Paid entry for exhibitions. Varies by exhibition – check website
Tuesday-Sunday
What it is
Museum tags: Art; Contemporary art
One of London’s most historic and prestigious art institutions, founded 1768, housed in the beautiful Burlington House. Nowadays it’s most famous for the Summer Exhibition, where anyone can enter their art to be shown (which if you’re in London during, is REALLY worth visiting, at least once). Throughout the rest of the year it hosts some of the best temporary art exhibitions in the city, covering a wide range of styles and topics, but almost always worth visiting.
The RA’s blockbuster exhibition showcases contemporary art, and has done every Summer since the 1700s. It’s brilliant. Floor to the ceiling is covered in art, across genres and mediums, by both established and unheard of artists. It’s the world’s oldest open submission art exhibition, and a must visit.
The academy is also home to a decent permanent collection, available to view for free, but if you’re not there during the Summer Exhibition, the temporary exhibits are the main other reason to visit. Often going under the radar in comparison to London’s other big galleries, the RA’s exhibits are always expertly curated and on interesting topics – such as the recent Impressionists on paper and Entangled pasts, 1768-now.
The building itself is also worth a visit, a 19th century former University building with a beautiful courtyard. In the Reynolds Room, Charles Darwin first presented his theory of evolution.
Thanks for visiting my blog! This post may contain affiliate links - which means if you make a purchase, I'll receive a small commission, at no extra cost to yourself. This helps me keep this site running for free.