Skip the tourist queues and step into Black spaces in

So here’s the thing: you can totally spend your first few weeks in London trotting around all those “must-see” art spots, like I did when I first moved. I was wandering Tate Modern trying to “get” why someone taped a banana to the wall. And sure, those spots are iconic for a reason. but I had a hard time connecting with what I was seeing. I kept telling myself, “I’m supposed to like this, right?”

But here’s what no one tells you: London is full of Black-owned and Black-focused spaces. And that's where I quickly realized what was missing from the others. In these places, art is representation, it’s history, it’s us. You see yourself, your community, and your culture reflected right back at you. And honestly? That hits way harder than any ultra-minimalist installation ever could.

So, if my little cousin just moved here and needed to feel plugged in, this is exactly where I’d take them.

Autograph Gallery (Shoreditch)

If you’re into photography that actually makes you think, Autograph is the right spot. It started in the ’80s to showcase Black photographers, and it’s still a hub for art about identity, race, and belonging. The exhibitions are free and the vibe is very chill. It’s definitely the kind of place you leave feeling like you’ve just had a conversation rather than looked at “artsy stuff.”

Location: Rivington Place, Shoreditch

Website: autograph.org.uk

198 Contemporary Arts & Learning (Brixton)

This place is pure community energy. It’s very small and local. More importantly, it’s rooted in the Black Arts Movement. Think intimate exhibitions, projects with young creatives, and spaces where you’re part of the dialogue. Perfect if you want something authentic and away from the “Instagram crowd.”

Location: 198 Railton Rd, Brixton

Website: 198.org.uk

Prince of Peckham (Peckham)

This is where art meets nightlife. The Prince of Peckham is a Black-owned pub that doubles as a creative hub. One week it’s an exhibition, next week it’s stand-up comedy, and by Friday night there’s a DJ spinning Afrobeats upstairs. It’s less “art gallery” and more of a “hangout where you just happen to catch amazing talent while grabbing wings" haha.

Location 1 Clayton Rd, Peckham

Website: princeofpeckham.co.uk

Tate Modern (Bankside) - but hear me out!

Yes, Tate is massive and can feel like a tourist treadmill. But when they spotlight Black artists, they do it big. The Zanele Muholi retrospective? Unreal. Hundreds of photos telling stories that never get told in mainstream spaces. So, keep your eyes on their schedule!!

Location: Bankside, London SE1

Website: tate.org.uk

Honestly, some of the best art isn’t in a gallery at all. Brixton has murals of local icons like Olive Morris, Shoreditch walls change every week with new graffiti, and Hackney loves a pop-up show in some random warehouse.

Don’t treat these spots like checkboxes. So, don’t just go once, snap a pic, and dip!!! Go back. Invite friends from your hall or course. Talk to people. Say yes to a random workshops. These are the types of places that turn a giant city like London into a community.