10 Must-Visit Contemporary Art Galleries in the UK
The UK has many contemporary art galleries, each showcasing some of the best works by both established and emerging artists.
In this blog post, I have listed the 10 must-visit contemporary art galleries in the UK to provide inspiration for your next city break or gallery visit.
The details I’ve included are correct at the time of writing this blog post, but please check current opening times and exhibitions before your visit.
Table of Contents
3. Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
1. Tate Modern, London
Admission: Free Entry, but there is a charge for some exhibitions
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm
The Tate Modern is one of the most iconic contemporary art galleries in the world.
The Tate Modern building was originally a power station, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott that was converted into a contemporary art gallery in 2000.
The Tate Modern houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art from around the world. The collection includes artwork from many movements, such as Surrealism, Minimalism, and Pop Art, as well as many others.
This gallery is also home to some of the most iconic contemporary artworks, for example Pablo Picasso's "Weeping Woman”, Andy Warhol's "Marilyn Monroe”, and Roy Lichtenstein's "Whaam!".
The Tate Modern is open daily and admission is free for permanent collections. However, there are charges for some temporary exhibitions.
The gallery has several restaurants, cafes, and shops, and is easily accessible by public transport, being approximately 600 metres from Southwark tube station. The Kitchen and Bar, which is located on Level 6 of the Natalie Bell Building, provides stunning views across the the Thames of London’s skyline.
You can easily spend a day here if you want to see everything.
I have written other blog posts about Tate Modern that will provide more information to assist with your visit.
2. Saatchi Gallery, London
Admission: Free Entry, but there is a charge for some exhibitions
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am to 6pm
Address: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Rd, London SW3 4RY
Image by London Road on Flickr
The Saatchi Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in the heart of Chelsea in London.
It was founded in 1985 by Charles Saatchi and has since become an important venue for contemporary art. The gallery has a reputation for showcasing works by emerging artists, as well as established artists.
The Saatchi Gallery showcases a range of contemporary art forms, including painting, sculpture, installation, and photography.
The Saatchi Gallery has showcased numerous groundbreaking works of contemporary art throughout its history, including "Young British Artists" by Damien Hirst in 1992 and "Sensation" by the Royal Academy in 1997. More recently it has hosted “Beyond the Streets” (2023), a comprehensive graffiti and street art exhibition.
The Saatchi Gallery is open daily and admission is free, but there is an entrance fee for some exhibits. You will need about 2 hours here to see the collections.
3. Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead
Admission: Free Entry
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Address: South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3BA
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is a contemporary art gallery located in Gateshead, and sits on the River Tyne overlooking Newcastle.
The gallery is located in a converted flour mill and has a reputation for showcasing works by emerging artists. The gallery extends over four floors, which includes event space, galleries, a sensory room, restaurants and a viewing platform at the top.
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art has showcased numerous groundbreaking works of contemporary art, such as "Energy Flash" by Mark Leckey and "Starmaker" by Heather Peak and Ivan Morison.
In 2007, the Beryl Cook exhibition was the largest display of her work and in 2020, it hosted a comprehensive exhibit of Judy Chicago’s work including abstract paintings, records of performance pieces, and a four-metre tapestry. More recently is has hosted “Hinterlands” (2023), which explains the relationship between land and its ecosystem.
The Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art is open daily and visitors could easily spend a few hours here.
4. Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
Admission: Free Entry
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays, 11am to 5pm
Image by London Road on Flickr
The Ikon Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located in a Grade II listed neo-gothic school building within Birmingham. The gallery was founded in 1965 as an art-led contemporary art space.
The Ikon Gallery has a diverse program of exhibitions and collections with a particular focus on international contemporary art, and has showcased works by artists from around the world.
The Ikon Gallery has hosted numerous seminal works of contemporary art throughout its history. Some of the most well known past exhibitions include "Atsuko Tanaka - The Art of Connecting” (2011) and “Sidney Nolan” (2017), a collection of Sir Sidney Nolan’s spray painted portraits dating from the 1980s. More recently it has hosted “Horror in the Modernist Block” (2023), a collection of works from 20 contemporary artists across the world that explores the relationship between architectural modernism and horror.
