The best exhibitions in London

London is a hub of museums and galleries, bursting with culture and heritage. If you’re spending some time in London, why not add an exhibition to the itinerary?

The best art exhibitions in London

The Conservatory x Ranjani Shettar | Barbican

barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2023/event/the-conservatory-x-ranjani-shettar

Until 1st July 2024

The Barbican Conservatory (the second-largest in London) is a wild wonderland of tropical plants, birds and exotic fish. It’s the dream canvas for Europe’s first major glimpse of Ranjani Shettar’s handcrafted sculpture. This mixed-media exhibit uses wood, steel, muslin and lacquer. The sculptures are suspended amongst the shrubbery, reflecting floral and natural motifs.

Address: Silk St., Barbican, London EC2Y 8DS
How to get there: From London Waterloo, take the Jubilee line to London Bridge. Then, hop on the Northern line to Moorgate, walking 7 minutes from there.

The Last Caravaggio | The National Gallery

nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/the-last-caravaggio

18th April – 21st July 2024

For the first time in 20 years, the National Gallery is exhibiting Caravaggio’s The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula, the last-known painting before his mysterious death. It explores the dark-light contrast of his works that became starker as the artist’s life grew darker in its final days.

Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
How to get there: You can walk from  London Waterloo to the National Gallery in just 20 minutes. If you’d rather get the tube, hop on the northbound Northern service to Charing Cross.

Expressionists | Tate Modern

tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/expressionists

25th April – 20th October 2024

One of the best places for art lovers, Tate Modern, is guaranteed to house some fantastic exhibitions. From painting and sculpture to performance and sound, this exhibit features over 130 bold expressionist pieces from Kandinsky, Münter and the Blue Rider.

Address: Bankside, London SE1 9TG
How to get there: Tate Modern is a 20-minute walk from  London Waterloo. When you’ve finished exploring the exhibition, find many London landmarks nearby, including Shakespeare’s Globe.

The best science exhibitions in London

Injecting Hope: The Race for a Covid-19 Vaccine | The Science Museum

sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/injecting-hope

Until 12th May 2024

The Coronavirus pandemic threw the world into chaos in 2020. Before long, a vaccine was all anybody could think about. Injecting Hope: The Race for a COVID-19 Vaccine uses artworks, interactives and personal objects to look back at the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and the challenges that scientists faced.

Address: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
How to get there: From  Clapham Junction, ride the 49 or 345 bus to South Kensington station; this should take half an hour and is a scenic way of travelling around London. Those coming from  Vauxhall should hop on the 360 bus for half an hour. From  Waterloo, walk to Embankment tube station before getting on the District or Circle line to South Kensington. From there, it’s a 7-minute walk to the museum.

Being Human | Wellcome Collection

wellcomecollection

Permanent exhibition

Explore 50 artefacts and works of art at Being Human, a free London exhibition that uncovers what it means to be human in the modern world. Learn about medicine, genetics and how our bodies react to surrounding environments. Walk through four sections: Genetics, Minds & Bodies, Infection and Environmental Breakdown.

Address: 183 Euston Rd., London NW1 2BE.
How to get there: From  London Waterloo, take the Northern tube line to Warren Street; it’s a 7-minute walk from the station to the gallery.

The best fashion exhibitions in London

The Biba Story | The Fashion Textile Museum

fashiontextilemuseum.org/exhibitions/the-biba-story-1964-1975

22nd March – 8th September 2024

This new exhibition tells the story of the pioneering fashion label that dominated 1960s and 1970s fashion. It follows Biba’s origins as a minor mail-order business to becoming the first lifestyle brand, featuring archival clothing, photographs and film curated by Biba’s founder, Barbara Hulanicki.

Fashion City | The Museum of London

museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london-docklands/whats-on/exhibitions/fashion-city

Until 14th April 2024

This temporary exhibition explores how Jewish Londoners, from tailors to retailers, created the capital’s style. From the arrival of Jewish migrants in the late 19th century, the exhibition shows Jewish designers shaping our culture, dressing the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Muhammad Ali and Princess Diana.

Address: 150 London Wall, Barbican, London EC2Y 5HN
How to get there: From London Waterloo, hop on the Waterloo & City line to Bank Station. It’s a 10-minute walk from there.

The Cult of Beauty | Wellcome

wellcomecollection.org/exhibitions

Until 28th April 2024

Over 200 items, from historical objects to new commissions, tell the historic evolution of beauty standards. The exhibition reveals the myth of universal beauty, showing how cultural, social and historical factors influence beauty ideals.

Address: 183 Euston Rd., London NW1 2BE
How to get there: From London Waterloo, take the Northern line to Warren Street. It’s a 10-minute walk from there.

The best exhibitions in London for children

Visiting exhibitions with little ones is a great way to encourage fun learning, and travelling with kids is easy with South Western Railway. Here are the best London exhibitions for children of all ages.

Turn It Up: The Power of Music | The Science Museum

sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/turn-it-up

Until 6th May 2024

Music helps us understand the world. This exhibit shows us how it shapes our world. Featuring whacky instruments, machine-made songs, and musical robots, Turn It Up is an interactive exhibit that’s fun for the whole family.

Address: Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
How to get there: From  London Waterloo, walk to Embankment tube station before getting on the District or Circle line to South Kensington. It’s a 7-minute walk to the museum from there.

Japan: Myths to Manga | Young V&A

vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/japan-myths-to-manga

Until 8th September 2024

From Hello Kitty rice cookers to therapeutic robot seals, this exhibition explores the global impact of Japanese culture and creativity. Spanning art, design and technology, kids can test their origami skills and try taiko drumming (traditionally used in worship and battle).

Address: Cambridge Heath Rd., Bethnal Green, London E2 9PA
How to get there: From London Waterloo, take the Waterloo & City line to Bank station. Then, hop on the Central line to Bethnal Green, walking 3 minutes from there.

Light into Life | Kew Gardens

kew.org/kew-gardens/whats-on/marc-quinn

4th May – 29th September 2024

Inspired by science, nature and the human experience, Light into Life features over 20 new artworks created by Marc Quinn in collaboration with Kew scientists and horticulturists. From immense outdoor sculptures to drawings on palm leaves, this exhibition has everything.

Address: Kew, Richmond, London TW9 3AE
How to get there: From Richmond, it’s a scenic 15-minute walk to Kew Gardens. Or take the train to Kew Bridge station and walk 15 minutes to the Gardens.

Ready to plan your culture-filled London trip? We have train tickets to all your favourite museums in London – search our ticket types. For more savings, discover our Railcards and discounts and GroupSave, or get inspired for your next journey. Travel on any train with flexible Sunday Out tickets.

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