The best exhibitions in London for April
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We are lucky enough to have some of the world’s best art exhibitions in London, with collections that span centuries housed in buildings that are often masterpieces in their own right – which in turn means London exhibitions are world-class. From classical to contemporary works by era-defining artists and movement-making revolutionaries to high-tech immersive experiences with visual effects and virtual realities, these are the exhibitions in London that are inspiring the next generation and helping London’s creative scene to flourish. We update this piece weekly so you can stay in-the-know about the best upcoming London exhibitions in 2024.
Best exhibitions in London for April
- Sophie Knight
1. Blossom Spring Festival, Kew Gardens
Kew’s Gardens’ spring festival is the ultimate sign of the changing seasons. The new collaboration with the Royal College of Music transforms the Spring Gardens and gives them a musical twist as unique compositions ring out as part of a Sounds of Blossom experience. Expect technicolour pops of springtime blooms at every turn; stroll under vivid canopies and follow trailing carpets of colour through the world-famous site. To celebrate the partnership, performances from the Royal College of Music take over the grounds on weekends, while Kew’s catering outlets offer blossom-inspired dishes and free talks from Kew horticulturists and scientists.
Address: Royal Botanic Gardens, Richmond, London
Website: kew.org
Price: Off-peak adult entry from £12
Dates: Saturday 23 March - Sunday 14 April 2024 - Alvaro Castano and Yuuki Obata
2. Hello Brain!, Francis Crick Institute
Have you ever paused to think about the complexity of the brain, with its trillions of connections between billions of cells? Do just that at The Francis Crick Institute’s latest exhibition, Hello Brain!, where leading scientists have joined forces to explain some of the organ’s fascinating workings. From how our thoughts and behaviours are shaped to how multiple species interact with each other, it’s a unique insight into human and animal behaviour.
Address: Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT
Website: crick.ac.uk
Dates: Until Tuesday 3 December 2024 3. Art of The Brick, The Boiler Room
Exhibition Hub’s latest London exhibition is for little ones and big kids alike. Art of The Brick, the world-famous LEGO® exhibition, arrives at The Boiler House (on Brick Lane, fittingly) for a 10-week run following successful stints in 200 cities across 24 countries over several years. As the exhibition has evolved over the years, Londoners are sure to witness a brick-fuelled spectacle. Expect extraordinary sculptures and reimagined versions of some of the world’s most iconic masterpieces, from Michelangelo’s David to Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa – plus a six-metre-long Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.
Address: The Boiler House, 152 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU
Website: feverup.com
Price: From £16
Dates: Booking until Sunday 12 May- Peter Kelleher
4. Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence, V&A South Kensington
The V&A’s new major exhibition studies the architectural style of Tropical Modernism. British architects Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry are credited with leading the movement in West Africa from the 1940s, gradually adapting the Modernist aesthetic, which failed to account for the hot, humid conditions of the region. Drew and Fry’s work is still notable in countries including Ghana and India – following independence from the British Empire, Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Ghanaian prime minister Kwame Nkrumah commissioned major new projects in this style. Despite its colonial associations, Tropical Modernism has become symbolic of these nations’ postcolonial future – this exhibition uses models, drawings, letters, photographs, and film to examine a unique architectural style.
Address: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Website: vam.ac.uk
Price: From £14; concessions available
Dates: Until Sunday 22 September
- BERYL COOK
5. Her, (Women is Art), ME London
Some of the biggest female names in the art industry have come together for Her, the latest exhibition at ME London. Works are connected by the theme of the female gaze, from Caroline Chinakwe’s digital collage portraits to Sophie Tea’s NUDES (a holographic collection). It's a celebration of the multifaceted women who contribute to the ever-evolving narrative of contemporary art, with the eclectic series creating a thought-provoking tapestry incorporating several styles and mediums.
Address: ME London, Strand, London WC2R 1HA
Website: melia.com; gonerogueldn.com
Dates: Until May - Courtesy the artist and Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
6. Li Hei Di at Pippy Houldsworth Gallery
Chinese-born, London-based artist Li Hei Di’s first UK solo exhibition, 700 Nights of Winter, explores primal, sexual urges through her signature fluid application of paint. Catch the emerging artist’s showcase at Mayfair’s Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, following figures that swim in and out of view beneath veils of paint, each layer representing a different world or portal.
Address: Pippy Houldsworth Gallery, 6 Heddon Street, London W1B 4BT
Website: houldsworth.co.uk
Dates: Friday 15 March - Saturday 20 April - Courtesy Refik Anadol Studios
7. Serpentine presents Refik Anadol
Serpentine presents a solo exhibition by Turkish artist and designer Refik Anadol this spring. The pioneer in data and machine intelligence aesthetics is best known for his groundbreaking media works and public installations, and he brings a captivatingly immersive experience to the London gallery. Highlights include Artificial Realities: Coral, a collaborative work consisting of chapters utilising Stable Diffusion, one of the most advanced artificial intelligence image production technologies available. The exhibition also marks the UK premiere of Living Archive: Nature ahead of its display at the World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos, Switzerland. The work features the longest 3D generative AI outputs on nature to date, including data on flora, fungi and fauna from more than 16 rainforests across the globe.
