Love art, but struggle to find time to visit London's top-notch galleries? If you work a nine-to-five, it can be tough. Most museums are closed by the time you're done for the day, and on weekends they're packed. Here, we've picked out some regular late-night openings (until at least 7pm) at some of London's most popular galleries.
We're not talking about special 'museum lates' events; just regular evening openings which happen every week (or so) without any fanfare. No live DJs, music or special talks. Just you and the art, after hours.
London galleries open late on Tuesday nights
Evenings at the ICA (Tuesday-Sunday, until 11pm)
The Institute of Contemporary Arts — or ICA — opens 12pm-11pm Tuesday-Sunday. Though exhibitions close at 9pm, this still gives you a few hours after work to view whatever's on at the moment. It's a home for art in all its forms, from visual works to film music and performance, all of which contribute to its packed calendar of events, many of which take place in the evenings.
Even once the exhibitions close, the bar and book shop stay open until 11pm, so you can make a full night of it.
The ICA, ticket prices vary between exhibitions, until 11pm Tuesday-Sunday.
London galleries open late on Wednesday nights
Late opening at South London Gallery (until 9pm)
Located on the Peckham/Camberwell border, South London Gallery actually consists of two galleries, albeit in very close proximity. The main building is in a gallery space dating back to the 1890s, while the newer annexe took over a former fire station building next to Peckham's current fire station.
Both stay open late on Wednesdays, offering evening access to the current exhibitions. Focus is very much on contemporary art, with exhibitions changing every few weeks throughout the year, and local artists celebrated first and foremost.
South London Gallery, free entry, until 9pm every Wednesday.
London galleries open late on Thursday nights
Late opening at Wellcome Collection (until 8pm)
Bridging the gap between art and science, Wellcome Collection has, in recent years, hosted some of our favourite London exhibitions. Its process is taking a topic (teeth, milk, electricity, the experiences of partially-sighted people...) and exploring it from an historic, cultural, social and political point of view, using a combo of real-life artefacts and artworks.
Wellcome Collection also has a permanent collection, including the Being Human exhibition, featuring 50 artworks and objects looking at what it means to be human in the 21st century. The cafe, shop, reading room and library stay open until 8pm on Thursdays in addition to the exhibition spaces.
Wellcome Collection, free entry, until 8pm every Thursday.
Late opening at Whitechapel Gallery (until 9pm)
Every season, Whitechapel Gallery hosts several free displays and one ticketed exhibition across its nine spaces, often shining the spotlight on migrant artists from around the world who have made their home in the East End, as well as under-represented artists, especially women and people of colour, who create artworks focusing on current sociopolitical concerns.
Top tip: the gallery is open late every Thursday, when access to all displays, including current paid exhibitions, is free. Whitechapel Gallery also takes part in First Thursdays, also free, when several local galleries and studios stay open late on the first Thursday of each month offering exhibitions, talks, book launches and live music.
Whitechapel Gallery, entry to all exhibitions is free 6pm-9pm every Thursday.
London galleries open late on Friday nights
Late nights at the National Gallery (until 9pm)
London's most central gallery is also one of its most popular: during the day, particularly in the summer tourist season, it's not uncommon to see people queuing out into Trafalgar Square, waiting their turn to ogle works by the esteemed likes of Van Gogh, Rubens, Rembrandt and Gainsborough.
Instead, swing by on a Friday night, when the collection of more than 1,000 paintings is open until 9pm, the school trips have scrambled back into their coaches, and the tourists have decamped to the bright lights of a night in Leicester Square.
The Gallery's cafes and restaurants stay open late on a Friday night too — some even later than the Gallery itself, so you could view the art, then have a late dinner at European gallery Ochre or modern Italian restaurant Locatelli.
National Gallery, general admission free (charge for some special exhibitions), until 9pm on Fridays. Booking a (free) ticket in advance is recommended.
National Portrait Gallery late openings (Friday and Saturday, until 9pm)
Right next door, the National Portrait Gallery also stays open late on Friday nights, and Saturdays. The 9pm closure gives you extra time to peruse the likenesses of well-known figures such as Queen Elizabeth I, Mary Seacole and Winston Churchill, with portraits dating from the 8th century to the present day, across a whole range of mediums.
Down in the vaults, restaurant and bar Larry's stays open until midnight.
National Portrait Gallery, general admission free (charge for some special exhibitions), until 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Friday late opening at The Royal Academy (until 9pm)
You've got until 9pm to explore Mayfair's Royal Academy each Friday evening, which is great all year, but it's a hack that really comes into its own June through until August, when the incredibly popular annual Summer Exhibition runs. We won't pretend you'll have the place to yourself on a Friday night, but from our experience, the evening openings tend to be slightly less busy than at the weekend. Both José Pizarro restaurant and Poster Bar by José stay open until 9pm on Fridays.
Aside from the Summer Exhibition, the RA has a rota of free and paid exhibitions throughout the year. Never been before? Start at the Collection Gallery (on the first floor) for a quick overview of the RA's highlights, with works ranging from a 16th-century copy of Leonardo's Last Supper through to more recent works by Tracey Emin and contemporary Royal Academicians.
The Royal Academy, general admission free (charge for special exhibitions, including the Summer Exhibition), until 9pm on Fridays.
Friday nights at the Photographer's Gallery
One of our favourite London hacks is Friday nights at the Photographer's Gallery near Oxford Circus. On Thursdays and Fridays, it's open until 8pm, giving you a chance to explore the camera work after hours, but even better, on Fridays, entry is free after 4pm. That gives you four hours to view exhibitions which would cost you a tenner the rest of the week. The onsite cafe bar remains open until 8pm these days too. And after that? Well, you're in Oxford Circus: plenty of options for post-culture food and drink.
The Photographer's Gallery, £10/free, until 8pm every Thursday and Friday.
Evenings at God's Own Junkyard
Light up your evening — quite literally — at neon warehouse/gallery God's Own Junkyard. It's hard to know where to look, as you wander through the space surrounded by a visual cacophony of neon signs spanning words, iconography and other images. It won't take you more than half an hour to look around the whole place, and you're right opposite a collection of bars and taprooms including Pillars Brewery if you want to make a night of it. Always worth checking the GOJ website before you visit, as it often closes for private hire.
God's Own Junkyard, free entry, until 10pm Friday and Saturday.
London galleries open late on Saturday nights
Late opening at Hayward Gallery at Southbank Centre (until 8pm)
Southbank Centre's brutalist art paradise Hayward Gallery stays open slightly later on Saturday evenings, offering access to its current exhibition(s) once the daytime crowds have largely left. Focus here tends to be on contemporary art, with Carsten Höller and Ai Weiwei among those who've exhibited in the past, with Gilbert & George upcoming in autumn 2025.
Hayward Gallery, prices depend on current exhibition, until 8pm every Saturday.
National Portrait Gallery: see 'Friday' above, until 9pm.
God's Own Junkyard: see 'Friday' above, until 10pm
See also:
Outernet: Part gallery, part immersive experience, part giant advertising board, Outernet by Tottenham Court Station is free to visit, and stays open until midnight some days. Exact times vary depending on day and what's on at the moment, so check before you go, but you could find yourself watching AR butterflies in the mysterious cloud forests of Peru, deep space videos from NASA, or aerial footage from Hawaii.
