What’s On In London’s Museums And Galleries

This page lists current events and special exhibitions at major museums and galleries throughout London. Smaller venues are catered for elsewhere on our site.

Museums

British Library

Free entry to the main building, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

British Museum

Late opening till 8.30pm every Friday. Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

Horniman Museum

Free entry to the main galleries.

  • Amazon Adventure (hands-on family exhibition discovering the Amazon). Ends 24 November 2013, £6/£3
  • Rainforest of the Sea (photographic exhibition by Jamie Craggs of life within South East Asia’s coral triangle). Ends 15 September 2013, FREE
  • The Art of Harmony (explores instruments and traditions of Western classical music). Ends 1 March 2014, FREE

Imperial War Museum London

Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

Note: The museum will be closed for a major refit from 2 January 2013 till partial reopening in June 2013, and full reopening in June 2014.

London Transport Museum

£15 entrance fee, £11.50 concessions, children under 16 are free. Ticket lasts for a year, and gets you into special exhibitions.

Museum of London

Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

Museum of London Docklands

Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

  • Many East Ends (exploring the identity of the eastern city). No given end date, FREE
  • Take Another Look (display depicting London’s people of African descent). Ends 14 August 2013, FREE 
  • Estuary (London’s relationship with the estuarine Thames). Ends 27 October 2013, FREE

Natural History Museum

Late opening till 10.30pm on the last Friday of every month, except December. Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

National Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

  • Alien Revolution (exhibition looking at the history of our relationship with extra-terrestrial life through science and culture). Ends 8 September 2013, FREE. Londonist review
  • The Garden of England (exhibition looking at the Queens and courtiers involved with the Queen’s House). Ends 18 August 2013, FREE
  • (Coming soon) Visions of the Universe (over 100 images of space and the cosmos). Starts 7 June 2013, ends 15 September 2013, £8/£7

Science Museum

Late opening till 10pm on the last Wednesday of every month. Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

V&A

Late opening till 10pm the last Friday of every month (except December). Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

Wellcome Collection

Late opening till 10pm every Thursday night. Free entry to the main galleries.


View Major Museums and Galleries in a larger map

Galleries

The Barbican

An arts complex containing cinemas, galleries and performance spaces. Free entry to many areas, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

National Gallery

Open late till 9pm every Friday. Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

National Portrait Gallery

Opens late till 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

Royal Academy

Open late till 10pm every Friday. Some shows can be accessed with the general £3 entrance fee, but some exhibitions involve a higher charge.

Tate Britain

Open late till 10pm on Fridays. Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee.

Tate Modern

Late opening till 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Free entry to the main galleries, but some exhibitions charge an entrance fee