As we find ourselves at the start of the year, many of us are trying to hold onto our resolutions for 2025 – and I for one am on a mission to visit many more of London’s top galleries and museums. And thanks to such institutions as the Tate Britain, the Tate Modern, Somerset House, the V&A, and the National Gallery, there are tons of exhibitions to check out. So, here for your viewing pleasure, we’ve rounded up the best current and upcoming art exhibitions in London.
These art exhibitions encompass everything from classic works to cutting-edge modern pieces, all offering something unique for the curious. Keep in mind that many will require a ticket, and the prices quoted below are generally for advance adult tickets. On-the-day, walk-up tickets will sometimes be a few pounds more, while students and other concessionary fares may be slightly less. But they’re not all paid! There are a few free art exhibitions for the perennially broke among us (like me!) – winner, winner!
1. Leigh Bowery! at the Tate Modern (Until September 2, 2025)
Prepare for a riot of colour, chaos, and creativity, as the Tate Modern brings this ground-breaking Leigh Bowery exhibition to London this February. This unmissable tribute to the iconic performance artist will celebrate Bowery’s larger-than-life legacy–from his dazzling fashions to provocative stage acts. Known as a muse to Lucian Freud and a trailblazer in drag and club kid culture, Bowery’s work is unapologetically bold and utterly captivating. If you love the avant-garde, this is your moment to bask in the brilliance of an artist who refused to conform.
📍Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Southwark.
🎟️Price from £18. More info here.
2. Noah Davis at The Barbican (Until May 11, 2025)
The Noah Davis exhibition at the Barbican, is the UK’s first institutional survey of the late American artist’s work. This major exhibition brings together over 50 pieces spanning painting, sculpture, and works on paper, offering a comprehensive overview of Davis’s extraordinary practice from 2007 until his untimely death in 2015.
The show explores Davis’s relentless creativity, featuring his figurative paintings that delve into the emotional and fantastical textures of everyday life, particularly focusing on representing the people around him. Visitors can expect to see a chronological presentation of Davis’s work, including previously unseen paintings, works on paper, and sculpture, with special attention given to his art historical and conceptual approaches.
📍 Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS.
🚇 Nearest station is Barbican
🎟️ From £18. More information here.
3. The Face Magazine: Culture Shift at the National Portrait Gallery (Until May 18, 2025)
The Face Magazine: Culture Shift is an upcoming exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery that celebrates the influential fashion images and portraits from The Face, a pioneering magazine that significantly shaped youth culture and style from 1980 to 2004. Known for its role in defining contemporary culture, The Face featured musicians who achieved global fame and models like Kate Moss, while also launching the careers of prominent photographers and stylists who transformed fashion photography.
This exhibition will showcase over 200 prints from more than 80 photographers, including Sheila Rock and Corinne Day, many of which have never been displayed outside the magazine. It will explore The Face’s impact on the cultural landscape of Britain and beyond throughout the 1980s to 2000s, as well as its continued relevance following its relaunch in 2019, which maintains its commitment to fostering new talent in photography, fashion, music, and graphic design.
📍St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE.
🚇 Nearest station is Leicester Square.
🎟️ From £23. More information here.
4. Flowers: Flora In Contemporary Art & Culture at Saatchi Gallery (Until May 5, 2025)
The Saatchi Gallery is hosting “Flowers: Flora In Contemporary Art & Culture,” an exhibition exploring the enduring influence of flowers on creativity and human expression. Occupying two floors, the exhibition features large-scale installations, art, photography, and fashion, delving into the beauty and symbolism of flowers.
Highlights include Rebecca Louise Law’s “La Fleur Morte,” an installation of over 100,000 dried flowers, and a virtual garden by Miguel Chevalie that interacts with visitors through movement. The exhibition also traces the history of floral representation in art, from Renaissance paintings to contemporary pieces.
📍Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, London SW3 4RY
🚇 The nearest stations is Sloane Square.
🎟️ £2o. More info here.
5. New Contemporaries at ICA (Until March 23, 2025)
The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is hosting “New Contemporaries,” an annual exhibition marking its 75th year, showcasing emerging and early-career UK-based artists. This edition features 35 artists selected through an open call by Liz Johnson Artur, Permindar Kaur, and Amalia Pica.
The exhibition offers an overview of current concerns and social realities from this generation, exploring themes such as the natural world, sustainability, boundaries, and the impact of digital acceleration. Expect a range of perspectives and practices that are both jarring and exciting.
📍 ICA, The Mall, London SW1Y 5AH5
🚇The nearest station is Charing Cross.
🎟️ Free.
6. Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism at the Royal Academy of Arts (Until April 21, 2025)
“Brasil! Brasil! The Birth of Modernism” is a landmark exhibition currently on display at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. This showcase features over 130 works by ten important Brazilian artists, spanning from the late 1910s to the 1970s. The exhibition captures the diversity and vibrancy of Brazilian modernist art, showcasing how artists adapted contemporary trends, international influences, and artistic traditions to create a unique form of modern art that reflected Brazil’s rich cultural identity. Key themes explored in the artworks include everyday life in Brazil, Indigenous identity, and Afro-Brazilian experiences.
📍Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD.
🚇 The nearest stations is Piccadilly Circus.
🎟️ £23.50. More info here.
7. SOIL: The World at Our Feet at Somerset House (Until April 13, 2025)
Somerset House is marking its 25th anniversary as a cultural hub with the exhibition SOIL: The World at Our Feet, which invites visitors to reflect on the often-overlooked soil beneath their feet and its vital connection to life on Earth. This landmark exhibition explores themes such as climate change, waste, land justice, and the beauty of soil through the works of artists, filmmakers, and scientists.
Featuring over 50 pieces, including dazzling microscopic photography and immersive installations that showcase sounds made by soil organisms, SOIL aims to educate and inspire change regarding the fragility and importance of this essential ecosystem.
📍Strand, London WC2R 1LA.
🚇 Nearest station is Temple.
🎟️ From £18.50. More information here.
8. Mike Kelley: Ghost and Spirit at the Tate Modern (Until March 9, 2025)
Mike Kelley: Ghost and Spirit showcases the diverse and provocative work of American artist Mike Kelley, spanning his entire career from the late 1970s to 2012.
The exhibition features Kelley’s groundbreaking ‘craft’ sculptures made from textile and plush toys, as well as his multimedia installations like “Day Is Done.” Visitors can explore Kelley’s elaborate and imaginary worlds, which draw inspiration from popular culture, underground scenes, literature, and philosophy. His work delves into themes of identity, memory, and societal roles, challenging viewers to reconsider how historical facts and fictional characters from media shape our experiences.
📍Bankside, London SE1 9TG2
🚇 Nearest station is London Blackfriars.
🎟️ From £18. More information here.
9. Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos at Autograph (Until March 22, 2025)
Abi Morocco Photos: Spirit of Lagos is a captivating exhibition showcasing the remarkable story of Abi Morocco Photos, one of Lagos’ most vibrant photographic studios operated by husband-and-wife duo John Abe and Funmilayo Abe from the 1970s to 2006. The exhibition focuses on the studio’s formative decade—the 1970s—featuring stunning black-and-white portraits that celebrate the rich style and joyous spirit of Lagosians during a transformative period in Nigeria’s history. Visitors can explore a variety of photographic styles, from formal studio portraits to commissioned photos at home and moments of celebration, capturing the essence of Lagos life during the country’s economic boom.
📍Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA5
🚇 Nearest station is Shoreditch High Street.
🎟️ Free. More information here.
10. The 80s: Photographing Britain at Tate Britain (Until May 5, 2025)
Get ready to take a trip back in time through a camera lens, thanks to Tate Britain’s dynamic exhibition, The 80s: Photographing Britain. This eagerly anticipated showcase dives deep into the transformative era of the 1980s, capturing the spirit, struggles, and stories of a nation through the lenses of some of the decade’s most influential photographers, as well as some lesser-known gems.
📍The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG.
🚇 The nearest stations are High Street Kensington and Kensington (Olympia).
🎟️ More info here.
11. Electric Dreams: Art & Tech Before The Internet at the Tate Modern (Until June 1, 2025)
This exhibition takes you back to the pre-internet age, when foundational digital art was paving the way for some of today’s most renowned and celebrated artists. <i”>Electric Dreams: Art & Technology Before The Internet is a must-see exhibition that dives deep into the intertwining worlds of tech and art. It features immersive installations, gripping video pieces, machine-made art, and more, stretching from the 1950s to more recent times.
📍Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Southwark.
🎟️Price from £18. More info here.
12. Drawing The Italian Renaissance, at The King’s Gallery (Until March 9, 2025)
Travel back to the golden age of Italian artistry with Drawing the Italian Renaissance, an exhibition that brings you face-to-face with the genius of da Vinci, Michelangelo, and beyond. This isn’t just a collection of some of the most significant names from art history; it’s an insightful showcase of the brilliant minds of the Renaissance masters.
Study their delicate sketches and see the foundational works of some of their most famous pieces. You can even sketch some art out for yourself, with an inclusive drawing station to boot. For more information on this must-visit exhibition, head here to read our article.
