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We all know that London is a treasure trove for art. The capital city is home to some of the most prestigious art institutions in the world, many of which are totally free to explore. But that means it can be easy for Londoners to forget that there’s an abundance of incredible art and exhibitions worth seeing outside of the capital, too.
Time Out has put together a guide to the 16 finest UK galleries outside of London right now. Spanning Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, our feature includes game-changing galleries, dazzling sculpture gardens, purveyors of Victorian art and champions of more contemporary stuff.
Of our 16 favourite galleries in the country, chosen for their bold programming, exceptional curating and inspiring locations, here are six places that make for the perfect artsy day out from the Big Smoke.
RECOMMENDED: The 16 best art galleries in the UK.
The UK’s best art galleries near London
Kettles Yard, Cambridge
The University of Cambridge’s art gallery ranked second on our list. Former owners Jim and Helen Ede donated the property to the university in the ’60s, along with its collection of 20th century art featuring the likes of Alfred Wallis, Ben Nicholson and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska. But that’s not all there is to admire. The house is exquisitely decorated with sleek chairs and tables, charming bookcases, dazzling rugs and striking sculptures. Plus, it regularly holds temporary exhibitions with a more contemporary focus (recent years have spotlighted Lubaina Himid, Harold Offeh and Ai Weiwei).
How to get there: 49-minute train journey from London King’s Cross to Cambridge.
Hastings Contemporary, Hastings
Like many other galleries on our list, the Hastings Contemporary building is a piece of art in itself, blending in with the town’s fishing net shops and shingle beach. Inside, you’ll find equally impressive spread of work. This year it held the first exhibition to explore the connections between 20th-century titans Lucian Freud and Henry Moore and presented a display of 150 artists focusing on the experience of coastal communities and threat of coastal deprivation. There are also regular life drawing classes and Sussex Spotlight exhibitions platforming local artists.
How to get there: One hour, 20-minute train from London Bridge to Hastings.
Sainsbury Centre, Norwich
The Sainsbury Centre is truly one-of-a-kind. All of its art and artefacts are housed in one huge open-plan space, meaning you’ll pass by Picasso drawings and Francis Bacon studies next to traditional crafts from Oceania and objects from medieval Europe. What’s more, the centre is big on presenting art as a living thing to be interacted with, not just stared at. That means visitors are encouraged to hug a Henry Moore sculpture and confide in Giacometti painting, among other things.
How to get there: 90-minute train from London Liverpool Street to Norwich followed by 25-minute bus to University of East Anglia Admissions Building.
Turner Contemporary, Margate
When a gallery is named after one of Britain’s greatest ever painters, it’s fair to expect to big things. And the Turner Contemporary certainly lives up to its namesake. While there are no permanent exhibitions here, the temporary shows are always superb. Visitors can expect to find works displayed by everyone from Antony Gormley and Grayson Perry to Margate’s own Tracey Emin and, of course JMW Turner himself. What’s more, they’re all free to visit.
How to get there: 90-minute train from London St Pancras International to Margate.
Goodwood Art Foundation, Chichester
This not-for-profit art space only opened in 2025. Goodwood Art Foundation occupies the ancient woodlands, glades and wildflower meadows of the 11,000-acre Goodwood Estate in the South Downs and it’s where you’ll find a collection of magnificent sculptures like Yayoi Kusama’s polka dot pumpkins and Rose Wylie’s pink pineapples. Right now, it’s showing installations by American artist Nancy Hunt and over the next few months, it’ll host the first major UK exhibition by Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson in over 10 years.
How to get there: 1 hour, 30-minute train from London Victoria to Chichester station.
Modern Art Oxford, Oxford
Think of the biggest names in contemporary art and it’s likely that their work has been on display at Modern Art Oxford (MAO). From Marina Abramović to Yoko Ono to Anish Kapoor, the gallery is well-versed in putting on exhibitions for cultural heavyweights. But it’s also deft at platforming lesser known artists. Thanks to a major revamp two years ago, Modern Art Oxford is better than ever, with a new gallery and exhibition space, as well as a cafe designed by UK artist Emma Hart.
How to get there: 45-minute train from London Paddington to Oxford Central station.
Did you see that the Barbican has announced its 2027 art programme with a high fashion takeover?
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