An Art Lovers Guide To London In 24 Hours

Home to world-class museums and galleries, London is an art lover’s paradise, but when you only have 24 hours, where do you start?

A mini-guide to London museums

1. Tate Modern

Art Gallery, Bridge, Building, Museum

No whirlwind visit to London is complete without taking in Tate Modern. Dominating the river at Bankside, the converted power station may seem like an enormous challenge, but it is ideal for both a flyby visit or a saunter through the free permanent collections. From live art in the cavernous Tanks to temporary displays in the Blavatnik Building, this gigantic ode to international contemporary art will not disappoint. There are free tours covering different themes every day (most start at 11am). Or if you want to meander through the galleries after dark, Tate Modern is open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

2. The Wallace Collection

Museum

Behind the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street on Manchester Square is the tranquil Wallace Collection. The galleries hark back to how Hertford House (which houses the collection) would have looked in the 19th century, with impressive displays as resplendent as the Rococo-esque decor. Don’t miss Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s The Swing (1767), Medieval equestrian armour and one of the world’s most remarkable collections of Sèvres porcelain.

The unmissable arty London cafés

A mini-guide to London galleries

4. Gagosian Britannia Street

Art Gallery

GROSSE 2018 Prototypes of Imagination Installation view 4

One of the first London galleries to challenge the art museum model, Gagosian Britannia Street opened in 2004 in the middle of the King’s Cross development. The former garage was transformed into 1,400 square metres (15,069 square feet) of naturally lit gallery space by architects Caruso St John, who also designed The New Art Gallery in Walsall. The three interconnecting spaces lend themselves perfectly for ambitious exhibition projects by gallery artists, so expect to see immersive painting installations by Katharina Grosse or be dwarfed by Richard Serra’s monumental steel works.

5. Sadie Coles HQ

Art Gallery

The gallery has come along way since its days of being tucked down Heddon Street in the late ’90s. Now situated in the foodie hub of Kingly Street, Sadie Coles hasn’t lost her knack of pinpointing the next art star and regularly mixes up her exhibition programme of firm stalwarts, including Polish painter Wilhelm Sasnal and New York-based sculptor Urs Fischer, with young blood like multimedia American artist Martine Syms.

Take a street-art tour

Discover the street-art-laden East End of London, with a walking tour that takes in some of the area’s most famous art. Shoreditch Street Art Tours is one of the best as the company keeps up to date with the freshest work in the area. The tour operator will also teach you about the history of Shoreditch through its contemporary artists.

Dine at these arty restaurants

6. Marksman

Pub, Restaurant, British

Named Michelin Pub of the Year in 2017, the Marksman was given both a culinary and interiors revamp by chefs Tom Harris and Jon Rotheram in 2015. The duo, with their acclaimed experience at St John and Fifteen respectively, has created a simple yet innovative menu that includes the delectable beef and barley buns served with horseradish. Make sure to check out the Martino Gamper-designed dining room upstairs, where the restaurant hosts regular cookbook dinners with guest chefs.

7. Andrew Edmunds

Restaurant, European

Have a dining experience as if Francis Bacon still strutted around Soho at this charming bistro-esque haunt. Since 1986, the restaurant, which is spread over two floors of an 18th-century townhouse, has been serving up traditional dishes like roast grouse with bread sauce, and pear and sherry trifle. Booking is essential. If you have time, peruse Andrew Edmunds Prints & Drawings next door, which specialises in English and French 18th- to 19th-century satirical and unusual works.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.