A local’s guide to inspiring London attractions and hidden gems for art lovers, from secret museums to street art neighborhoods – must-visit artsy places!
It’s been a while since I’ve last told you about something arty to do in London.
I have, that’s right, written a full Fashion in London Itinerary, and told you about must-do immersive experiences while in the city, but I’ve somehow missed writing more extensively about museums, art galleries and whatnot.
So, today’s all about inspiring London attractions and hidden gems that art lovers will enjoy – and we’re going to talk about much more than just museums.
Artsy London Attractions: 10 Places to Visit for Art Lovers
An artsy person can feel inspired by quite anything – any color, any shape, any texture: I know that I, as a makeup artist, can find inspiration in endless things, situations and feelings.
The guide I’ve put together for you guys contains famous and secret places in London that offer some kind of inspiration; neon places, or historically-significant places like the Charterhouse.
You will find many more places to visit in London on the blog, from West London to the South, and from London Bridge to Canary Wharf.
For now, let’s focus on those I consider the most inspiring London attractions for art lovers!
Best London Attractions for Art Lovers: Outdoors Art Trails
From London Bridge to Canary Wharf and the lesser-known, posh area of Paddington, you can often stumble new public art pieces in various London neighborhoods.
London’s art trails are more often than not free to walk, and you’ll find plenty of contemporary sculptures and art installations as you walk around the City of London, Broadgate Circle and other Leicester Square.
By the way, if you’re a movie fiend, you’ll love to visit the Leicester Square Scenes in the Square art trail – from Harry Potter to Mary Poppins, Mr Bean and Paddington Bear, there are about a dozen sculptures to discover!
Best London Attractions for Art Lovers: Museum of the Home, Hoxton
Let’s keep going with a free museum located in Hoxton, a few minutes away from the gorgeous Columbia Road Flower Market.
I’m talking about the wonderful Museum of the Home, formerly known as the Geffrye Museum.
In addition to a gorgeous period rooms displaying furniture and home decor that explain the evolution of domestic English life over the centuries, the Museum of the Home also offers a gorgeous secret garden at the back lovely to visit during spring and summer.
The Rooms Through Time, styled to reflect home decor trends from the 1600s to our days, are without a doubt my favorite part of the museum.
Or maybe it is the museum’s gift shop, with its stunning collection of design, arts and home decor books.
Read: 7 Must-Visit Shopping and Dining Squares in London
Arty London Attractions: Young V&A Museum, Bethnal Green
Also located in East London, this time in the Bethnal Green area, the Young V&A Museum is another inspiring museum where the permanent exhibition is free to enjoy.
Interactive displays, toys, dollhouses, games, costumes…
From design to fashion, the Young V&A is a perfect spot to visit in London with kids, with creative spaces made especially for them, although artists and art enthusiasts can also get lots of inspiration from this place.
Once you are done visiting, you have several options to keep the creative streak going:
- Check out the Victoria Park Pagoda, one of East London’s best hidden gems
- Check out Columbia Road Flower Market and the secret cafe in a shop at Vintage Heaven for endless colors and scents
- Check out Brick Lane’s street art and nearby Shoreditch, especially New Inn Yard Romeo and Juliet mural
Read: 15 Themed London Itinerary Ideas Off the Beaten Path
Best London Attractions for Art Lovers: Leake Street Arches, Waterloo
Located close to Waterloo Station, the Leake Street Arches are one of the most colorful places in the city, and an open-air art gallery where you can spot the odd street artist working on a new graffiti.
Alongside the 300-meter tunnel, photo spots galore.
Portraits, bold graffiti, quotes run along, stopping only to give ways to hidden places like The Vaults, an underground arts venue regularly hosting live shows, art events and exhibitions.
We’re only a few minutes away from Southbank, gorgeous Southbank.
You’ll also find plenty of hidden gems around this area and London Bridge further down; historic, arty, they are also worth a visit when you’re done discovering the Leake Street Arches.
For instance, the skatepark on Southbank is another place covered with graffiti and street art, where passers-by stop to check out skaters’ practice.
Don’t miss the Southbank Centre Christmas Market if you’re planning to spend Christmas in London, Kerb for tasty street food, and the secondhand book market under the Waterloo Bridge!
Read: 12 Historical Buildings in London With Great Architecture
Arty London Attractions: Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington
If the Young V&A is a great place to visit with kids, the Victoria and Albert Museum is more the kind of museum to visit solo or with friends.
From decorative arts to design, sculpture and fashion, there’s nothing you won’t find at the V&A.
A few years ago, Alice in Wonderland lovers were able to enjoy one of the most exciting exhibitions about Lewis Carroll’s character ever brought to the public.
