Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Hayward Gallery

    4.3 (38 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Hayward Gallery Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Hayward Gallery

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    From the David Shrigley exhibit, on the outside of the building.
    Laura M.

    I was very impressed with the Hayward Gallery. We went to see the David Shrigley exhibit. Unfortunately, the gallery closed quite early and we didn't get a chance to view the Jeremy Deller exhibit. The gallery is very clean and neatly organized and run. Photographs are prohibited and gallery staff stood at most corners of the gallery to enforce that rule. The curator organizes the Shrigley exhibition very nicely; his works, dealing with contemporary social, political and general existential life musings, flowed into one another throughout the exhibit. Exhibits should be jarring in the way that the artist's actual work is jarring, not the way it is laid out. This being said, the Hayward Gallery did a swell job in displaying the art so the focus was the art rather than the curation. Nietzsche and Kandinsky would be proud. Students: don't forget to use your student ID for store discounts and ticket sales discounts!

    Psycho Buildings Exhibition
    Katey H.

    It's in Southbank. So i like it. A lot. I recently got myself a Southbank centre membership, so now i get into all exhibitions here for free! Woo. Looking forward to the Ed Ruscha exhib, but greatly enjoyed Psycho Buildings (Boating on the roof of the gallery. That's special) and Walking in my mind. The shop is pretty good too. I have an obsession with museum/gallery shops. I sometimes go to such places solely for the shopping experience! If they're not too busy its ok, but i hate it when people hover around the postcard section causing unnecessary congestion.

    Jules H.

    I like a bit of art on the weekend. Actually ... that's not correct. I like art any day of the week ... and yes: not all art is good and I take the right to bitch about it. The Hayward Gallery is one of my favourite exhibition spaces in London. I think their curators really enjoys modern and contemporary art AND have good taste. I say this because there is a lot of fun and thoughtful art out there and there is also a lot of the really boring and sarcastic art. Artist who just take it out on the viewer and make it obvious that they couldn't care less about their opinion. Not nice. Hayward presents art that is mostly interactive, has something to say or its just good looking. I went rowing on one of the upper terraces some years back, got lost in the fog room, was sliding down a silver chute and recently got into an infinity box in the current "Light" exhibition. Fun, fun, fun with a bit of culture on the side. I like it.

    Gareth H.

    The Hayward Gallery is the visual arts centre of The Southbank Centre. Located just back from the river, next to Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Purcell Room, The Hayward Gallery can be reached via a short walk from either Embankment or Waterloo tube stations. Inside, the gallery offers some of the most interesting contemporary art available in the capital and constantly maintains its relevance with new talent, talks and projects. Currently the Hayward is playing host to a major exhibition of screen art from the greatest artist of pop culture: Andy Warhol. The exhibition space is gloriously laid out and really encourages the viewer to immerse themselves into the art. Almost everywhere one turns there is an eye-catching feature or a clever use of lighting. In addition to Warhol one can currently find an exhibition by the lesser known but increasingly important performance artist: Robin Rhode. Hailing from South Africa, Rhode is fast becoming recognised as one of the world's most important contemporary performers and artists and as part of this exhibition you can see a collection of his drawings and photographs. Due to its rather diminutive size in comparison with the nearby Tate Modern you get a more secretive and accomodating atmosphere at the Hayward Gallery which is perfect when trying to immerse yourself in the various pieces. This is a wonderful and ever-changing gallery that is constantly being re-invented and as such remains at the forefront of the London art scene.

    miserable hayward employee in action being miserable despite having best job in world
    Qype User (BushGi…)

    I very rarely go to the Hayward, but when I do, I love it. I think I like it so much possibly because I see it so rarely, and I've just seen excellent exhibitions. Last year I saw the Gormley and I really enjoyed it. This year I went to see the Psycho Buildings exhibition which I thought was generally excellent but really far too expensive. Also, one of the exhibits was closed (the boating lake) and they offered no discount or anything. I felt this was quite shabby on behalf of the Hayward, particulary in light of the limited number of exhibits (as most are so large they take up a lot of space each). The 'lottery' system to get on the top part of the big plastic bubble I also thought was not especially great, again because of the closed exhibit and the fact that there were not many people when I went (mid-week morning), and everythere could feasibly have queued for it. I'm glad I got to go on it, because it was definitely the best thing in the whole exhibition despite the jobsworthy bloke doing the 'lottery' and the miserable woman in the bubble itself. If my job was to lie on a cloub above London in glorious sunshine and say 'don't go too close to the edges' I would be BESIDE MYSELF with glee. The woman who actually does it needs to appreciate what a great job she has and not be such a miserable bitch about it because she is arguably ruining the exhibit for everyone who has paid £10 to see it! AGH! The gallery itself is part of the South Bank Centre and is testament to 1950's architecture, which is both ugly and intriguing. Standing on one of the balconies and peering over the edge reminded me of Oblivion at Alton Towers. The views over London from the gallery's outdoor spaces are fantastic, and Gormley's bronze men were a brilliant bit of site-specific work which illuminated this area of London beautifully.