The Ikon Gallery also has a café and gift shop on site, making it a great destination to spend a few hours for art enthusiasts and visitors to the city.
5. Arnolfini, Bristol
Admission: Free Entry
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm
Arnolfini is a contemporary arts centre located in Bristol. It is based on the harbourside in a converted 19th-century tea warehouse and is known for its cutting-edge exhibitions, performance art, film screenings and events.
Arnolfini has showcased many significant works of contemporary art throughout its history, including:
Grayson Perry: The Most Popular Art Exhibition Ever! (2017) - This exhibition explored themes of identity, class, and contemporary culture through a range of ceramics, tapestries, and other artworks.
Art from Elsewhere: International Contemporary Art from UK Galleries (2016) - This exhibition was an example of Arnolfini's commitment to internationalism and its exploration of diverse cultures and perspectives.
Richard Long: Time and Space (2015) - This exhibition offered a profound and immersive experience, as visitors were transported into Long's unique and contemplative world.
The gallery is conveniently located in the heart of Bristol's city centre and harbourside. This gallery also has a connected café and a shop selling a range of art books and publications.
You will need about an hour to 90 minutes to explore Arnolfini.
If you are visiting Bristol, please see my other blog post for more ways to explore contemporary art in the city.
6. Tate Liverpool
Admission: Free Entry, but there is a charge for some exhibitions
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 10am to 5.50pm
Address: Tate Liverpool, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4BB
Tate Liverpool is a modern and contemporary art gallery located in the iconic Albert Dock in Liverpool and is the most visited art gallery outside of London.
Tate Liverpool was opened in 1988 and is housed in a converted warehouse. It was created to display contemporary and modern art in the North of England. The gallery is part of the Tate network of galleries in the UK, which includes Tate Britain, Tate Modern, and Tate St Ives. Tate Liverpool has also presented the Turner Prize.
Tate Liverpool is known for its innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions that explore themes such as gender, identity, and politics. The gallery's permanent collection includes works by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Mark Rothko. Some of the more famous exhibitions have included:
Keith Haring (2019) - This exhibition explored the work of the legendary American artist Keith Haring, showcasing his iconic imagery and political activism through a range of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks.
Jackson Pollock (1988) - This exhibition was a retrospective of the work of the American artist Jackson Pollock, known for his revolutionary approach to painting, which involved dripping and pouring paint onto canvas.
Yves Klein (2016) - This exhibition focused on the work of the French artist Yves Klein, who is known for his exploration of color and his creation of the "Anthropometry" series, in which he used human bodies as paintbrushes.
Picasso: Peace and Freedom (2010) - This exhibition examined the political and social dimensions of Pablo Picasso's work, particularly his engagement with the themes of peace and freedom.
Tracey Emin (2008) - This exhibition showcased the provocative and deeply personal work of British artist Tracey Emin, including her famous installation "My Bed", which featured a disheveled bed surrounded by personal objects and debris.
It should take about 90 minutes to 2 hours to get around Tate Liverpool and see the exhibitions.
Tate Liverpool is a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts visiting Liverpool.
I have written another blog post about the Tate Galleries, which provides further information regarding Tate Liverpool.
7. The Hepworth Wakefield
Admission: From £12 for adults, free for under 18 years
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm
Address: The Hepworth Wakefield, Gallery Walk, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 5AW
The Hepworth Wakefield is a contemporary art gallery located in the city of Wakefield, West Yorkshire. This gallery is named after the sculptor Barbara Hepworth. This gallery is conveniently located in Wakefield and about 45 minutes from Leeds by public transport.
The Hepworth Wakefield opened in 2011 and was designed by award-winning architect David Chipperfield. The building itself is a work of art, with its clean lines and sharp angles creating a striking contrast with the surrounding landscape.
The Hepworth Wakefield has a collection of over 5,000 works, including many pieces by famous local artists Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore. Other past exhibitions have included:
“A Living Collection” (2023), which showcases a number of recent acquisitions, including Phyllida Barlow’s monumental sculptural installation “RIG: untitled; stagechairs” and works by Alvaro Barrington, who employs a multimedia approach to image-making.