Paintings, jewelry, ceramics, fabrics, furniture – spanning from a replica of Michelangelo’s David to Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior couture, the V&A Museum simply oozes inspiration.
In addition to its extensive collection, the V&A also houses an aesthetic cafe adorned with sculptures and columns painted a bold gold color – and one of the most beautiful libraries in London!
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Best London Attractions for Art Lovers: Somerset House, The Strand
Off The Strand, in my opinion one of London’s prettiest streets, is located Somerset House, originally a royal palace and notably home to the Courtauld Gallery.
With regular pop-up cafes like the Hello Kitty Cafe, an outdoor ice skating rink during the winter and an open-air cinema in the summer, Somerset House is basically a cultural center in which you’ll always find something to do.
After admiring the stunning neoclassical building and maybe attending Photo London or the London Design Biennale, you have lots of possible options:
- Visit the Covent Garden area, its shops and aesthetic streets
- Check out Waterstones on Trafalgar Square and its cute bookshop cafe
- Make your way to the Leicester Square’s Sculpture Trail
Arty London Attractions: Espacio Gallery, Bethnal Green
When I was still living in Bethnal Green and making my way to Boxpark, Liverpool Street or Spitalfields, the quickest way was to walk down Bethnal Green Road, which made me walk past Espacio Gallery.
This artist-led gallery reflect Shoreditch’s young and edgy atmosphere, and East London’s in general – this is a small art gallery where niche arts, social, controversial and curated pieces are exhibited for all to see.
Espacio Gallery switches up their exhibitions almost weekly, meaning you’ll always find something new and thought-provoking to enjoy there.
We’re only a couple of minutes away from vibrant Brick Lane, and since Espacio Gallery faces Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium, why not visit the gallery before some breakfast or afternoon tea in the magical cat cafe?
Read: The Best Shopping Streets in London
Arty London Attractions: The Charterhouse, Clerkenwell
Located in Clerkenwell, one of London’s historic neighborhoods, the Charterhouse is one of the most breathtaking places I’ve seen in London in pretty much ever.
Originally a medieval monastery, then a Tudor mansion and today a museum, the Charterhouse is interesting to visit for anyone interested in architecture, arts and history; the Chapel, while medium-sized, offers gorgeous details.
If the garden at the front is accessible to all, and so curated it gives straight Versailles vibes, the back garden, even more beautiful, is only accessible during tours – which are well-worth time and budget.
When you are done, keep visiting Clerkenwell, Barbican and Smithfield to discover more historical sites and other lively London attractions:
- The Museum of London
- St Alphage Church ruins and the hidden garden at the back
- Exmouth Market – one of the best markets in London, so very local!
- Smithfield Meat Market – one of the oldest markets in London, with a colorful Victorian architecture
- St Bartholomew the Great Church, one of the City of London’s most secret churches, and its quaint churchyard
Best London Attractions for Art Lovers: The Wallace Collection, Central London
Located a few minutes away from Oxford Street, on Manchester Square, the Wallace Collection is free to access and boasts an extensive collection of fine arts and decorative arts spanning from the 15th to the 19th century.
It’s always incredible to me that the Wallace Collection is a free museum, considering it houses works by some of the world’s greatest painters, including Fragonard, Reubens, or Rembrandt.
When you are done walking around the armory rooms, admiring ceramics, sculptures, porcelains, and period furniture, why not take a break in the museum cafe?
The Courtyard Café, colored a gorgeous coral hue, is a perfect place to write, have coffee, or even afternoon tea surrounded by plants before discovering more of the Marylebone area.
Read: How to Spend 10 Days in London: A Complete Itinerary
Best London Attractions for Art Lovers: Street Art Neighborhoods
Lastly, and obviously, some of the most inspiring London attractions for anyone interested in the arts are but street art neighborhoods.
From Brixton to Camden Town and Kentish Town for colorful houses, or Shoreditch for works by Banksy or Mr Brainwash, there are countless places to come across street art in London.
Lesser-known neighborhoods, though, that I also love for street art, are Stoke Newington, Dalston, Hackney and Peckham – a bit further off the beaten path, these local areas truly reflect London’s artistic vibe.
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Artsy London Attractions: 10 Places to Visit for Art Lovers
Thus finishes this guide about inspiring London attractions that art lovers will enjoy – since most of these are free places, why not take a bet and let yourself be blown away by their beauty, cultural significance and atmosphere?
If you would like to discover other spots where you can feel inspired to create, I find that posh areas, with their structured elegance, are great to think, plan, and sketch a few ideas.
Secret gardens and other natural spots, or quiet places like London’s villages and cute mews are great to reflect as well, and maybe jot down a few lines in a notebook.
You’ll hopefully have found new places you’d never come across before; all that’s left to do is visit!