One of the best ways to soak up the London culture while staying in one of our London vacation rental apartments is to truly immerse yourself in the beautiful art galleries, sculptures, trails and exhibitions our beautiful city has to offer! Have a look at our top suggestions!

London Galleries

If a traditional art experience is right up your street, London is host to many fantastic Galleries exhibiting a range of period and contemporary art. From Turner’s work in Battle of Trafalgar Gallery (National Maritime Museum) to newly exhibited European art shown in the Saatchi Gallery, here is a list of the top 10 London galleries that are sure to tickle your fancy while you are vacationing in one of our self catering rental apartments.

1. Tate Modern – Bankside, 25 Sumner Street SE1 9TG

Free admission and a riverside location – why wouldn’t you visit? Stunning views from the building and the vast spaces compliment the array of artwork on display from 1900’s to present day.

2. National Portrait Gallery – St Martin’s Place WC2H 0HE

The familiar faces of Henry VIII, The Beatles, JK Rowling and many more can be seen hanging out here – the progression of british history is what makes this a very popular choice for a very British art experience!

3. Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) – 12 Carlton House Terrace, The Mall SW1Y 5AH

With an exciting rotation of new exhibitions every 6 weeks and Late Night Art displays, this is definitely one to mark on your itinerary list during your London vacation.

4. Saatchi Gallery – Duke of York’s Square, Chelsea, King’s Road SW3 4SQ

Alongside emerging young artists’ work, the Saatchi Gallery offers various contemporary exhibitions as well as an oriental flavour with artwork from 30 of China’s leading artists.

5. South London Gallery – 65-67 Peckham Road SE5 8UH

With an impressive history of its roots dating back to 1868, the South London Gallery is home to the work of artsists such as Gilbert and George, Mark Quinn and Tracey Emin. With free daily tours of current artwork and family drop-in workshops held every Sunday, this is a perfect family affair for all staying in a London apartment rental.

6. National Maritime Museum – Romney Road, Greenwich SE10 9NF

Go and glimpse J.M.W Turner’s largest painting; The Battle of Trafalgar (1805) and discover what controversy surrounds his work.

7. Serpentine Gallery – Kensington Gardens, South Kensington W2 3XA

Located central to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, the beautiful surroundings add to magical atmosphere the British and international contemporary artists bring to the Serperntine gallery.

8. Barbican Art Gallery – Silk Street, City EC2 8D5

Home to exciting architectural exhibitions and the work of Turner-prize wining artists, the Barbican Art Gallery also offers thought-provoking talks and events – one for those who fancy an intellectual chit chat!

9. Victoria Miro – 16 Wharf Road, Hoxton N1 7RW

Full of more Turner-prize winning artists and large open spaces, the beauty at Victoria Miro is not to be missed on your London trip!

10. Wallace Collection – Hertford House, Marylebone, Manchester Square W1U 3 BN

Originally a family home to The Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, and said to be ‘the greatest art school in the country’ – Vivienne Westwood, the beautiful collection of French 18th century furniture, miniatures and sculptures and European paintings are well worth a visit!

 

Street Art Trail in Shoreditch

For an alternative urban art scene, why not spend a couple of hours wandering around the trendy sreets of Shoreditch soaking in the weird and wonderful sights of the street art splashed on the walls of the city. This 1.5 mile art trail begins on the famous Kingsland Road in Shoreditch and offers the perfect opportunity to see an array of artwork, from wacky to political, Banksy to Scavage – see it all! Find the hidden clues in the artwork to guide your trail and you won’t be disappointed while renting one of our London apartments.

 

London Sculptures

Wrap up warm and embrace the Great British winter weather! The striking sculptures sprinkled across London are definitely worth braving the cold for, staring at the Frieze Sculpture Park (Regent’s Park) where a range of 16 new and historical sculptures can be viewed. The fantastic works of international artists such as Richard Serra (New York) and Didier Claes (Brussels) will be displayed until the end of January 2016 so don’t miss out! If you would prefer to admire sculptures in an interior (warmer!) setting, why not visit Pangolin London instead, where an epic display shows the works of both established and emerging artists. Pangolin London also offers a Scultpure trail, if the idea of experiencing the artwork in different city locations sounds as appealing to you as it does to us!

 

Arty Farty

For those of you who’d like to get your hands dirty, why not get stuck in and create your own art! The life Drawing Society is a fantastic way to do so, and is held at various locations around the city. Or why not have a Paint Jam experience? These are pop-up art events occurring all over the city for budding artists to go wild and create their own art (with some help from the experts!).

 

Let us know if you have a favourite gallery, trail or exhibition in London, we would love to hear your comments!

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