📍The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA.
🚇 Nearest stations are Victoria and Green Park.
🎟️ Price from £19. Get your tickets to the King’s Gallery here.
13. Versailles: Science and Splendour at the Science Museum (Until April 21, 2025)
Science and history collide at the Science Museum’s latest exhibition, which explores the intertwined worlds of science and splendour at Versailles. Versailles: Science and Splendour dives into the history of the famed palace to explore its inner workings during the 17th and 18th century as a palace so lavish that it was quite literally scientifically groundbreaking. Expect to see everything from a detailed lunar map of the moon by Jean-Dominique Cassini to Louis XV’s rhinoceros, and the world’s most famous watch, designed exclusively for Marie Antoinette.
📍 Exhibition Road, South Kensington, SW7 2DD.
🚇 The nearest station is South Kensington.
🎟️ Price from £12. More info here.
14. The Great Mughals: Art, Architecture and Opulence at The V&A (Until May 5, 2025)
We have another awesome exhibition from the V&A, but this time we’re delving into the allusive yet opulent world of the Mughal Court, South Asia’s empire from the early modern period, or as we know it, the Middle Ages. This fascinating art exhibition takes you on a memorable journey back in time through the Golden Ages of this empire, specifically during the reigns of its most famous emperors: Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Expect profound portraiture and paintings, incredible artistic output, and beyond.
📍 Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL.
🚇 Nearest station is South Kensington.
🎟️ Price is £22. More info here.
15. Parmigianino: The Vision of Saint Jerome at the National Gallery (Until March 9, 2025)
This National Gallery exhibition presents ‘The Vision of Saint Jerome’ alongside other works by the renowned artist Parmigianino. The pieces on display showcase the Renaissance artist’s mastery of mannerisms and fascination with grace, movement, and other subtle quirks. Best of all, visitors can enjoy this rare slice of art history free of charge so don’t miss out!
📍 National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, WC2N 5DN.
🚇 The nearest station is Charing Cross.
🎟️ More info here.
16. The World Of Tim Burton at the Design Museum (Until April 21, 2025)
An exhibition that gives fans an insight into the magically whimsical mind of treasured film director Tim Burton has landed in London. Whether you’ve been a fan of his work since Edward Scissorhands or Batman or came in fresh on the success of Netflix smash Wednesday, there’s something for all to be bowled over by at this exhibition, which is making its last stop here in London after a decade-long tour. With illustrations, paintings, and notes, you’ll be able to see beyond his work on the screen and gain a view into the artistic process of Tim Burton.
📍The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG.
🚇 The nearest stations are High Street Kensington and Kensington (Olympia).
🎟️ More info here.
17. Mantegna: The Triumphs of Caesar at The National Gallery (Until 2026)
Considered to be among the finest achievements in Italian Renaissance art, a total of nine exquisite canvases were painted by legendary artist Andrea Mantegna in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. For the first time, six of them have left their Royal palace abode, the UNESCO-listed Hampton Court, while the Mantegna Gallery is under renovations. This means you can now see them in zone one, in none other than the National Gallery we might add, for free! Win, win.
📍 The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN.
🚇 Nearest station is Charing Cross.
🎟️ Free! More info here.
18. Vogue: Inventing the Runway at Lightroom (Until April 26, 2025)
Vogue: Inventing the Runway is a new immersive exhibition that’s arrived at Lightroom in King’s Cross. Vogue: Inventing the Runway takes a deep dive into the history of the runway show. From the intimate couture salons of the early 20th century all the way through to the unforgettable large-scale events of the present; the exhibition will transport viewers through locations and eras utilising Vogue’s extensive archives which date back to its very first publication in 1892.
📍 Lightroom, 12, Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4DY.
🚇 The nearest station is King’s Cross St. Pancras.
🎟️ More info here.
19. Naomi In Fashion at The V&A (Until April 6, 2025)
As a household name, Naomi Campbell likely needs little introduction, but an entire career retrospective is sure to have crowds flocking to learn more about the fashion model’s fascinating story. In a spectacle that spans the trailblazing 40-year career of Naomi Campbell, visitors will be able to discover details from all through her career. Learn how the Streatham-born model was scouted in Covent Garden aged just 15. Marvel at her becoming the first black model to appear on the cover of Paris Vogue – aged 18 – in 1988. And dive deep into her activism and championing of creatives that ‘transcend traditional parameters of the fashion catwalk model role’ today. Visitors can clap their eyes with outfits from the era-travelling wardrobe of Naomi Campbell, including over 100 looks in the collection.