“Anthea Hamilton Reimagines Kettle's Yard” (2017). Anthea Hamilton is renowned for her art-pop, culture-inspired sculptures and installations that incorporate references from the worlds of art, fashion, design and cinema.
“Dana Schutz” (2014). Dana Schutz is an American artist known for her vibrantly coloured figurative paintings and tactile brushwork, often with dark humour. This was her first UK exhibition.
You will need between 1 to 2 hours to explore The Hepworth Wakefield.
8. Firstsite, Colchester
Admission: Free Entry
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday: 10am - 5pm, Thursday to Saturday: 10am - 10pm, Sunday: 10am - 5pm, Monday: Closed
Address: Firstsite, Lewis Gardens, High Street, Colchester CO1 1JH
Firstsite is a contemporary visual arts gallery in Colchester, Essex. It opened in 2011 with the aim of bringing world-class contemporary art to the East of England.
Over the years, Firstsite has hosted a number of exciting exhibitions, featuring works by both established and emerging artists. Here are some of the most famous exhibitions that have been held at Firstsite Colchester:
“Flipside: Circuit Festival” (2016) was a two week exhibition comprising immersive and interactive installations, gaming café, dance battles, film screenings and workshops, each offering new perspectives.
“Grayson Perry: The Life of Julie Cope” (2018). This exhibition featured a series of tapestries, woodcuts, ceramics and tiles that followed key events in the protagonist’s journey, from her birth on Canvey Island during the great flood of 1953 to her untimely death, with cultural and architectural references.
“Antony Gormley: Field for the British Isles” (2020) was an exhibition of 40,000 tiny individual terracotta figures installed to resemble a dense carpet, with each figure looking directly at the viewer.
This is a great gallery to visit on a trip to Colchester. You will need around an hour to get around the gallery. If you want to find out more about Firstsite, read here.
9. Turner Contemporary, Margate
Admission: Free Entry
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm
Address: Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HG
Since opening in 2011, Turner Contemporary in Margate has hosted exhibitions by renowned artists such as Grayson Perry, Antony Gormley, and Barbara Hepworth.
One of the most famous exhibitions at Turner Contemporary was Yinka Shonibare’s “End of Empire” show in 2016. Shonibare's work explored issues of colonialism and post-colonialism through the use of bright, bold textiles and sculptures. It was a truly thought-provoking exhibition that sparked many conversations about the legacy of the British Empire.
Another standout exhibition was “JMW Turner: Adventures in Colour” in 2016. This exhibition showcased the works of one of Britain's most celebrated artists, JMW Turner, and explored the use of colour in his paintings.
More recently this gallery has hosted “Sonia Boyce: Feeling Her Way” (2023). This exhibition won the Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 59th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia 2022 and combines video, collage, music and sculpture to present a body of work that centres around the vocal experimentation of five Black female musicians.
You will need about an hour to 90 minutes to explore Turner Contemporary.
I have an additional blog post with further information about the Turner Contemporary and Margate in general.
10. Tramway, Glasgow
Admission: Free Entry, but there is a charge for some exhibitions and events
Opening Hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 12pm to 5pm and Saturdays and Sundays 12pm to 6pm
Address: Tramway, 25 Albert Drive, Glasgow, G41 2PE
Tramway is a contemporary arts venue located in Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated in a former tram depot, which has been converted into a multi-purpose arts space. The gallery is located in the Pollokshields area of Glasgow, and is easily accessible by public transportation or car. Tramway has become one of the most important contemporary arts venues in Scotland.
Tramway is known for its innovative and experimental approach to contemporary art, presenting a mix of local and international artists.
This gallery has recently hosted Ifeoma U. Anyaeji - Ijem nke Mmanwu m (The Journey of my Masquerade). Ifeoma U. Anyaeji uses non-biodegradable plastics, such as drink bottles and bags, to build vibrant, detailed sculptures and installations. Her unusual sculptures and installations draw on elements of traditional Igbo and Nigerian culture, including folklore, craft-art, architecture, textiles, performance, and music, as well as taking on their forms.
I hope you have found this blog post useful. If you feel there are any galleries is missing from this post, please email me and let me know at sarahransomeart@gmail.com
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