1. Visit the Saatchi Gallery
The Saatchi Gallery was established by Charles Saatchi in 1985. It is well-known for controversial contemporary pieces of art and displays of work by relatively unknown artists. In 1992 it held the Young British Artists shows, where Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin rose to fame. Its current site is at the Duke of York’s Headquarters where it has been since 2008.
Duke of Yorks’s Building, Kings Road SW3 4SQ (South Kensington/Sloane Square underground)
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk
2. Spend the evening at Tate Britain (open until 22.00 every Friday)
Tate Britain holds the largest collection of British art in the world. The gallery shows work from the last five centuries, including contemporary British art, in a series of free changing displays. Tate’s collection includes masterpieces by British artists such as Hogarth, Gainsborough, Constable, Millais, Burne-Jones, Whistler, Sargent, Sickert, Hepworth and Bacon. The extraordinary work of JMW Turner can be seen in the Clore Gallery. Free entry.
Millbank, London SW1P 4RG (Pimlico underground)
www.tate.org.uk
3. Visit the V&A Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum is one of the world’s greatest museums of art and design, representing over 3,000 years of human creativity. Highlights include the Medieval Renaissance galleries containing some of the greatest surviving treasures from the period, the amazing William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery and the stunning British Galleries, illustrating the history of Britain through the nation’s art and design. In addition to its outstanding free permanent collection, the V&A offers an internationally acclaimed programme of temporary exhibitions and an extensive events programme.
Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL (South Kensington underground)
www.vam.ac.uk
4. Explore Hyde Park and Speaker’s Corner (every Sunday)
Hyde Park is one of the greatest city parks in the world. Covering 142 hectares (350 acres) and with over 4,000 trees, a large lake, a meadow and ornamental flower gardens, there’s a good chance you’ll forget you are right in the center of London. Hyde Park has something for everyone. You can enjoy swimming, boating, cycling and skating. There are pitches for team games, tennis courts, tracks for horse riding and a spectacular children’s playground.
The park has two lakeside licensed restaurants, serving everything from a three-course meal to a cup of coffee. The park is home to a number of special buildings and monuments, such as The Serpentine Bridge, the Joy of Life fountain, the famous Archiles statue and the Diana Memorial Fountain. If you’re out and about on Sunday, head to Speaker’s Corner to hear London’s most vocal orators share their opinions with the world.
(Hyde Park Corner underground)
www.royalparks.gov.uk
5. Visit Tate Modern
A visit to London isn’t complete without a trip to Tate Modern. Britain’s national museum of modern and contemporary art from around the world is housed in the former Bankside Power Station on the banks of the Thames. The awe-inspiring Turbine Hall runs the length of the entire building and you can see amazing work for free by artists such as Cézanne, Bonnard, Matisse, Picasso, Rothko, Dalí, Pollock, Warhol and Bourgeois.
Bankside SE1 9TG (Southwark underground)
www.tate.org.uk
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