Art galleries in London?

wigginsmum

I've got a friend coming to stay in a couple of weeks who wants to trawl through some galleries. I'm familiar with the National and National Portrait; can you recommend any others, and/or any good exhibitions on for the next few weeks?

NicolaC

Tate modern is pretty good. They've got a Kandinsky exhibition on at the moment.

PabloNeruda

It depends on your taste really. If you're into 'conceptual' kind of art, ie Dadaism, Surrealism, Postmodernism then the Tate Modern is fabulous (Hirst, Dali, Magritte, Ernst, Miro, Rothko, Warhol etc). Also a very good bookshop on Art (I'm particularly into Dadaism and Surrealism).
However if pre-modern Renaissance/Baroque is more up your street (Velazquez, da Vinci, El Greco etc) then you have to go to the National Gallery, although having said that they still exhibit 'Modern Art' (ie 1750s to 1960s) such as Picasso and van Gough too.
Both are free anyway, and I'd recommend both.

wigginsmum

I think we're both at the more 'traditional' end so it could be back to the National, although the Kandinsky is tempting. Cheers guys.

alanrowell

Try the Tate BRITAIN

Alos have a look at Visitlondon which has all sorts of information

lily_the_pink

Courtauld Institute http://www.courtauld.ac.uk/
John Soane Museum (not strictly an art gallery but still worth visiting)
Tate Britain has the Clore Gallery extension with all the turners in if thats your thing
Whitechapel could be another interesting option http://www.whitechapel.org/


Although I am into modern art, I dont enjoy the Tate Modern as much as I probably should - though I havent had a good look round the rehang yet. If you havent been it is worth a look. Be aware that the Kadinsky exhibition is mainly his early works so unless you are a Kadinsky fan then it might just be £10 spent unduly. (I wont say wasted as the paintings are fabulous).

Royal Academy do really good temporary exhibitions - not free though.

If you are coming after the 18th October then go to the Velasquez exhibition at the national gallery

angel

What about The Wallace Collection? It's my favourite after Tate Modern.

"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."

http://www.wallacecollection.org/newsite/public/index.php

useless

The Courtauld at Somerset House is just down the road from the National and NPG, and is free on Mondays. The Gallery has a good collection of impressionist paintings and the courtyard is nice to sit in with its water fountains (or there's an ice rink there in winter).
I found this list from a quick google which might be useful (don't know how up-to-date it is) http://www.londonfreelist.com/listings.asp?cat=gal,Galleries
John Soanes Museum already mentioned on here is unique and worth a visit.
As for exhibitions - the Turner Prize starts in October and is usually a bit cheaper than other exhibitions cause it's smaller - just showcasing the work of the four nominated artists.
There are often some 2 for 1 vouchers for London exhibitions in TimeOut Magazine.
The other major gallery not mentioned yet on this thread is the Victoria and Albert Museum - free of course, except for some exhibitions.