London’s Free Galleries

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world, both to live and to visit. But the amazing thing about it is that there is so much to do there that is absolutely free, including a number of galleries.

For a start, most of the major museums and art galleries do not charge at all for entry to their permanent collections. In spite of London’s reputation for cost of living as well as materialism, there is no city in the world that offers so much amazing art, completely free of charge. Each of the galleries has its own particular character and there are so many that it’s impossible to do them all justice in a short article.

Tate Modern

The Tate Modern was created from the old Bankside power station, on the south bank of the river Thames, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral. Within the Tate, the massive Turbine Hall is a cavernous area stretching from top to bottom of the building which hosts exhibits that are particularly suited to being shown in such a large space.

Although the Turbine Hall exhibitions are temporary, they are free of charge, like the permanent collection. A couple of the stand-out shows there have been ‘Maman’ by the Canadian artist, Louise Bourgeois, consisting of a truly enormous sculpture of a spider, and the inexplicably moving ‘Weather Project’ by Olafur Eliasson. There is usually something visually stunning, or at least extremely thought-provoking, to be seen in the Turbine Hall.

The Tate’s permanent collection includes a Rothco area, entirely filled with the artist’s iconic, throbbing, window-like pictures. The gallery is devoted to international 20th and 21 st century works, and is too large to do justice to in one visit. The stunning venue, next to the lovely Millennium footbridge over the Thames, is an attraction in itself.

Imperial War Museum

For better or for worse, the United Kingdom has a very long and complicated history when it comes to war. There is a gallery/museum that covers the history of Britain, the UK, and it counties going back to the Crusades up through World War 1 and 2, the gulf war, Afghanistan and others. The free Imperial War Museum is the place to go to get some history on the UK and its wars.

The gallery contains art, exhibits, and of course military hardware. Whether a tank, gun, aircraft such as the Spitfire, or other current or historical military hardware, the Imperial War Museum allows you to access all this free of charge.

Tate Britain

Tate Britain specializes in British art and, amongst other treasures, has a great collection of Turners, which are on display free of charge. The pre-Raphaelite collection is particularly interesting, as are the Whistlers. Tate Britain is on the Thames, a mile or so down the river from the Tate Modern, the nearest tube station being Pimlico. An alternative way to get there is on the river bus, which will take you between the two Tate galleries. The river bus isn’t cheap, but it is convenient, and neither gallery charges you a penny to see some of the best-known modern art in the world.

V&A – Victoria and Albert

This gallery features a wide array of art and design. There are a number of free, rotating exhibits at the site. They have print exhibits, fashion, theater and performance, fashion, and countless other exhibits.

In general, there will be over 2 millions items, whether a painting, book arts or sculpture or countless other items, for people to view for free. The Victoria and Albert Museum is one of the leading free galleries in both London as well as the world.

National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square has a great collection of paintings and sculptures, dating from every era and every part of the world. If you are planning a visit, it’s probably best to concentrate on a few rooms or a couple of centuries, to avoid exhaustion and burn-out. It’s free, so you can always return another day.

The National Portrait Gallery, only a few yards away and round the corner, is a real treat for amateur historians. Go into the first room of the permanent collection and you will be faced with an amazing group of portraits from Tudor and Elizabethan times. The famous Holbein portrait of Henry VIII is there, dominating the room, and surrounded by portraits of his rivals, courtiers and wives. It’s a splendid sight for addicts of historical novels: you can easily imagine the people behind the portraits engaged in plotting and intrigue. Further on, you can see the many portrayals of Elizabeth I, and wonder what she really looked like. The gallery then leads you forward through the centuries until you reach the modern celebrities.

There are a host of other free art collections in London, as well as great museums like the British Museum, the Museum of London and the Imperial War Museum. What’s more, you won’t have to travel beyond Transport for London Zone 1 (the central zone) to see most of them.