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Top 5 Art Galleries Outside of London

Not all the best spots are in the capital. If you find yourself venturing outside of London and you're looking for some artistic inspiration then read on to discover our top 5 art galleries outside of the city...

A modern glass building with a textured facade stands beside a large open area. The sky above is blue with wispy clouds and a hint of sunset. In the background, a small lighthouse and a distant cityscape can be seen near a calm body of water.
Image Credit: turnercontemporary.org

If you feel like you've explored the London art scene till your hearts content and you're desperate to escape our concrete jungle that is London, why not take a short trip by train or car and discover the best art galleries that the South East of England has to offer. 

Turner Contemporary

A rusted metal statue of a human figure stands partially submerged in water near a shore, with a modern white building and a cloudy sky in the background. A few people are visible on the shore and building.
Image Credit: turnercontemporary.org

Rendezvous, Margate CT9 1HG

If you're interested in contemporary art and love architectural design, Turner Contemporary is well worth a visit. Since it opened in Margate in 2011 the gallery has played host to many intruiging and immersive exhibitions. Their shop also collaborates with local artists and makers to creating something unique allowing your experience to be enhanced. The best part? It's only an hour away from central London by train from St. Pancras. Admission to the gallery is completely free, and after you're done learning and being inspired, you can explore the beautiful seaside town of Margate. 

For more information about the Turner Contemporary's current and upcoming exhibitions, please see the website.

Watts Gallery Artists Village

A marble sculpture of a woman's head with flowing hair is displayed centrally, surrounded by framed paintings on red walls in a museum gallery. Visitors are seen observing the artwork around the room. The ceiling features arched and skylight windows.
Image Credit: wattsgallery.org.uk

Down Ln, Guildford GU3 1DQ

Nestled away on the edge of the stunning Surrey Hills, Watts Gallery is a purpose built gallery created to display the works of the renowned Victorian artist G F Watts. Over 100 paintings by Watts are on permanent display, along with a programme of temporary exhibitions showcasing the work of Watts' peers and the Victorian era in general. Alongside the beautiful terracotta-clad gallery, the Artists' Village features stunning Victorian architecture including the truly extraordinary Grade-1 listed chapel designed and created by G F Watts' wife, Mary Watts along with help from local villagers. On your visit, why not treat yourself to cream tea in the award-winning tea shop. Guildford is only an hour away from the city centre via London Waterloo. 

To discover more about whats on at the Watts Gallery, click here.

Ticket prices start at £13.50 upwards. For more information click here.

Modern Art Oxford

A two-story building with a dark gray, modern facade featuring large windows on both levels and two doorways on the ground floor. The building has the word OXFORD written vertically on the exterior. Adjacent buildings are partially visible.
Image Credit: modernartoxford.org.uk

 30 Pembroke St, Oxford OX1 1BP

Dubbed as one of the UK's leading contemporary art spaces, Modern Art Oxford was founded in 1965 and has a rich history of bold and progressive programming that promotes diversity and internationalism alongside public engagement with creativity and the arts. With a commitment to education and internationalism, the gallery offers educational experiences for visitors of all ages using art and creativity to span their reach to tens of thousands of people each year. 

To find out more on what's on at the gallery click here. 

The Oxford Tube bus goes every 10 minutes from London and since the gallery is free, there is no reason at all why you shouldn't make a visit!

Towner Gallery

A cyclist rides past a modern building with a vibrant, multicolored facade. The wall features dynamic, radiating stripes in shades of blue, green, purple, yellow, red, and pink. Large windows and the sign TOWNER Gallery are also visible.
Image Credit: Marc Atkins

Devonshire Park, College Rd, Eastbourne BN21 4JJ

As well as being a contemporary art gallery, The Towner is a museum housing a collection of around 4,500 works of modern British art including the most significant body of work by Eric Ravilious. In just under one and half hours from London Victoria, you can reach the Towner Art Gallery in the seaside town of Eastbourne. Up until 2009, the Towner was a Georgian manor house in the old town of Eastbourne but due to its success, plans were approved to build a purpose-built gallery. The art gallery has the biggest display space in South East England with a rolling programme of national and international contemporary art exhibitions. All exhibitions are free to enter! If that's not all, once you've wandered arounf the gallery you can book a slot at the cinema to wind down before you head to the city. 

To plan your visit from London, click here.

Opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00am to 5.00pm, and Bank Holiday Mondays.

Jerwood Gallery

An art installation featuring a large, rough-textured arch with a stone-like appearance is suspended within a modern, white-walled gallery. The floor is dark gray with a tiled design, and the gallery is well-lit by natural light from large windows.
Image Credit: Jerwood Arts via Facebook

Rock-a-Nore Rd, Hastings TN34 3DW

A pattern seems to be emerging here (artistically of course)- the Jerwood Gallery is the final gallery on our list, and another is located in a seaside town. Situated next to the historic fishing beach in Hastings, the Jerwood Gallery building is an awe-inspiring architectural design that has been the recipient of many awards including the RIBA Award. You can marvel at its incredible design, featuring 8,000 black tiles, hand glazed in Kent, which fit with the landscape of nearby fishermen's net huts. Within the gallery itself, you will find over 250 works of art created between the First World War and the 1960s. For you contemporary art enthusiasts, there are also paintings by artists including Rose Wylie, Maggi Hambling and Gillian Ayres.

For more information, please see the website.