A gallery-hopping guide to London
Start the new year exploring London's breadth of art galleries. Plus, my weekend picks, from trending pistachio recipes to an unmissable photography exhibition at the NPG.
Happy New Year! I’m excited to be starting 2025 by already completing a longstanding resolution of mine: starting this newsletter. Weekends Wherever has been evolving in the background of my life over the last year and a half, and I’m thrilled to compile the exhibitions, restaurants and experiences I’ve enjoyed recently and share them with you all.
It’s apt to start this new venture in my home city. Whilst London is constantly evolving and expanding, I have a feeling this year will emphasise the significance of third spaces and communities here. Even the most niche interests have places to congregate, with clubs, workshops and experiences aplenty. I’ll be spending my weekend heading to my first astrological sound bath, as you do.
I might change my mind after my sonic experience, but currently when I’m in need of inspiration for a story — or simply seeking a few hours of escapism — nothing is more re-energising than a gallery visit. Thankfully, the city has them in abundance. To kick off your weekend, I’ve put together three mini guides to exploring London’s artistic angles through its varied and engaging exhibitions. There’s something here for everyone, from those after the tried and tested institutions in the heart of the city, to the fringe shows by emerging talent.
At the end of each newsletter, I’ll also share my weekend picks, three things spanning culture, activities and trends, which are worth looking into when you next get the chance. I’ll be back in two weeks, until then…
Happy weekending,
Kira
West London staples
London’s richest borough, Kensington and Chelsea, features its most popular art spaces. Visiting the neighbourhood doesn’t have to be costly, with most museums and exhibitions in the area offering everchanging installations to complement the seasons for free or affordably. Start your day at the Design Museum, tucked between Holland Park and High Street Kensington. One of my favourite spaces in the city, the Design Museum’s topical and often quirky exhibits have covered everything from the history of sneakers, the design of football and ASMR. Right now, ticketed exhibitions cover the evolution of Barbie and the world of Tim Burton, whilst the free and permanent areas span future fashion and iconic London typography. Walk along the high street towards Kensington Gardens, where the Serpentine Gallery is situated within the verdant grounds and along the curved pathways. In the South Gallery, don’t miss Los Angeles artist Lauren Halsey’s exhibition, Emajendat, an archive of Black, queer icons and architecture, which remains until 23 February. Round off the day of gallery-hopping on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, home to the Science, V&A and Natural History Museums. Though dependable, the three museums have exhibited some of London’s most exciting installations in recent years, including Amazônia, a photographic display of indigenous cultures and rainforest landscapes by renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado at the Science Museum, in 2021 and an ode to African fashion and textiles at the V&A in 2022.
Sculptural south London
There’s plenty of art to boast about south of the river, though less clustered than the other locales mentioned this weekend. Whilst most are familiar with Crystal Palace for its famed football club, the area is also, rather bizarrely, home to a vast collection of dinosaur sculptures. First commissioned in 1852 and opened two years later, the statues are a longstanding motif of the park. Free to the public and open every day, local charities, including the Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs, provide more info on the large-scale displays and work to maintain their existence. A twenty minute bus ride up to Forest Hill leads you to the Horniman Museum and Gardens and its butterfly house, aquarium and sprawling 16 acres of gardens, alongside exhibitions which confront both the area and its founder Frederick Horniman’s legacy and involvement in colonialism. Out of Context, one of its latest exhibitions which opened in December 2024 and closes in November, dives into West African artwork inspired by the Benin Bronzes and how cultural artefacts are interpreted outside of their homelands.
In southeast London, Greenwich’s Royal Museums have plenty of history and architecture to get to the heart of. Get to know the UNESCO world heritage site’s maritime past on the Cutty Sark, once the fastest ship of its time and built exclusively for the tea trade in China. There’s also the National Maritime Museum, with further details into the area’s ties to the seas. No visit to Greenwich is complete without a nose around the Queen’s House — completed in the 1630s as a luxury retreat for royalty — or the Royal Observatory, where you can stand on the world-famous Prime Meridian Line and marvel at the city’s only Planetarium.
Edgy and eclectic east London
No weekend in London is complete without an exploration of the East End’s innovative artwork. The streets are the canvas in this part of the city; expect graffiti and murals aplenty along the cobbles. Start at Whitechapel Gallery, a staple of the bustling borough of Tower Hamlets, adjacent to Aldgate East tube station. The gallery opened in 1901, hosting contemporary art in its nine exhibition spaces. Around the corner on Osborn Street is StolenSpace, which showcases vibrant displays of works by both established and developing artists below its lofty ceilings. Until 26 January, its hosting French artist Jerôme Masi’s solo show, Facing the Future, exploring everyday life through Masi’s minimalist yet colour-drenched works. Back on Brick Lane — east London’s most famous thoroughfare — learn about the collaborative art duo Gilbert & George and their eponymous visual arts centre (reopening next Wednesday 8 January), get immersed in the luminous works of the Quantus Gallery and the scope out the new Shoreditch Modern, which opened early last year. The area is packed with galleries, exhibitions and visual arts, so you won’t have to walk far to discover more.
Weekend Picks
Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize, National Portrait Gallery
I’ve visited the NPG countless times (and missed it greatly when it was under renovation) so seeing the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize when I returned for the first time in November 2023 was a real treat. The prize is back for its 17th year, showcasing contemporary portraiture at the highest standard and the intricate narratives of how they came to be. Until 16 February. Tickets are £8.50 for adults and for those 25 and under it’s £5 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. More info on the NPG website.
Cheaters, BBC iPlayer
Back for its second series, Cheaters follows two couples fractured by infidelity. And they happen to live across the street from each other. The short, comedic episodes are easy weekend viewing, tracking the complex entanglements of Fola (Susan Wokoma) and Josh (Joshua McGuire).
Trending: Pistachio
Whether it’s the colour or the ingredient itself, I haven’t been able to escape the richness of pistachios recently. This also inspired my first pistachio hot chocolate, a surprising combination I was annoyed for not discovering sooner. Other favourite finds include this indulgent pistachio tiramisu on TikTok by audreysaurus, a recipe for a pistachio matcha latte by Jazzmine Woodard and rich and gooey cookies by Christina Marsigliese of Scientifically Sweet.
