Royal Academy of Arts
What Visitors Say
This is definitely one of my favorite cultural stops every time I am in Piccadilly. I spent a peaceful afternoon exploring their latest temporary exhibition and wandering through the main galleries. You can really feel the creative energy in every room, and the architecture beautifully blends tradition with modern touches. I love that it feels much more intimate and less crowded than other large London museums, making it perfect for genuine inspiration. It’s a true artistic gem that is always worth the visit, especially if you appreciate artist-led institutions.
Visited RA at the weekend to see the Kerry James Marshall exhibition, The Histories. Absolutely mesmerising! The RA was the perfect location as it could accommodate all of the art - there was so much to see! Now I'm no stranger to KJM, he is one of my favourite artists but to be up close to such epic large scale paintings was mind blowing. There was 70 works to see, his largest exhibition outside of the US, and probably the first chance for many in the UK to see too. Vivid, powerful paintings that were full of references which spanned civil rights and art history. So glad I made the time to see this exhibition - very moving and memorable.
Last night I had the pleasure of going to the royal academy of arts to see the Kerry James marshall exhibition and I had such an amazing time, witnessing such pieces. I'm into renaissance art but it's good to go out of your comfort zone and see something different. I don't know much about this artist so it was nice to learn about him, his pieces and the type of art that he produces. I feel like Kerry James has a number of styles, so he is extremely versatile. I had such an amazing time here, to the exhibition but also the Royal academy of arts. The Royal Academy of Arts is a prestigious art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly. It is known for being a Palladian mansion that hosts world-class art exhibitions, including its legendary open-submission summer show.
Really good Kerry James Marshall exhibition. Beautiful Artwork. Sadly this exhibition ends on the 20th of January 2026. I will definitely try to go again before it ends. An American artist whose work looks at African American lives. I loved every piece in the exhibition. Go and have a look. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Museums in London are world beating. Its a privilege to live in a city with such a breath of free and paid for establishments. This was my first having spent decades living in the metropolis. I was not disappointed and will endeavour to return when time and new galleries are established. A solid 5 stars and well deserved.
Highlights
Summer Exhibition
The world’s longest-running open call (since 1769)Thousands of works—from students to Royal Academicians—hung frame-to-frame in joyful chaos.
Main galleries, June–August
The Taddei Tondo
The only marble sculpture by Michelangelo in the UKA tender, unfinished roundel—chisel marks still alive across Christ, the Infant St John and Mary.
Collection Gallery (check daily location)
Collection Highlights
Academy history in portraits and prize piecesReynolds to Hockney—self-images of an institution that’s always argued with itself.
Burlington House, collection room
Architecture Studio
The RA is also an architecture schoolModels, materials and city-scale questions shown plainly enough to argue with.
Dedicated project space
Opening Hours
Fun Facts
The Summer Exhibition has run every year since 1769—even through wars—making it the world’s longest continuous open-submission show.
Michelangelo’s ‘Taddei Tondo’ is the only marble by the artist in the UK; its unfinished surface preserves his working process.
The RA Schools, a three-year postgraduate programme, is the oldest art school in Britain and historically offered free tuition to its students.