    Slide was great fun!
    Stefan P.

    I like the Haywood though it is slightly hidden amongst the other South Bank institutions. Perhaps that's its charm. Like the Whitechapel it isn't afraid to stage exhibitions which are most definitely out of the ordinary. We went to see Carsten Holler which is the only time I've exited an exhibition via a slide attached to the side of the building! Because the Haywood has no permanent exhibition it feels less like a gallery and more a temporary space for whatever it is displaying. I like that change from places like the RA and Tate for that reason. It is also very well set up for enjoying all the delights of the South Bank before or after.

    Clarissa D.

    The Hayward Gallery is a great venue for art exhibitions. The concrete and the white walls give the interior the feel of a blank canvas so that every show they host has a unique quality. I saw Robin Rhodes' 'Who Saw Who' and Andy Warhol's exhibition here. They were both amazing. I love Andy Warhol, but I preferred Rhodes' exhibit. He's a young South African artist that uses chalk, walls and photographs to make art out of nothing, so to speak. He's really talented and I recommend going to see his work to anyone interested in modern art. Back to the venue: it's cool. The gift shop is nice too.

    Slides at the Hayward gallery

    See all

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Meike B.
    190
    1204
    2167

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gareth H.
    0
    212
    152

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Clarissa D.
    36
    378
    353

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sarah L.
    21
    273
    243

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    19 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    I've only ever visited to go to the Carsten Holler Decision exhib. Was interesting, weird but queues were quite long!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Matt C.
    0
    92
    40

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bea B.
    14
    192
    107

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Glen S.
    7
    218
    208

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris O.
    22
    587
    43

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 years ago

    Always showing really interesting exhibitions!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Hayward Gallery Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Hayward Gallery

    Part of the Southbank centre, the Hayward gallery is a fantastic addition to the many galleries in London.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Museums 506 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    The British Museum - At British Museum

    The British Museum

    4.6(1.3k reviews)
    0.9 miBloomsbury

    Huge crowds and it wasn't even a weekend. Reason: free…read more This is equivalent to Natural History ones in US. However, there are historical contexts with british roman empires and other inclusions that makes this place distinct in a variety of ways. There are also kid packet activities- ask front desk. Some areas have uneven heating and cooling so you may be prone to fainting / esp if the ennui alone is not enough to get you there- ha! Place is great for history buffs, though, as it is free- do not expect high end bathrooms and overall exceptional service. Otherwise, 5 stars for being free and for a very elaborate set up.

    British Museum, London, April 5…read more Our family of four with kids ages 9 and 10 spent part of the afternoon at the British Museum as an easy cultural stop during our London stay. Entry to the permanent collection is free and straightforward, with no reservation required, which made it simple to drop in. There are paid special exhibitions, but the main museum itself is open access. Arrival and First Impressions Entry to the building was very easy, and once inside the scale is immediate. The Great Court sets the tone right away, and everything feels larger and more layered than expected. Even just orienting yourself takes a moment because of how expansive the space is. Getting in was smooth and flexible, and the museum handles steady crowds well without ever feeling restrictive, which helped a lot with kids in tow. The Highlights The Egyptian galleries are one of the first moments where the scale really lands. The large stone sculptures and statues are far bigger in person than photos suggest, and they create a dramatic backdrop as you move through the space. The Rosetta Stone was another key highlight. Seeing it in person adds a different level of context, especially knowing its role in unlocking ancient Egyptian writing. It is not large or flashy compared to some of the other artifacts in the room, but it carries a quiet importance that draws attention naturally. The Samurai exhibition was a standout and required a paid entry ticket. It was absolutely worth it. The display of full armor sets, helmets, weapons, and artwork created a complete and visually rich picture of samurai life. The craftsmanship in the armor in particular held everyone's attention far longer than expected, and it felt more immersive than a typical museum exhibit. We also spent time in the hands-on style learning stations, which were a strong break in pace. These included real artifacts like a flint knife that was thousands of years old and a Roman cosmetic jar believed to have been used for eye makeup. Seeing objects like that up close made history feel very tangible for the kids in a way that glass cases alone do not. There is also a family area tucked away downstairs that worked well as a short reset point. It felt quieter and more relaxed, and it gave the kids a chance to decompress before continuing, which made the overall visit more sustainable. The museum works best as a series of short, flexible stops rather than a structured route, and we naturally moved based on interest and energy levels. The Challenges The main challenge is scale. It is very easy to underestimate how large the British Museum is, and even with breaks built in, pacing becomes the key factor in how enjoyable the visit feels. Trying to cover too much quickly would likely be overwhelming, especially for kids. Would We Return Yes, but with a more focused plan and specific sections chosen in advance rather than trying to see everything broadly again. Final Thoughts The British Museum is best experienced in segments rather than as a single continuous visit. The Egyptian galleries, the Rosetta Stone, the Samurai exhibition, and the hands-on artifact stations all offered very different but equally strong experiences. It is free, accessible, and incredibly rich, but the real value comes from slowing down and treating it like a collection of smaller discoveries, with breaks built in, rather than a single museum to "finish."

