Camden Arts Centre
What Visitors Say
Interesting modern art in a tastefully modernised building. Nice cafe with healthy food and views into the garden.
Absolutely love this place! A little oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of Finchley Road. The exhibition spaces are beautiful and the cafe is faultless. Lovely beer on tap and delicious sandwiches and cakes. Great environment to work in, with adjoining garden. It also has a ceramics studio and well-stocked gift shop full of interesting books. Caught a couple of exhibitions whilst there and, although small, well worth it. Staff are lovely and the service was fast and efficient. They don’t do takeaway coffees but not a problem for us since we love the cafe and garden anyway!
A lovely pleasant space with galleries, a shop and cafe plus accessible parking. It's kind of hidden away. Friendly staff too and a massive lift. The fantastic exhibition I saw was free, unsure if this is always the case.
After my first visit back in 3-4 years ago,I made my way back to Camden Art Centre today 🙌 The last time I visited an art gallery was in Barcelona this past Spring, so it felt wonderful to dive back into the vibrant art scene right here in my neighbourhood. 🌿 The current exhibition, “All Rendered Truth” by Lonnie Holley, was a standout experience. Holley’s work is deeply evocative, blending raw emotion with intricate storytelling. His paintings are rich with texture and colour, each one telling a unique story that draws you in and makes you reflect. The visual/video art was even more captivating, combining powerful imagery with thought-provoking themes. It’s an exhibition that lingers in your mind long after you leave the gallery. ✨ Post-exhibition, the staff kindly asked me to fill out a survey, and in return, I got a coupon for a free hot drink at their lovely café. ☕ I remembered the café and garden from my last visit, and they’re still as charming as ever. It’s clear why so many locals come here for a peaceful moment. It felt wonderful to reconnect with art so close to home. If you haven’t been in a while, I highly recommend a visit! 👍🎉👍🎉
Very good contemporary art gallery about 10 minutes walk from Hampstead Underground Station. The building the Centre occupies was opened in 1897 as the Hampstead Central Library. It now combines historic architecture with open, modern spaces, a café, bookshop and secluded garden, with free entry for all. We visited to see the Bloomberg New Contemporaries show which included some very interesting works. The exhibition is on until 14 April 2024 and is well worth a visit.
Highlights
Main Galleries
Museum-quality shows without museum overwhelmRotating solo and group projects favour risk and depth over spectacle.
Ground and first floors
Studios & Residencies
Process on viewVisiting artists develop new work here—talks and open studios let you catch ideas mid-flight.
Onsite workspaces (check programme)
Garden & Café
Reset between showsA small walled garden that doubles as spill-over for performances and readings.
Rear of the centre
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The centre occupies the former Hampstead Central Library (1897), repurposed for art in the 1960s.
Its programme is known for artists’ residencies—often the first UK outing for international names who later headline larger institutions.
The intimate scale means you can see everything in under an hour—rare for London—and still feel you’ve had a rigorous encounter with contemporary art.
