An Art Tour of London
Today, London's art scene is infamous the world over. Be it lining the grand rooms of The National Gallery, or jutting from the floorboards of a derelict squat in Hackney Wick - art is everywhere in London. Previously, London was hemmed in by its more culturally more significant neighbours on either side: Paris and New York - whose art markets were notoriously either more rich, more experimental, or both. However, since the rise in the early nineties of the notorious YBAs, London has stood firmly at the epicentre of the artistic world, with both a massive array of fledgling galleries run by students and artists scattered throughout the ex-industrial east; and the ludicrously moneyed galleries and auction houses of the glittering west.
Any visitor to London would be wise to start with the familiar and welcoming - and where better for that than Tate Modern. Its is architecture, location, and remit of providing approachable and informative displays of modern and contemporary art has proved a huge success with visitors and, along with Tate Britain across the river, presents a great launch pad for appreciating London's artistic heritage.
More contemporaneously however, The ICA is a great place to see something truly new. With an ever changing roster of exhibitions across three floors, The ICA has a reputation for putting on challenging exhibitions, along with some respite in the form of a decent little bar and a very good bookshop.
An equivalent to The ICA is The Whitechapel Gallery by Aldgate East: another place that, since the sixties, has provided a venue for some of the most exciting artists from around the world.
Once you're feeling warmed-up by these institutions (or perhaps completely frazzled), you might want to delve a little deeper into the small, commercial gallery world of East London. Often a much more thrilling experience than attending the shows at the established venues, seeking the good stuff can be a daunting and occasionally unrewarding experience. Nevertheless, persistence will be rewarded with some potentially amazing sights, not to mention the smug knowledge that, unlike the other five million-odd London sight-seers, you've found something pretty unique.
London is the perfect city to spend a long, art-going weekend in, so why not find one of the cheap hotels in London, Cheap bed and breakfast in London, budget London b&b, cheap London bed and breakfast or stay at Tavistock hotel Russell Square London, Royal National hotel London and President Hotel London which are all in Russell Square Bloomsbury. There are also other Bloomsbury hotels
Any visitor to London would be wise to start with the familiar and welcoming - and where better for that than Tate Modern. Its is architecture, location, and remit of providing approachable and informative displays of modern and contemporary art has proved a huge success with visitors and, along with Tate Britain across the river, presents a great launch pad for appreciating London's artistic heritage.
More contemporaneously however, The ICA is a great place to see something truly new. With an ever changing roster of exhibitions across three floors, The ICA has a reputation for putting on challenging exhibitions, along with some respite in the form of a decent little bar and a very good bookshop.
An equivalent to The ICA is The Whitechapel Gallery by Aldgate East: another place that, since the sixties, has provided a venue for some of the most exciting artists from around the world.
Once you're feeling warmed-up by these institutions (or perhaps completely frazzled), you might want to delve a little deeper into the small, commercial gallery world of East London. Often a much more thrilling experience than attending the shows at the established venues, seeking the good stuff can be a daunting and occasionally unrewarding experience. Nevertheless, persistence will be rewarded with some potentially amazing sights, not to mention the smug knowledge that, unlike the other five million-odd London sight-seers, you've found something pretty unique.
London is the perfect city to spend a long, art-going weekend in, so why not find one of the cheap hotels in London, Cheap bed and breakfast in London, budget London b&b, cheap London bed and breakfast or stay at Tavistock hotel Russell Square London, Royal National hotel London and President Hotel London which are all in Russell Square Bloomsbury. There are also other Bloomsbury hotels