    Photos
    The British Museum - At British Museum

    At British Museum

    The British Museum - British Museum_Yelp_Sanju-1

    British Museum_Yelp_Sanju-1

    The British Museum - Easter Island head

    See all

    Easter Island head

    The National Gallery - A full room of Rembrandts

    The National Gallery

    4.7(546 reviews)
    0.6 miTrafalgar Square

    Stopped by the National Gallery yesterday, and honestly, this place is amazing. It's way bigger…read morethan I expected -- room after room packed with artwork from all the famous painters you learn about in school. And the vibe is super chill. Every room has benches so you can sit down, relax, and actually enjoy the art instead of rushing through. The best part? It's completely FREE to get in. You just walk in and suddenly you're face‑to‑face with pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and a ton of others. You could easily spend hours here and still not see everything. There's just so much to take in -- colors, details, history, all of it. It's the kind of place where you keep saying "okay, just one more room" and then an hour goes by. If you're in London, this is a must‑visit. Beautiful art, relaxed atmosphere, and again... it's FREE. Absolutely worth your time.

    The National Gallery is a must see on your visit to London. We went on a Friday night because they…read morewere opened until 9:00 pm. We thought that evening might be a quiet time to go, but the Gallery was packed with art lovers. The Gallery is huge and free to visit, although donations are emcouraged. The building is Greek Revival with a modern addition that serves as the visitor entrance. Ornate domes, marble and granite staircases and beautiful woodwork add to the grandeur. The complex is made up of galleries of art organized by time period, several cafes and gift shops. Maps throughout the complex are very helpful. The Museum houses the most extensive collection of Masters that I've ever seen. There is an entire gallery of spectacular Rembrandt paintings. I enjoyed comparing his style between the different works. Four galleries are filled with Impressionistic greats including a room devoted to Monet's water lily pieces. I saw so many Van Gogh's that I had never seen before. Beautiful benches in each room were inviting to sit and take in the art. There is so much to see that you can't see it all in one day. I ordered free tickets on-line but they were not checking tickets during my visit. I did go through security and they check bags. Rest rooms are sparse, expect to wait in a line to use the facilities. There are lots of stairs with a few elevators available.

    Photos
    The National Gallery - Portrait of G.B. Cataneo Della Volta by Van Dyck at National Gallery

    Portrait of G.B. Cataneo Della Volta by Van Dyck at National Gallery

    The National Gallery - Portrait of Greta Moll by Matisse in National Gallery

    Portrait of Greta Moll by Matisse in National Gallery

    The National Gallery - Display Gallery at National Gallery

    See all

    Display Gallery at National Gallery

    The London Film Museum - One of many beautiful Bond cars on display

    The London Film Museum

    4.0(28 reviews)
    0.5 miStrand, Covent Garden

    The London Film Museum is essentially the James Bond Museum, with the "Bond in Motion" exhibits…read moreoccupying the vast majority of the space. It is a rather small museum though, and even if you take the time to look at every detail, one to two hours will be more than enough. The main exhibits are the hot cars that 007 gets to drive, as well as a few other cool surprises - remember the car that turned into a submarine when it hit the water (The Spy Who Loved Me)? Or the plane with folded wings that emerged from a trailer (Octopussy)? Many of those exhibits include detailed specifications as well as videos of the scenes that highlight the vehicles. Some exhibits also play the theme songs in the background. Other memorabilia that Bond fans would love include original costumes, props, photo of backstage scenes, theatrical posters, etc. Admission is GBP14.50 (about USD18), which is rather expensive for such a small place (hence only 4 stars). But Bond fans, don't you dare say it's too expensive so you'll never go. Never Say Never Again! You Only Live Twice! You can go tomorrow since Tomorrow Never Dies. Go see it with your own Golden Eye. After all, this museum is For Your Eyes Only...

    007 fans, you do NOT want to miss this!! This was only ever meant to be a temporary museum, but was…read moreso successful, they've opened it indefinitely. What you'll find in here is gold if you're a Bond fan; from the first ever original car insurance deal for filming, props used in the films like passports, keys, money to a range of vehicles used throughout all the films - it's well worth the money. Here's a tip - buying tickets online is actually more expensive than in person, only by a couple of pounds, but when there's six of you going, that's 6 coffees I could buy at Pret a Manger around the corner!!!! Keep your change, and buy when you get there.

