Wilkinsons gallery stands out solidly at the end of Vyner Street (East London's trendy gallery…read morecentral). Its sizable, strong black exterior with one tall protruding window on the first floor draws on its heritage as a factory site, is very eye catching, and an exhibit in its own right. Inside the space is large and white with a large open staircase leading to the first floor. The interior does not distract from the art work at all, (as the outside may do), and the work represents a good range if international artists. I went to visit on a 'First Thursdays' night (where many galleries in London take part in staying open late on the first thursday of the month, often holding private views with drinks and snacks). This was in March and showing the work of Elizabeth Magill, who paints large canvas landscapes which really contain other levels of subtle reality, feeling and emotion such as memory, nostalgia and clarity. Her paintings looked magical and dreamy and were really enhanced by the atmosphere created in the Wilkinson gallery. Writing this makes me want to visit and see what they currently exhibiting right away!

Wilkinson is a gorgeous purpose-built gallery with excellent programming and a solid international…read morereputation on art-thick Vyner Street, just south of the canal. They specialize in presenting major shows in their expansive ground floor and first floor gallery spaces, as well as a supplementary, more experimental show in their "Project Space". Clearly no expense was spared in its design and construction, and in a city where space comes at a premium you will likely marvel at the amount of ground given simply for its foyer. Impressive.

This is a large contemporary gallery, originally set in the City of London, it has occupied it's…read morecurrent location in this stunning Great Marlborough Street building since 2002. The gallery has a really nice, professional feel, i think it's one of the nicest in the West End. The gallery represents some fantastic artists; particularly Amikam Toren who is a wonderful talent,. Check their website for their listings and up and coming exhibitions, and if you find yourself in the West End feeling arty then this should satisfy your thirst.

They have free admission on Friday afternoons as of August 2026. This is museum is a must visit in…read morethe SOHO neighborhood of London. The exhibits really make you think.

One of my last days in London, and I could not leave without going to a photo gallery! Glad I did…read more There was a piece on the top floor by Bieke Depoorter that was really engaging. And another work about Thamesmead that was equally as interesting. The showings rotate, so it's really luck of the draw as to what you'll see. The gift shop is epic. They have so many books that I wanted to get, but alas, I am but a disabled traveller, unfit for carry large volumes across the pond. Most importantly, they sell all types of film in the shop. Film and even cameras. Who needs candy when you can lick the delicious toxic chemicals of celluloid?

Located in a quaint residential corner of Hampstead, Shamineh is the perfect spot to stop for…read morecoffee and wifi while admiring a rotating collection of original works and prints by developing artists.

If you are ever in Hampstead, take a short walk to the New End Gallery. Owned by Shamineh Ali Khan,…read morewho is delightful and very passionate about art without being overbearing. She goes that extra mile and cares about the customers happiness. This gallery is one of those hidden secrets. It also shows artists who are passionate about their work but haven't always hit the limelight, making their work very affordable.Emerging artists and established artists are all treated with the same passion.

If you live in West London, a trip to the South London Gallery is a bit of a trek. The directions…read moreon the website say it's a 10 minute walk from Peckham Rye station. That's probably about right, but it felt much further - mind you, a good opportunity to taste a different flavour of London. The current installation by Thomas Hirschorn is well worth the visit, and I'm glad I made it just in time before closing. The book shop and cafe are also very inviting and I am sure to find another excuse soon.

