Posted 2 hours ago
Sun 29 Mar, 2026 09:03 AM
My own experience this year . . .
London’s art scene is renowned, diverse and great for encouraging student access! Visiting the city’s infamous galleries with free, open access to their permanent collections, spurred me to make the most of LSE’s central location, the London Art scene, to find places to visit and activities to do, all student-budget friendly!
After purchasing a student Art Fund pass over Christmas for £10, I’ve since visited The National Gallery’s ‘Radical Optimism’ exhibition on pointillism for a discounted price (only £14), and The Wallace Collection for free!
A great day out. An incredible array of art from across Europe collected by the 4th Marquess. With a lovely café as well as imperial relics and armour, this exhibition truly has something for everyone. I was fortunate to see Da Vinci's . . .
Address: Just a road off Marylebone High Street!
Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, Greater London, W1U 3BN
Places to go with the Student Art Pass . . .
Free opportunities for pass-holders!
Less than 10 minutes away from campus in the beautiful Somerset House, come to see the best of the Impressionists & post-Impressionists!
Manet’s, a Van Gogh and Cézanne’s displayed in London’s oldest exhibition space.
There is also a lovely café to have brunch, lunch and afternoon tea on this day out!
Address:
Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 0RN
Visit Dickens’ home at the start of his career, where he wrote Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. Drinks and snacks available in the Walled Garden.
Address:
48-49 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LX
A 20-minute walk from campus!
For fans of architectural history. This home of the 1st Duke of Wellington after defeating Napoleon was designed by Robert Adam and is filled with paintings, trophies and other memorabilia
Address:
149 Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner W1J 7NT.
50% off the following opportunities for pass-holders!
There’s a 50% discount for short term exhibitions like the current Samurai exhibition (open until 4th May 2026).
Notably the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition is also returning for September 2026 but there are also many more!
Address:
Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG
Birthplace of Queen Victoria, Art Pass members enjoy 50% on exhibitions and free entry at other times.
The Jewel Room houses the treasures of the Royal Family from the past 300 years. There is also the Palace Café which is a lovely way to end the day.
Address:
Kensington Gardens, London, Greater London, W8 4PX
One of the most beautiful buildings in London, housing over 2000 portraits including 7 cartoons by Raphael.
Students can enjoy 50% off exhibits and free entry with a café and two shops inside. It also serves as a nice study space in South Kensington, come exam time!
Address:
Cromwell Road, London, Greater London, SW7 2RL
Built on the sight of a former prison in Pimlico, the Tate Britain now houses the largest collection of JMW Turner as well as Hockney, Hepworth and Hogarth (and others that don’t start with an ‘H’).
On the Victoria line, this museum offers a nice day out with friends and offers free entry with 50% off exhibits.
Address:
Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG
Occupying the former Bankside Power Station, the buildings architecture is worth the visit alone.
It hosts a vast variety of exhibitions (at 50% off) and is best tailored to those who like to challenge their thinking with their art.
Top tip – its quietest at the start and end of each day, a great time to snag the prime river-side views at the café!
Address:
Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
With over 2,300 paintings, this gallery covers every major European discipline over the best part of a millennium. With Vermeer’s, Titian’s, Turner’s and others, it’s well worth a visit to see the free permanent exhibitions for a fun day out!
However, its temporary exhibitions at 50% off are always incredible with a Van Gogh show last year (which I was lucky enough to visit!) as well as a Cubist exhibition featuring Picasso.
Address:
Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN
Things to try . . .
-> Keep an eye out for monthly art-themed Halls events!
-> Visit the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition!
-> V&A Friday Late Nights - free & drop-in!
-> Free National Gallery Events! Including sketching, workshops and more . . .