Address: Serpentine North, West Carriage Drive, London W2 2AR
Website: serpentinegalleries.org
Price: Free
Dates: Until Sunday 7 April - © David Hockney. Photo: Art Gallery of New South Wales/Jenni Carter
8. Capturing the Moment, Tate Modern
In collaboration with the YAGEO Foundation, Taiwan, Tate Modern presents Capturing the Moment. The exhibition explores the dynamic relationship between the mediums of painting and photography and how the latter changed the course of art in unprecedented ways. From the expressive paintings of Pablo Picasso to striking photographs by Hiroshi Sugimoto and Jeff Wall, see how the distinct mediums have shaped each other over time and how artists continue to blur the boundaries to create ever-new forms of creative expression. Theme aside, it’s a fabulous opportunity to see iconic works from artists including Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Peter Doig and Alice Neel.
Address: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Website: tate.org.uk
Price: £20; free for members
Dates: Until Sunday 28 April
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9. Balloon Museum, Old Billingsgate Walk
Let your imagination take flight at the first-of-its-kind Balloon Museum as it arrives in London following successful exhibitions in cities including New York, Rome, Paris and Naples. Across a 78,000 square feet space within historic Old Billingsgate, twenty acclaimed artists have taken over to explore the relationship between art and human emotion through the curious medium of inflatable art. Explore immersive installations from artists including Alex Schweder, Christopher Bauder, Geraldo Zamproni, and Lucas Zanotto – unique works have equally intriguing titles, from Somehow, I Don't Feel Comfortable to SQUEEZED IN. The concept featured in Netflix favourite Emily in Paris has welcomed more than three million visitors on its world tour. Expect to see the gargantuan ball pit on your social media feeds all over again following the exhibition's extension as a result of popular demand. If the Tiktoks are to be trusted, midweek visits (outside of half term) ensure you'll have all the room to roam, away from exhibit-prodding little ones.
Address: 1 Old Billingsgate Walk, London EC3R 6DX
Website: balloonmuseum.world
Price: Tickets from £32; children under 15 from £18; children under 4 free
Dates: Until Sunday 14 April10. Bubble Planet, Wembley
Bubble Planet is the latest immersive experience encouraging Londoners to unleash their inner child. The opening comes following successful stints in Milan, Los Angeles and Brussels over the past year, and now it’s opened its doors in Wembley. Escape to a whimsical world of bubbles that engages all the senses across 11 themed rooms. Witness a futuristic robot-led bubble show, dip in an ocean full of living balloons, and get carried away by myriad magical illusions before making it out the other side.
Address: Bubble Planet, 22 Fulton Road, Wembley HA9 0TF
Website: feverup.com
Price: £17.90 for adults; £13.90 for children
Dates: Until Sunday 14 April11. Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, South Kensington
If you haven’t heard of it yet, Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition is undoubtedly just a few scrolls away on your social media feeds. The immersive experience is a partnership between events specialists Fever and social media phenomenon Accidentally Wes Anderson (AWA) – and picks up where the TikTok trends left off. Discover seven themed rooms and revel in the whimsical world of Wes Anderson’s distinctive aesthetics through photography and a scattering of installations designed for hands-on fun. The penultimate space, ‘The London Room’, is devoted to the capital and displays photos captured in the iconic AWA style – submit your own London AWA photos for a chance to be featured.
Address: 85 Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London SW7 3LD
Website: feverup.com
Price: Adults (12+) from £12.99
Dates: Until Friday 10 May- Alamy
12. Fashion City: How Jewish Londoners Shaped Global Style, Museum of London Docklands
Fashion City tells the story of the contribution of Jewish designers, tailors and creators to global contemporary fashion. The exhibition uses textiles, clothing, everyday objects, and photography to highlight the leading Jewish industry figures who introduced iconic styles and shopping innovations. Among the unique artefacts on display are a bag created by Rosenthal, Jacob & Co (1881-1892) that belonged to Queen Victoria or her daughter Princess Louise and a wedding dress by Neymar – a brand founded by Netty Spiegel, who travelled alone to London aged 15 via Kindertransport before going on to become one of London’s most sought-after wedding dress designers. Toyo Odetunde
Address: Museum of London Docklands, No.1 Warehouse, West India Quay, London E14 4AL
Website: museumoflondon.org.uk
Price: Adult tickets £12; concessions available; children under 12 go free
Dates: Until 14 April 2024
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13. Ainu Stories: Contemporary Lives by the Saru River, Japan House
Japan House is hosting the first-ever UK exhibition on present-day Ainu culture. The exhibition uncovers Japan’s rich cultural diversity by sharing personal stories from members of the Indigenous Ainu community of northern Japan. Through a programme curated in collaboration with the people of Biratori, you can embark on a journey through contemporary Ainu culture, experiencing the language and creative customs. The exhibition also sheds light on the lesser-known historical links between key British figures and this remote region of southern Hokkaido. Toyo Odetunde
Address: Japan House London, 101-111 Kensington High Street London W8 5SA
Website: japanhouselondon.uk
Price: Free
Dates: Until 21 April 2024- Andy Gotts
14. And the Winner is…, 45 Park Lane
45 Park Lane’s latest exhibition comes from visual artist and celebrity photographer Andy Gotts. And the Winner is… is an exhibition curated exclusively for the Dorchester Collection hotel, tapping into the creative’s 30 years in the industry. A never-before-seen portrait of Scarlett Johansson is among the highlights, as the Hollywood star beams down among other portraits of accolade-winning actors from the BAFTAs to the Oscars.
