Italian primitives, renaissance, English and Byzantine art are all represented with works of an exceptional standard.
The museum is not on the main tourist track (although it's an easy walk from the National Gallery) so it is not overcrowded, which allows viewing at a leisurely pace without constant interruption. Do walk through to the courtyard of Somerset House to view the exterior of the beautiful building.
Highly recommended.Written 17 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Deanosaur89Edmonton, Canada8,627 contributionsThe building has some interesting design elements and lots of art exhibits to see. We went early on a Sunday so much of it was closed but we were still able to walk around. The building is a brutalist design from the 1980s and we enjoyed our 20 minute visit here. We would have spent more time here if the conservatory or any of the exhibits were open. There are a number of restaurants and cafes here as well. It is free to enter and the closest metro station is Moorgate.Written 1 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- SCS10021New York City, NY2 contributionsThis is a hidden gem of a museum with all kinds of cool things to see. Spend as much time as you can here to see it all, then don't miss the gift shop. I got some of my favorite souvenirs here.Written 5 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- GoingGuideNottingham, UK2,089 contributionsAn extraordinary place to lose yourself in the fascinating lifestyle and artistic skills of the artist, Lord Leighton. This council managed the museum very carefully and skillfully displays the artist's life and how his travels inspired his style of art. The house is amazing in how its interior is full of designs and styles from different parts of the world that inspired Leighton through hus travels, particularly the Middle East. Staff are very useful and extremely friendly and welcoming. There's also a shop and lovely café part of which is set in the garden. Well worth a visit.Written 17 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Barbara TAbingdon, UK575 contributionsEven with some of the areas closed for renovation, this is one of the best museums and gardens I've visited, especially with adults and children.
The natural history and world history and culture areas were fascinating. Not too big that it takes ages, but enough detail to suit all levels. Lots of hands on activities for children, especially the musical instruments area.
It's free to enter, but you pay to go into some areas. Knowing we would return, we just paid this time for the aquarium, which was great - informative and well laid out, though didn't actually take long to go around.
The gardens are fabulous, not too far to walk around and interspersed with areas of interest for kids, like the musical garden and the animal walk (llamas, rabbits etc).
The cafe is good with seating inside and out. Not a huge choice but reasonable prices for this type of place. Be aware the kids' pizza is big - easily enough for an adult.
There's no parking, but we drove around the housing estate and found a place easily.
We will definitely return, especially when the renovated areas are open.Written 4 September 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - tripsandfood55London, UK4,681 contributionsWe visited the RA Summer Exhibition in June 2024. As with previous years, it continues to offer an impressive array of masterpieces, providing visitors with a diverse visual treat, showcasing a vast spectrum of recent art styles and catering to a multitude of artistic tastes. It remains one of our favorite art places to visit every year and this year did not disappoint. To provide you with an idea of what you might see, check out the various images people may have uploaded. If visiting for the first time, please consider buying the small price guide book. Although there are large ones to view in each room, the small one is a good read and quick reference as you walk around.Written 27 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Sue C49 contributionsI was so relieved to find that Saatchi had extended the RHS Botanic drawings & photography exhibition when I spent a few days in London. This is an astonishing show of some people's expertise in the field. Absolutely lovely galleries with lots of clear space to enjoy the works. There's always something else to see in the rest of the galleries as well.Written 15 July 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Lau BBuenos Aires, Argentina9 contributionsSuch a fantastic and different afternoon in London. Ive been to the city couple of times before and this was an unexpected gift, something truly different and local.Written 14 August 2024This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
