Fancy a day out but short of pennies?
Londoners are lucky enough to have some of the capital’s biggest galleries and museums open their permanent collections free of charge – but there are free exhibitions to be enjoyed too, if you know where to look.
From smaller galleries off the beaten track to special displays at some of the capital's more established museums, there's plenty to see without causing distress to your bank balance.
Here's our guide to the best free exhibitions to see in London.
The Clash: London Calling
Joe Strummer’s notebook and the bass guitar Paul Simonon smashed onstage are on display at the Museum of London among 100 items from The Clash’s archive. This December, it’s 40 years since the album London Calling was released and it forms the inspiration behind this exhibition. The free display also includes Strummer’s typewriter and Topper Headon’s drumsticks.
When and where? Until March 20, Museum of London, museumoflondon.org.uk
Hedda Sterne
Sea-like horizontal stripes form the basis of this exhibition by Romanian-born American artist Hedda Sterne. This landmark exhibition (the late artist’s first UK solo show) presents a specific phase of her career: paintings she produced during the early 1960s. Sterne moved freely between figurative and abstract in her work. All the groundbreaking pieces on show demonstrate how she bridged the gap between Surrealism and American Abstract Expressionism.
When and where? Until March 21, Victoria Miro, victoria-miro.com
American Pastoral
The American Dream is a theme that’s been explored time and time again by writers, musicians, artists and more. This show at the Gagosian shines a light on how creatives have grappled with it, from the nineteenth century to modern day. Contemporary works are presented against historical landscapes, all designed to challenge American ideals and instead shine a light on cultural, political and economic tensions. Works from Warhol, Koons, Frankenthaler and Ruscha all feature in this show, named after Philip Roth’s 1997 novel.
When and where? Until March 24, Gagosian Britannia St, gagosian.com
Play Well
Playing is crucial for childhood development – it’s a shame we lose so much of the desire as we grow up. This Wellcome Collection exhibition looks at how play creates and develops social bonds and affects physical wellbeing.
When and where? Until March 28, Wellcome Collection, wellcomecollection.org
Kara Walker: Fons Americanus
Around 35,000 litres of water cascade from a figure atop Kara Walker’s 42ft fountain. Fons Americanus is the latest installation in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall. Her sculpture is based on the Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace, but, rather than celebrating the British Empire, it explores the connected histories of Africa, America and Europe. The water references the transatlantic slave trade and the sculptures it contains pay tribute to the fates of the people it affected.
When and where? Until April 5, Tate Modern, tate.org.uk
Cerith Wyn Evans: No Realm of Thought… No Field of Vision
This is Cerith Wyn Evans's largest exhibition to date at White Cube in Bermondsey. Made up of a mix of installations, sculpture and paintings, the show explores the artist’s fascination with light and text. Sculptures are given meaning by words and phrases from film, literature and poetry and paintings, while American-French painter Marcel Duchamp is the inspiration behind Wyn Evans’s neons and folded glass screens.
When and where? Until April 19, The White Cube, whitecube.com
Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi
Whether you like them or not, mushrooms are incredible organisms. From food and psychedelics to the future of sustainability, fungus makes the world go round. This new exhibition takes a look at mushrooms through sculpture, recipes, design, textiles and architecture, featuring watercolours by Beatrix Potter.
When and where? Until April 26, Somerset House, somersethouse.org.uk
Steve McQueen: Year 3
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Turner Prize-winning artist and filmmaker Steve McQueen has conducted an ambitious project. He invited every Year 3 pupil in London to have their photograph taken by a team of photographers, and has brought the class photos together into a single installation at Tate Britain, showing the future of the city.
When and where? Until May 3, Tate Britain, tate.org.uk
Kehinde Wiley: The Yellow Wallpaper
It’s been two years since artist Kehinde Wiley shot to international stardom, after painting Barack Obama's official portrait. Now, he’s turned his sights to the streets of Dalston for his first new UK exhibition at the William Morris Gallery. These works are based on a feminist text by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, which tells of a woman driven mad by the yellow wallpaper in a room she’s locked in. Wiley uses William Morris's prints as the background for his photorealistic portraits which depict strong, defiant women — all real-life people from east London. Wiley’s juxtaposition of the old and the new is designed to get audiences thinking about cultural history and restrictions.
When and where? Until May 25, William Morris Gallery, wmgallery.org.uk
Genders
There are a lot of myths hanging around about gender and its relationship with science. The Science Gallery's Genders exhibition presents a range of perspectives, as well as how factors such as culture, class, race, age and sexuality intersect with gender. Expect exhibits from artists, biologists, neuroscientists, social scientists and activists.
When and where? Until June 28, Science Gallery, london.sciencegallery.com
Mission to Mercury: BepiColombo
Visitors to this exhibition come face to face with a six metre tall model of the BepiColombo, the first European Space Agency craft designed to explore Mercury. The model was subjected to rigorous testing prior to the launch of the real BepiColombo - it was heated to over 400°C and cooled to below -190°C to simulate conditions in space, and is an engineering replica of the ESA’s craft, currently on its way to Mercury.
When and where? Currently on display at the Science Museum; sciencemuseum.org.uk
Driverless: Who is in control?
This interactive exhibition offers a thought-provoking look at the rise of autonomous machines and artificial intelligence, and looks at how emerging technology could change our lives. Exhibits include a 1960s precursor to the driverless car, a collection of autonomous flying drones, and a scale model of the submarine Boaty McBoatface.
When and where? Until October, Science Museum, sciencemuseum.org.uk
