Recommendations

London's blockbuster exhibitions open now

Jill Posener, Fiat Ad, London, 1979, reprinted 2023.

Planning a cultural day out in the capital? From Tate Britain's celebration of feminist art to Dulwich Picture Gallery's major Rubens show, don't miss the biggest exhibitions in London.

London is home to one of the most vibrant art scenes in the world. Whether you're interested in major international artists, world history or the bright new stars of visual art, there's something on offer for every cultural appetite.

From visitor favourites such as Tate and the V&A to neighbourhood gems like Dulwich Picture Gallery, a rolling programme of must-see exhibitions runs throughout the year.

Here's our guide to some of the biggest blockbuster exhibitions in London right now.


Don't forget to pack your National Art Pass to get reduced-price entry at every venue, and check out our full listings for more upcoming exhibitions.

Discover some of the best exhibitions in London with a National Art Pass

01
Marian Elliott-Said (A.K.A Poly Styrene), Germ Free Adolenscents, 1977.

Women in Revolt!

Over 100 feminist artists working in the UK go on display in this landmark exhibition, highlighting their radical ideas, rebellious methods, and significant contributions to British culture and the women's liberation movement.

02
Frank Walter, Plantation Fields and Workers

Frank Walter: Artist, Gardener, Radical

Be transported to Frank Walter's stunning studio in coastal Antigua in this major exhibition of his landscape paintings and sculptures, and a newly-commissioned immersive set by award-winning designer Jeremy Herbert.

03
Sylvanian Families group. Group includes Frog Father, Frog Mother, Mouse Mother, Panda Boy and Rabbit Family Figure. Scene also includes Tent, backpack and Camp Fire.
Sylvanian Families group. Frog Father, Frog Mother, Mouse Mother, Panda Boy and Rabbit Family Figure, Tent, backpack and Camp Fire

Japan: Myths to Manga

Both kids and adults alike can take an atmospheric trip through Japan to discover how its rich landscapes and folklore have informed Japanese culture and technology, including movies, manga, and video games.

04
Peter Paul Rubens, Diana Returning from the Hunt, c. 1615

Rubens & Women

See the powerful women who inspired and painted by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens in this major exhibition, uniting over 40 of his paintings and drawings to examine the important place women (both real and imagined) occupied in his world.

05
Kanagawa, 1967. From A Hunter.

Daido Moriyama: A Retrospective

Grainy black and white photographs capturing the streets of Japan go on display in this major retrospective of pioneering Japanese artist, Daido Moriyama, whose unique aesthetic captures the essence of urban life to interrogate how we see the world.

06
Christian Hosoi, Christ Air Mesa AZ, 1987.

Skateboard

Deep dive into the history of the skateboard, from its humble beginnings in 1950 to the technological advancements of today, in the first UK exhibition dedicated to the evolution of its design and the communities that formed around it.

07
Hals Frans, l'Ancien (1581/1585-1666). Paris, musée du Louvre. RF1984-32.
Frans Hals, The Lute Player, about 1623

Frans Hals

Witness masterpieces by one of the most sought-after 17th-century Dutch artists, whose portraits still breathe with life 400 years after they were painted. His technical painting skills coupled with his relaxed and animated presentation of his sitters revolutionised the genre.

08
Philip Guston, Flatlands , 1970, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco, USA)

Philip Guston

The anxious and turbulent 20th-century is captured by one of the most captivating painters of the time in this blockbuster retrospective of Philip Guston, who bridges the personal and political, the abstract and the figurative, and the humorous and the tragic.

09
Sarah Lucas, Bunny 1997.

Sarah Lucas: Happy Gas

Discover how YBA Sarah Lucas uses everyday objects to blend the familiar with the funny and explore the human condition to challenge how we understand sex, class and gender in this retrospective exhibition examining her 40-year career.

10
Ada M. Patterson, Looking for "Looking for Langston", 2021

RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology

Travel across the world in this major group exhibition to discover how women and gender non-conforming artists are exploring the relationship between gender and ecology through photography and film.

11
Gray Wielebinski, The Red Sun is High, the Blue Low, 2023. Installation rendering, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, featuring altered images of video stills from Querelle, dir. Rainer Werner Fassbinder, 1982.

Gray Wielebinski: The Red Sun is High, the Blue Low

Gray Wielebinski transforms the ICA into an immersive investigation of constructed worlds, drawing inspiration from sci-fi, Cold War legacies, and games. The exhibition explores themes of surveillance, community, and hope in the wake of a pandemic and terminal capitalism.

12
The Missing Thread at Somerset House, 21 September - 7 January 2024

The Missing Thread: Untold Stories of Black British Fashion

Explores the untold stories of Black British fashion from the 1970s to the present day, celebrating the unique visions and impact of the creatives who have shifted Britain's design landscape.

13
DIVA at V&A, until 7 April 2024

DIVA

Be dazzled by the iconic divas and their spectacular outfits in this star-studded show, who will prove that diva, in fact, is a female version of a hustler.

14
Andrea Soldi, Portrait of Isabella, Duchess of Manchester, 1738

The Mother & The Weaver

The complexities of motherhood, childhood, sexuality and identity are interrogated in this landmark exhibition of over 40 works by women artists, including Louise Bourgeois, Marlene Dumas, and Pipilotti Rist.

15
François-Xavier Gbré, Untitled, 2013.

A World in Common: Contemporary African Photography

Journey across the varied landscapes, borders and time zones of Africa in this expansive exhibition to uncover the continent's diverse cultures and how photography can transcend time by bridging the past and the future in powerful ways.

IndividualTiana Clarke Please note this is an example card and not a reflection of the final product

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