Free exhibitions in London are easy to find, because the capital’s major contemporary art venues let visitors in at no cost: Whitechapel Gallery, for one, says it was founded in 1901 to enrich the cultural offer for the people of East London. As of October 2026, five free shows stand out: Tarek Atoui’s Turbine Hall commission at Tate Modern, Zineb Sedira’s installation at Tate Britain, Amar Kanwar at the Serpentine, a painters’ show at Whitechapel Gallery and The Coming of Age at Wellcome Collection. Entry to all five is free, though some other exhibitions at the same venues are ticketed, so check the exact show before you set out.

Free Exhibitions in London Right Now

Hyundai Commission: Tarek Atoui at Tate Modern

Hyundai Commission: Tarek Atoui opens in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall on 13 October 2026 and runs until 11 April 2027, with free admission, according to Tate. Atoui, born in Beirut in 1980 and now based in Paris, is a sound artist and composer who builds instruments that double as sculptural objects, often using glass, water and ceramics and activated by touch, breath and motors. Tate says it is the 11th work in the series of Turbine Hall commissions supported by Hyundai Motor.

• Where: Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG
• Dates: 13 October 2026 to 11 April 2027
• Cost: Free

Tate Britain Commission 2026: Zineb Sedira

Tate Britain Commission 2026: Zineb Sedira is a site-specific work for the neo-classical Duveen Galleries at Tate Britain, on view from 13 May 2026 to 17 January 2027 with free admission, according to Tate. The installation is titled When Words Fall Silent, Cinema Speaks, and Tate presents it as both monumental and intimate, bridging the political and the poetic. Sedira, born in Paris in 1963 to Algerian parents, works across photography, performance, video and installation.

• Where: Tate Britain, Millbank, London SW1P 4RG
• Dates: 13 May 2026 to 17 January 2027
• Cost: Free

Amar Kanwar at Serpentine North

Amar Kanwar’s solo exhibition at Serpentine North runs from 23 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 with free entry, according to the Serpentine. The Serpentine describes it as a site-specific installation that brings together new and existing films to turn Serpentine North into a meditative visual and sonic environment.

• Where: Serpentine North, West Carriage Drive, London W2 2AR
• Dates: 23 September 2026 to 31 January 2027
• Cost: Free, with a booked ticket advised
• Nearest tube: Lancaster Gate (Central line), about 876 metres away

This Must Be the Place at Whitechapel Gallery

This Must Be the Place: Artists for Whitechapel Gallery fills the Gallery’s historic Assembly Room, the site of the former Whitechapel Library, until 8 November 2026, with free entry. Whitechapel describes it as a special exhibition and sale marking its 125th anniversary, bringing together painters who take both figurative and abstract approaches. Every work is for sale, with proceeds supporting the Gallery, the artists and their representative galleries.

• Where: Whitechapel Gallery, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX
• Dates: Until 8 November 2026
• Cost: Free

The Coming of Age at Wellcome Collection

The Coming of Age runs at Wellcome Collection from 26 March to 29 November 2026, and Wellcome says visitors do not have to pay to see it. The exhibition looks at different experiences of ageing and is in Gallery 1 on level 0 of the building.

• Where: Gallery 1, level 0, Wellcome Collection
• Dates: 26 March to 29 November 2026
• Cost: Free

Visiting Free Exhibitions in London: Practical Information

• Cost: All five exhibitions above are free to enter. Some other shows at the same venues are ticketed, including The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain, which costs £22 (free for Tate Members, £5 for Tate Collective).
• Booking: The Serpentine says entry is free but advises visitors to book a ticket.
• Tate Modern hours: Open daily 10:00 to 18:00, and until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Serpentine North hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00.
• Whitechapel Gallery hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00 to 18:00, and until 21:00 on Thursdays. Closed Mondays.
• Prices last checked: October 2026
• Opening hours last checked: October 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best free exhibitions in London right now?

As of October 2026, the standouts are Hyundai Commission: Tarek Atoui at Tate Modern, Tate Britain Commission 2026: Zineb Sedira, Amar Kanwar at the Serpentine, This Must Be the Place at Whitechapel Gallery and The Coming of Age at Wellcome Collection. All five are free to enter, and the Tate Modern commission opens on 13 October.

Is Tate Modern free?

Yes, general admission to Tate Modern is free, as Tate states on its own website. Tate does charge for some exhibitions elsewhere in its galleries, such as The 90s: Art and Fashion at Tate Britain, so check the exhibition page before you go.

Is The 90s exhibition at Tate Britain free?

No, even though Tate Britain itself is free to enter. The 90s: Art and Fashion costs £22, free for Tate Members, with £5 tickets for Tate Collective, according to Tate. The free exhibition at Tate Britain is Zineb Sedira’s commission in the Duveen Galleries.

Do you need to book free exhibitions in London?

It depends on the venue. The Serpentine says entry is free but advises visitors to book a ticket, so check each gallery’s website before you travel.

Which free exhibitions in London are open late?

Tate Modern’s Hyundai Commission is open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and Whitechapel Gallery stays open until 21:00 on Thursdays. On its other open days, each closes at 18:00.

Is Whitechapel Gallery free?

Yes, Whitechapel Gallery’s main entrance is free, though some exhibitions and events are ticketed, according to the Gallery’s About page. Its current show, This Must Be the Place, has free entry.

For more practical UK travel guides, browse the Plan Your Trip collection, or visit the England hub for the rest of the country.