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London has an extraordinary amount of free art and culture on at any time. Beyond the permanent collections of the great free museums, many galleries run free temporary exhibitions, and the city is dotted with free commercial galleries, project spaces and pop-ups. Here is where to look and how to find what is on.
Free displays at the big institutions
The major national museums and galleries keep their permanent collections free, and several stage free temporary exhibitions alongside their ticketed blockbusters. Start with our guides to free museums and the wider museums scene.
Free commercial galleries
Mayfair and the East End are dense with free commercial galleries showing museum-quality work you can walk into for nothing. The big-name galleries around Mayfair and the spaces of the east are a rewarding, crowd-free way to see contemporary art.
How to find what is on
Exhibition listings change constantly, so check the museums' own what's-on pages and London listings before you travel. Many free shows are timed or require a free pre-booked ticket at busy periods, so reserve ahead where you can.
Good to know
Free exhibitions are perfect for a low-cost, rainy-day culture fix. Combine them with our free things to do and rainy day London guides.
