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.

By Imogen Hope

Published: Friday, 31 March 2023 at 12:00 am

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.

We’ll aim to 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.

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Best art exhibitions in London at a glance

Best art exhibitions in London for 2023

Best limited time art exhibition in London

Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the V&A

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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

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National Gallery

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

Magdalena Abakanowicz: Every Tangle of Thread and Rope

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Tate

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.

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

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National Gallery

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.

Buy tickets for The Ugly Duchess: Beauty and Satire in the Renaissance at The National Gallery for free

Maria Bartuszová

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Tate

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.

Buy tickets for Maria Bartuszová at the Tate Modern from £16

Best art gallery tours in London

Private guided museum tour of the Tate Modern

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GettyImages/godrick

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.

Buy tickets for a private guided museum tour of the Tate Modern from £236.50 at Fever

Highlights of the National Gallery official guided tour and afternoon tea for two

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GettyImages/Allan Baxter

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.

Buy tickets for the highlights of the National Gallery official guided tour and afternoon tea for two from £99 at Virgin Experience Days

Wonders of Civilisation: A crash course in archaeology at the British Museum for two

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GettyImages/Justin Pumfrey

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.

Buy tickets for Wonders of Civilisation: A crash course in archaeology at the British Museum for two from £80 at Virgin Experience Days

Best immersive art exhibitions in London

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

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London Vacation Rentals

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 VR experiences in London.

Frameless

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Ticketmaster

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

Dalí : Cybernetics – The Immersive Experience

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Fever

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

Monet: The Immersive Experience

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Fever

Pioneer Oscar-Claude Monet was the founder of impressionist painting and a key precursor to modernism as he enjoyed painting nature as he saw it. It made for some beautiful results, such as The Water Lily Pond and The Artist’s Garden at Giverny, and now, there’s the opportunity to see the French painter’s work in London.

Be the first to see Monet: The Immersive Experience, and sign up to receive news of the top-secret location and date.

Buy tickets for Monet: The Immersive Experience at Fever

Magritte: The Immersive Experience

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Fever

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Well, it’s definitely not a pipe. Be the first in line to see The Treachery of Images, The Son of Man and The Lovers amongst other famous artworks by Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte. Explore Magritte’s life, work, inspiration, and even uncover some of the artist’s secrets.

Buy tickets for Magritte: The Immersive Experience at Fever

Best small art exhibitions in London

Mike Nelson: Extinction Beckons at the Hayward Gallery

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Southbank Centre

This exhibition is a survey of work by the British artist Mike Nelson. The installations are tonally very different from many traditional exhibitions of paintings, and will take the visitor on a journey through different worlds and experiences. Nelson uses materials gathered and salvaged from antique shops, junk yards and auctions to explore alternative ways of thinking.

Buy tickets for Mike Nelson: Extinction Beckons at the Hayward Gallery from £15

Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2023

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The Photographer’s Gallery

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.

Buy tickets for Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2023 at The Photographer’s Gallery from £8

Alice Neel: Hot Off the Griddle

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Barbican

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

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