The Photographers’ Gallery
A few metres away from the tumult of Oxford Street, The Photographers’ Gallery feels like a cultural sanctuary.
It usually hosts two or three exhibitions at once across a handful of narrow floors and it’s always worth seeing what they have on. The programming is accessible, with big names regularly showing up on their walls. And even when you don’t recognise the photographer, you’re likely to discover interesting photos.
The main exhibitions are ticketed but they usually cost around £10, which is good value considering the central location.
It has a cafe and an excellent shop downstairs that sells film alongside photography books, magazines, Cafe Royal Books zines, and prints. Keep an eye out for book signing events and talks.
thephotographersgallery.org.uk
16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW
Opening hours:
Monday-Wednesday: 10am – 6pm
Thursday-Friday: 10am – 8pm
Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm
Bank holidays: 11am – 6pm
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Food: Kingly Court, Hoppers, Brasserie Zedel
Pubs: The Old Coffee House, The French House
Art: Rhodes Contemporary
The Photography Centre at the V&A
According to the V&A, its Photography Centre is the largest space in the UK dedicated to a permanent photography collection.
The centre is tucked away in the corner of the museum but it’s an impressive space. The main area (rooms 100 and 101) features two long conjoined rooms that house photographs and objects from the 1840s to today. One of the rooms was funded by a donation from Sir Elton John and David Furnish, who have built up an enviable photography collection.
Separately, in room 95 there is an interactive exhibit that explores the history of cameras and how they work. The Parasol Foundation Gallery (rooms 96 and 97) features contemporary photographs. And The Kusuma Gallery (room 98) houses the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) Library’s 20,000+ journals, books and manuals. In the Kusuma Gallery you can also browse a selection of contemporary photo books.
And all of that costs nothing to see. The museum does have paid exhibitions that feature photography and you can make a donation when you enter the V&A, but, like many of London’s museums, admission is completely free.
While you’re there you can also explore the museum’s vast collection of other art and design objects, and enjoy the Victorian architecture.
www.vam.ac.uk/south-kensington
Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL
Opening hours:
Daily: 10am – 5.45pm
Friday: 10am – 10pm
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Food: V&A Café – eat in the main rooms downstairs that feature incredible tiled walls, Honest Burger, Comptoir Libanais, Lina Stores
Pubs: Zetland Arms, Hereford Arms
Museums: Natural History Museum, Science Museum
Hamiltons
Hamiltons is a private gallery that represents a number of big name photographers including Richard Avedon, Don McCullin and Helmut Newton.
It was founded in 1977, making it one of the UK’s longest standing photography galleries.
They have a stylish space in Mayfair where they host exhibitions that usually focus on one of the photographers they represent and last about three months. They should be free to attend.
The building can be easy to miss. It’s on a pretty street just up from the Connaught Hotel. The gallery is a solid, squat red brick building sandwiched between some posh shops and apartments.
13 Carlos Pl, London W1K 2EU
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 11am – 4pm
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Art: Phillips auction house
Pub: The Audley
Food: Mercato Mayfair
Michael Hoppen
A private gallery specialising in photography based in west London that has a huge collection of prints available.
While they represent a significant number of Japanese artists, they have work available from a wide range of photographers including important figures such as Bill Brandt, William Klein and Deborah Turbeville.
They also have a shop that offers contemporary and rare photo books.
Check their website to see what they have on at their exhibition space, although be aware that it’s only open Monday to Friday.
10 Portland Road, London W11 4LA
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 10am – 6pm
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Food and drink: Six Portland Road, The Castle pub
Museum: The Design Museum
Atlas Gallery
Like Michael Hoppen, Atlas is another commercial gallery that was founded in the 1990s and is dedicated to photography.
They have prints available from the likes of Robert Capa, Robert Mapplethorpe and Henri Cartier-Bresson. As well as having collections from traditional and street photographers, they have work that is more artistic and experimental.
Their exhibition space is free to visit and it’s based in Marylebone, which is a pleasant area to stroll around.
49 Dorset St, London W1U 7NF
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 11am – 5pm
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Art: The Wallace Collection
Food: Hoppers, Lina Stores, Flat Iron
Pubs: The Barley Mow, Coach Makers Arms
Shop: Daunt Books
Autograph
Autograph is a charity that has a mission to ‘champion the work of artists who use photography and film to highlight questions of race, representation, human rights and social justice’.
They have an east London exhibition space that is free to visit and purchases of prints or books support its arts and learning programme.
The exhibitions can be just as good as those in paid-for galleries, so it’s well worth seeing what they have on.
They host events and actively encourage practicing and emerging photographers to apply for open calls and opportunities they list on their website.
Rivington Place, 1 Rivington Pl, London EC2A 3BA
Opening hours:
Wednesday and Friday: 11am – 6pm
Thursday: 11am – 9pm
Saturday: 12:30pm – 6pm
Bank holidays: Closed
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Food: Smokestack
Drinks: The Princess, Strongroom
Shopping and more food options: Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, Boxpark
Photofusion
Originally formed as a co-operative by a group of female photographers, Photofusion is now a photographic hub that includes darkrooms, gallery space, and digital printing facilities.
They are tucked away down an alley in the heart of Brixton and also offer a range of courses, from introductions to photography and printing to learning how to create a photo book.
Their gallery space hosts exhibitions and events, often with a more socially conscious focus.
Brixton has a lot to offer in terms of food, drinks, and shopping, so if you’re already in the area, stop by to see what’s on at Photofusion.
Unit 2, 2 Beehive Pl, London SW9 7QR
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am – 6pm
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Food: Brixton Village
Pub: Trinity Arms
Art and culture: Black Cultural Archive, Ritzy
Proud Galleries
For a long time Proud had a home in Camden but it’s now based near Charing Cross.
The gallery focuses on pop culture, especially rock and pop music from the past 50 years.
This is the place to go if you want to see shots of David Bowie looking cool, Freddie Mercury strutting across a stage, or Amy Winehouse applying lipstick.
32 John Adam St, London WC2N 6BP
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 11am – 6pm
Bank holidays: Closed
London in Focus’s recommendations nearby
Food: Blacklock, Joe Allen, Honest Burger
Drinks: Gordon’s Wine Bar, Porterhouse
Gallery: Somerset House
Other places to see photography in London
Here’s a list of museums and galleries that aren’t dedicated to photography but often host photography exhibitions.
- Somerset House
- National Portrait Gallery
- Saatchi Gallery
- Tate Modern
- Tate Britain
- Hayward Gallery
- Barbican
- The Leica store
- Natural History Museum
See a list of photography exhibitions taking place in London in 2025 here.
London In Focus 
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