📍 Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL.
🚇 Nearest stations are South Kensington.
🎟️ Price from £18. More info here.
20. Solid Light at the Tate Modern (Until April 27, 2025)
The art line-up at the Tate Modern is looking brighter than ever, with a radiant exhibition celebrating the renowned artist Anthony McCall currently on display at the beloved gallery. The exhibit features multiple light installations, with McCall famed for his unmatched innovation and pioneering stance on cinema, light, and installation art.
📍 Tate Modern, Bankside, SE1 9TG.
🚇 Nearest stations are Blackfriars and Southwark.
🎟️ Price from £14. More info here.
21. Cartier at The V&A (Opens April 12, 2025)
For lovers of luxury and craftsmanship, the V&A’s upcoming Cartier exhibition is set to be a showcase of pure indulgence. This dazzling exhibit celebrates the beloved jewellery brand, tracing the Maison’s history through its most iconic designs and pieces. From glittering tiaras worn by royalty to priceless pieces from their collection, each jewel tells a story of innovation and opulence.
📍 Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL.
🚇 Nearest stations are South Kensington.
🎟️ More info here.
22. Ed Atkins at Tate Britain (Opens April 2, 2025, and runs until September 2025)
A fabulous exhibition spotlighting one of Britain’s most beloved contemporary artists is on its way to the Tate Britain. Ed Atkins is known for his hyper-realistic digital animations, which blur the lines between reality, artifice, and surrealism. This upcoming exhibit will put his ground-breaking works on display, creating an emotionally charged experience that is bound to feel intimate knowing Atkins’ work, delving into themes of identity and human connection.
📍 Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG, UK
🚇 Nearest stations are Pimlico and Vauxhall.
🎟️ Prices to be confirmed. More info here.
23. Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs at Lightroom (Opens summer, 2025)
Enormous four-storey tall dinosaurs are coming to London next summer when ‘Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs’ opens at Lightroom. Drawing from Apple TV+’s Emmy Award-nominated series ‘Prehistoric Planet’ alongside all-new visualisations, the immersive experience will also use an original score by multiple Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer, Anže Rozman, and Kara Talve for Bleeding Fingers Music. Visitors to Lightroom will be able to marvel at enormous prehistoric dinos all around the natural world to, from “dangerous deserts [to] soaring skies and the deep sea.”
📍 Lightroom, 12, Lewis Cubitt Square, N1C 4DY.
🚇 The nearest station is King’s Cross St. Pancras.
🎟️ More info here.
24. Peter Mitchell: Nothing Lasts Forever at The Photographer’s Gallery (Opens March 7, 2025)
Peter Mitchell, born in 1943 in the UK, is renowned as a pioneering figure in early colour photography of the 20th century. His work, characterised by its storytelling prowess and social historical significance, has captured the essence of Leeds for over four decades. Mitchell’s photographs eloquently chronicle the city’s evolving landscape and its inhabitants, offering a warm and intimate portrayal of his adopted hometown.
His unique perspective, developed while working as a truck driver in the 1970s and 80s, allowed him to document the layers of urban and social history in Leeds with a distinctive graphic framing. Mitchell’s enduring commitment to photographing Leeds, even as it undergoes rapid changes, cements his reputation as a vital chronicler of the city’s past and present. The exhibition will include rarely seen works from Mitchell’s own collection.
📍16-18 Ramillies Street, London W1F7LW.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Circus.
🎟️ More information here.
25. Delusions of Grandeur by Grayson Perry at the Wallace Collection (Opens March 28, 2025)
Sir Grayson Perry, one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, is set to host a major exhibition titled “Delusions of Grandeur” at the Wallace Collection in London. Opening on March 28, 2025, to coincide with Perry’s 65th birthday, the exhibition will feature 40 brand new and never-before-seen works by the artist.
The exhibition will showcase Perry’s pieces alongside some of the Wallace Collection’s most notable objects, exploring themes such as the creation of domestic space, gendering of decoration, and the contrast between perceived perfection and authenticity. This juxtaposition reflects Perry’s early inspiration from the Wallace Collection’s contrasting depictions of 18th century French Rococo femininity and the masculinity of arms and armour.
“Delusions of Grandeur” is anticipated to be one of the largest contemporary art exhibitions ever held at the Wallace Collection, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience Perry’s bold and thought-provoking art in a historic setting!
📍Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, W1U 3BN.
🚇 Nearest station is Bond Street.
🎟️ From £15. More information here.
So there you have it – a rundown of some of the best art exhibitions in London for 2025. What are you waiting for, culture vultures? Get out there and explore!