Address: 45 Park Lane, 45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN
Website: dorchestercollection.com
Dates: Until Thursday 16 May - Victoria and Albert Museum, London
15. Diva, V&A
This V&A exhibition could be London’s most flamboyant to date. Everything from couture gowns to crowns, and even the iconic floor-length black and gold dress Whitney Houston wore to receive her Grammys for The Bodyguard, feature in this kaleidoscopic collection. Rihanna has loaned items to the collection, including the 2018 high-fashion Papal look she wore to the Met Gala, complete with a jewel-encrusted robe and matching mitre designed by John Galliano for Maison Margiela. It’s a celebration of the classic pop culture Diva – male and female – and demonstrates the ability of these creatives to transform, inspire and ultimately shape the world around them. Pop on a Tonwelt’s Spheric headset system and turn your visit into an immersive experience, as performances by artists including Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Adele, Prince and Ella Fitzgerald play.
Address: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Website: vam.ac.uk
Price: £20
Dates: Until Wednesday 10 April - Credit, Montana Lowery
16. Frameless, Marble Arch
Experience art without boundaries at Frameless – a vibrant world of light, colour and sound in the heart of central London. Across a 30,000-square-foot venue, a series of galleries invite the curious to take on new understandings of iconic artworks as they are projected onto the walls. 40 interactive, digital interpretations of masterpieces by 28 iconic artists can be found, including iconic works from the likes of Van Gogh, Monet and Rembrandt.
Address: Frameless, 6 Marble Arch, London W1H 7AP
Website: frameless.com
Price: Adult tickets from £25
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- Amit Eshel, Wildlife Photographer of the Year
17. Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Natural History Museum
See the world’s diverse range of habitats and landscapes and the unique creatures that inhabit them at the Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year showcase. The high-profile exhibition sees snaps taken by some of the most talented wildlife photographers taking over the walls. What happens in sprawling cities after nightfall? Which creatures occupy the harsh depths of the deep polar seas? How best to capture species at risk of extinction? Ponder such answers as you roam and see how humans impact and shape the natural world we rely on in positive and negative ways. Guided tours are the best way to experience all this exhibition has to offer.
Address: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD
Website: nhm.ac.uk
Price: Tickets from £15
Dates: Until Sunday 30 June - The Estate of Francis Picabia. CourtesyMichaelWerner Gallery, New York and London
18. Francis Picabia – Women: Works on Paper 1902-1950, Michael Werner Gallery
Michael Werner Gallery brings together 40 drawings of women by French artist Francis Picabia for a limited time. The exhibition in London showcases works from across his long-spanning career, which saw him explore diverse styles, including Dada and Surrealism, and described by Duchamp as the creator of a “kaleidoscopic series of art experiences”.
Address: Michael Werner Gallery London, 22 Upper Brook Street, London W1K 7PZ
Website: michaelwerner.com
Dates: Friday 23 February - Saturday 11 May 2024 19. Notre Dame de Paris, the Augmented Exhibition, Westminster Abbey
Two architectural icons from either side of the channel unite this week for Notre Dame de Paris, the Augmented Exhibition. The world-touring immersive show opens at Westminster Abbey for a four-month stint revealing the story of the French gothic masterpiece starting from its earliest origins in the 12th century. Digital heritage specialists Histovery created the exhibition in collaboration with Rebuilding Notre-Dame de Paris, with support from L’Oréal Groupe.
