Whether it’s travel destinations to tick off your bucket list, restaurant recommendations you’re desperate to try or exhibitions you can’t wait to visit, London life seems to present new and exciting opportunities every day. If only there were something that could help us maximise as many of them as possible without blowing our budget…
With the National Art Pass membership, you can get free and reduced-priced entry to hundreds of exhibitions, museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, as well as 50% off major exhibitions including Tate, the V&A, Barbican Gallery, The Design Museum, and many more. So you can gallery hop ‘til you drop! Keep reading for a taste of which fantastic exhibitions are included with membership right now…
1. DIVA (V&A)
From Marilyn Monroe to Grace Kelly to Cher and Lizzo, DIVA explores and redefines this archetype through the celebration of iconic performers and figures throughout opera, stage, music, and film. Exhibition highlights include archival footage of Whitney Houston performing at Wembley Arena in the 80s, Elton John’s 50th birthday look, photographs of Billie Holiday’s only London performance at The Royal Albert Hall and so much more.
Tickets: from £10.00 with the National Art Pass
Ends: April 10 2024
2. Wildlife Photographer of the Year (Natural History Museum)
Every year we tell ourselves the entries for this highly prestigious competition could not possibly be topped. And yet, year after year, the standards continue to climb. Using highly technical, masterful photography to document the astounding beauty of the natural world, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition tells an important story of our planet under pressure.
Tickets: £7.50 with the National Art Pass
Ends: June 30 2024
3. The Time is Always Now: Artists Reframe the Black Figure (National Portrait Gallery)
Featuring artwork from leading artists such as Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Michael Armitage, Jordan Casteel and Hurvin Anderson, The Time is Always Now is a celebration of the complexity and richness of Black life. Throughout this thought-provoking exhibition, visitors can gain a greater understanding of the representation of the Black figure in contemporary art, as well as its omission from it.
Tickets: £8 with the National Art Pass
Ends: May 19 2024
4. The Moonwalkers: A Journey with Tom Hanks (The Lightroom)
Co-written by Tom Hanks and double BAFTA nominated director Christopher Riley, this immersive experience combines fantastic storytelling and audio technology to create something truly extraordinary. Through exclusive interviews and powerful projections, you’ll be taken on a journey through the Apollo missions, narrated by Hanks himself.
Tickets: from £12.50 with the National Art Pass
Ends: June 9 2024
5. Sargent and Fashion (Tate Britain)
Arguably more of an overall creative director than just a painter, John Singer Sargent’s portraits reflect his ability to bring an artistic vision to life with his daring sartorial choices. The fact that his subjects were often close acquaintances only aided him in distilling their essence into something that could be reflected on the canvas. Alongside almost 60 of his paintings, the exhibition also shows a selection of period garments showcased alongside the pieces they were worn in.
Tickets: from £11.00 with the National Art Pass
Ends: July 7 2024
6. Barbie: The Exhibition (Design Museum)
It may not be opening until July this year, but we’d put money on tickets to Barbie: The Exhibition absolutely flying off the shelf when they’re released. Coinciding with the brand’s 65th anniversary, this exhibition will take you through the design evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls, encompassing everything from her iconic fashion and home architecture to her cars. You’ll even see rare items from the extensive Barbie archives, all the way from California! This Barbie signs up to the newsletter to be the first to know when tickets go on sale…
Tickets: £7.19 with National Art Pass
Run: July 5 2024 – February 23 2025