Strange how great things can be right under your nose but you just don't get around to checking…read morethem out as often as you should do. Well for this resident of Nunhead the South London Gallery is a case in point; it's no more than a very leisurely 15 minute stroll from door to door but this Sunday was my first visit in an age. Thanks to some gentle prompting from B we decided to keep it local and take in some culture in Camberwell this weekend so we made our way down the ever busy Peckham Road to check out the Manon de Boer exhibition before it ends on 23 January (just my kind of arty Dutch film offering). This must be one of the most stunning exhibition spaces in the country let alone London. It has had a lot of work done on it in the last year or two, extending the facilities into the once derelict house next door, and there is now some more small scale exhibition space, a fantastic cafe and a beautiful garden which is home to the wonderful Clore Studio. There is also is a shop which sells a great selection of art, film and music books and magazines along with postcards and other interesting bits and pieces. Unlike most of the galleries in town, such as both the Tate and the Tate Modern which can be a nightmare a lot of the time, you will find this is quite a tranquil experience and you are unlikely to need to elbow your way through a crowd or clamber over a buggy to get sight of the work. Exhibitions here are free and there are various talks, live events and general arty "happenings" throughout the year which are either free or very reasonably priced. If you are into contemporary art or just fancy a decent lunch in some lovely surroundings this would be a very fine way to spend an afternoon south of the river. In February there is a retrospective look at the work of Goldsmiths graduates Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard which I would recommend.

This light contemporary space in West Smithfield is attractive with its floor to ceiling glass…read morewindow front, allowing the art to be seen from across the street. There was work 15 living artists when I visited, all from Barcelona, and there was a predominantly 'street art feel' to the exhibition. However the shows change every couple of weeks and the gallery does not specialise in any one particular style of artwork. It was totally unintimidating and although my friend and I were the only two in there, we felt at ease taking our time around the room. It is nice place to pop in when passing by, and to enjoy a creative talent of living artists without needing to dedicate a whole morning or day to doing so.

This gallery for hire is a well appointed space to the north (City-side) of Smithfield Market. Very…read morenear Farringdon Station (and actually not too far from Barbican or St Paul's Tube stations), it's nearby a handful of excellent restaurants, cafes and pubs ... as well as some interesting sites such as St Bartholew's Church and, of course, Smithfield Market. The lighting is awesome (surprisingly, this isn't always the case in London galleries) and the exhibition space is open and "vanilla" enough for any variety of shows to slide in and set up. I was there recently for the awesome Barcelona XL: Homage to Catalonia (http://ontolondon.blogspot.com/2008/12/barcelona-xl-spanish-street-art-at.html) street art exhibition. I was really blown away by that show and felt that the gallery was perfect for displaying the exhibition's different artists and their varying styles. It wasn's my first time to the Smithfield Gallery but it was the catalyst which will now ensure I keep better track of what' s on there.

Ada Street Gallery is a small gallery space, moments from the picturesque Broadway Market, although…read morethe gallery is in a rather unsightly industrial estate. There are two units that can be rented out either individually or together, for the purpose of exhibiting local artists, as a project space, photography or film location, or an event space. The location, and proximity to Vyner Street (the heart of the East London art scene) means Ada is suitable for all of the above. A friend of mine had a show here recently, and it's a really nice space in a wonderful East End location. It is suitable for professional and up and coming artists to use, and their private views are always good fun.

Ada gallery is a small gallery just off Broadway Market in Hackney. There are two spaces which…read morecan be hired together or individually. The upstairs is fairly small but has a projection room and big windows so the space has lots of natural light. Downstairs is much larger than upstairs and with its exposed brick walls and bare concrete floor, it has more of a rough feel to it. I've seen some good shows there, and the private views can be busy, especially in the summer when it turns into a bit of a party along with the locals. The artists who rent the space can show whatever they want, so the exhibitions are varied, up and coming artists, first year students and professionals intermix. It may not have the professional feel of some of the more well known east end galleries, but sometimes the shows put on by struggling art students can be more interesting anyway. If it's not your cup of tea, find out when the private view is and drop by for the free booze!

What a fabulous, unexpected gem of art in Hampstead! A must see - tucked away in the silvan setting…read moreof Hampstead Heath!

If you are ever in Hampstead, take a short walk to the New End Gallery. Owned by Shamineh Ali Khan,…read morewho is delightful and very passionate about art without being overbearing. She goes that extra mile and cares about the customers happiness. This gallery is one of those hidden secrets. It also shows artists who are passionate about their work but haven't always hit the limelight, making their work very affordable.Emerging artists and established artists are all treated with the same passion.