Address: Westminster Abbey, Dean's Yard, London SW1P 3PA
Website: westminster-abbey.org
Dates: Until Saturday 1 June- Isidora Bojovic/Science Museum Group
20. Zimingzhong: Clockwork Treasures from China's Forbidden City, The Science Museum
The Science Museum’s latest exhibition features 23 magnificent mechanical zimingzhong clocks loaned from The Palace Museum in Beijing. The exhibits in Zimingzhong 凝时聚珍: Clockwork Treasures from China’s Forbidden City are on display in the UK for the first time to take curious minds on a journey through the 18th century, from the Chinese trading port of Guangzhou to the home of the emperors in the Forbidden City. Why did the Emperors collect and obsess over the intricate ornaments? What are the origins of the unique trade? Find the answers on a journey starting with the ornate Pagoda Zimingzhong, a towering celebration of the technology and design possibilities of zimingzhong.
Address: Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
Website: sciencemuseum.org.uk
Price: £1 minimum (pay what you can)
Dates: Until Sunday 2 June
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- Science Museum
21. Turn It Up: The Power of Music, Science Museum
Interactive installations, unique instruments and pioneering inventions comprise the Science Museum’s latest exhibition, which runs until spring 2024. Here, first-hand accounts from musicians and the public, and more than 30 research studies, are used to examine how music impacts our emotions, psychology and wellbeing. Can you tell the difference between songs written by humans and machines? Take a test to find out and meet Haile, the musical robot that can play and improvise alongside human musicians.
Address: Science Museum, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
Website: sciencemuseum.org.uk
Price: Adults £10; £8 children
Dates: Until Monday 6 May 2024 - The Trustees of the British Museum
22. Legion: life in the Roman Army, The British Museum
The British Museum has partnered with Horrible Histories, author Terry Deary and illustrator Martin Brown’s bestselling book series for the ultimate family-friendly exhibition Legion: life in the Roman Army. Expect interactive stations along the trail guided by the voice of the character Rattus, aka Claudius Terrattus. Understand what it took to become a soldier of the Roman Empire over 2,000 years ago and the difficulties the young men faced.
Address: The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
Website: britishmuseum.org
Price: Adults from £22, Members and under-16s free
Dates: Until Sunday 23 June - Luke Dyson
23. Disney100: The Exhibition
Disney100: The Exhibition is a trip down memory lane across 20,000 square feet of ExCeL London. Watch a special screening of Once Upon a Studio, a short film created to celebrate Disney’s centenary, and see more than 250 rare artefacts, artworks, costumes and props on display. Explore galleries dedicated to some of Disney’s most iconic tales, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Encanto, and spot highlights such as the glass slipper from Cinderella (2015) and masks and helmets from the Marvel movies. Opt for the VIP experience for queue jump, a branded tote bag with goodies.
Address: ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, E16 1FR
Website: disney100exhibit.com; feverup.com
Price: Adult tickets from £16
Dates: Until Friday 21 June - BRICA WILCOX
24. It’s After the End of the World, Don’t You Know That Yet, Gagosian
Explore world events, pop-culture phenomena and society through a surrealist lens at the Gagosian, where new paintings and drawings by Jim Shaw are currently on display. It’s After the End of the World, Don’t You Know That Yet sees Shaw dive into American society through paintings, drawings, and sculptures inspired by comic books, pulp novels, protest posters and other everyday sources. Highlights range from tongue-in-cheek to thought-provoking, such as the self-explanatory 2020 work Donald and Melania Trump descending the escalator into the 9th circle of hell reserved for traitors frozen in a sea of ice.
Address: Gagosian, 17–19 Davies Street, London W1K 3DE
Website: gagosian.com
Dates: 11 April - 18 May
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- Quentin Blake
25. The QB Papers
The Arc Gallery hosts more than 60 pieces of beloved illustrator Sir Quentin Blake’s work for two weeks this April, and it’s set to be a nostalgic trip for many. The QB Papers categorises original artwork under five titles that are “quintessentially Quentin”: Scenes at Twilight, The Alternative Sports Olympics, Wildlife Artists of the Year, Feet in Water, and Chance Encounters. From the amusing to the quirky and outright fantastical, this is one exhibition in London that appeals to all.
Address: Cromwell Place, 4 Cromwell Place, South Kensington, London SW7 2JE
Website: cromwellplace.com
Price: Free
Dates: Wednesday 10 – Sunday 28 April - Richard Sandler / The Eyes of the City
26. Streetlife, David Hill Gallery
David Hill Gallery’s collaborative group exhibition Street Life showcases street and documentary photography co-curated with Framelines. It unites the work of 18 photographers at various stages in their careers, from award-winners to up-and-comers. Explore the world's streets through the eyes of photographers, including Lisa Barlow, whose keen eye captures the poetry and drama in everyday encounters. Award-winning Italian photographer Mario Carnicelli's work, influenced by New Wave cinema, explores the optimism and introspection of the American experience, while Baldwin Lee’s snapshots document Black lives in the American South in the 1980s.
Address: David Hill Gallery, 345 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 6HA
Website: davidhillgallery.net
Dates: Until Saturday 18 May 2024