    Photos
    The London Film Museum - Tacky, maybe, but I just had to...

    Tacky, maybe, but I just had to...

    The London Film Museum - Each car/vehicle had clips from relevant James Bond movies running in the background

    Each car/vehicle had clips from relevant James Bond movies running in the background

    The London Film Museum - Sketch in the upstairs exhibit

    See all

    Sketch in the upstairs exhibit

    Hunterian Museum - Art Area, Hunterian Museum - London

    Hunterian Museum

    4.6(45 reviews)
    0.6 miHolborn

    Well first of all it's free to visit. Ahem! FREE....to visit. For a tourist, it's almost virtually…read moreunheard of in London other than some of the art museums and other minor attractions or if you've got the London Pass. Anyway, my sister and I being the nerds that we are decided to check this place out. *Spoiler Alert* It's a museum of mainly surgical/medical specimens. So if you got creeped out by all those animals in jars of formaldehyde in high school chemistry or biology then you might want to sit this one out. Honestly, it's not that creepy but more so very interesting. Even if you don't have an understanding or appreciation for medical science, I still think most people would find this place highly educational and mind-boggling. I'm sure most people have watched a medical surgery show on TV or saw vids on the internet of things of that nature or weird animals. So, this museum kind of sums that up but in thousands of glass jars filled with all sorts of animals, body parts, tumors, cancers, and bones. The variety in genus and species is astounding. The main floor is seemingly endless jars of things. There isn't a huge amount of information or placards but you can read the jars and kind of figure it out or write it down later and search it online. I found myself asking how? and why? or what in the heck is that? I like that it made me think back to things I learned in college without even noticing it. I didn't take any photos as they said not to and also I didn't think it would be appropriate. The have a small gift shop & have guided tours on some days so check the website. I know I said it's free, and it is but it's suggested to donate about £3 to keep things running. Still mega-cheap. It kind of blows (no pun intended) that a large portion of the museum and the majority of what was contained within was destroyed or badly damaged by bombs in World War II. Such is war I guess, but we live and learn and the rebuilt museum is almost better than ever.

    This museum has the skeleton of Charles Byrnes on display since around the 1730s despite his…read moreexpress wishes to not have his body dissected or put on display. Byrnes was around 7' 7" tall likely due to a gene mutation and was well known. Prior to Byrnes died 1783 at just 22, Dr. Hunter who this museum is named after, tried to buy the rights to Mr. Byrnes' corpse but he declined and soon before his death, he made an express wish to have his body buried at sea. However, Dr. Hunter legitimately stole his corpse and put his skeleton on display. the current administration continues to do, with no plans to remove. You would think after 200 odd years the museum might want to right the wrongs of the past but I guess continuing to make a quick buck off those less fortunate is important to them. Free Byrnes! May he some day rest in peace. BBC article for reference below. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-54644243.amp

    Photos
    Hunterian Museum - 19th C wax model of a jaw operation, Hunterian Museum - London

    19th C wax model of a jaw operation, Hunterian Museum - London

    Hunterian Museum - Clockwork Amputation Saw, Hunterian Museum - London

    Clockwork Amputation Saw, Hunterian Museum - London

    Hunterian Museum - Crocodile and egg, Hunterian preservation

    See all

    Crocodile and egg, Hunterian preservation

    Wellcome Collection - Creepy skeleton art

    Wellcome Collection

    4.4(94 reviews)
    1.6 miBloomsbury

    Begun by the founder of Burroughs-Wellcome, the first company to introduce medicine in pill form,…read morethis marvelous free museum specializes in things related to health and the human body. Or science, medicine, life, and art. Or health, life, and our place in the world. Just looking at those descriptors sort of ensured that there'd be something compelling here and there was. A lot. One floor is given over to the collection itself, which is a quirky assemblage of old medical devices and the like, including old sexual devices. Free guided tours are one way to enjoy this part of the museum though I cop to liking the rest of the place even more. The other floors contain exhibits and art which ranged from interesting to fascinating to heartwarming and inspirational. A couple examples: * Words which, when pressed, would light up the associated internal body parts. It's fair to say I don't know where anything inside my body is except maybe my heart and stomach. Now I do. Or I did, for a moment there. * The origins of a mental health project in Africa, where mental health providers are sparse and grandmas we're trained to fill the gap. The results? Improved mental health in the community and the grandmas. There was just so much neat stuff here and not just in the museum exhibits. The ground floor cafe has very good food (try the eggplant parmesan baked individually in a sweet little French crock) and don't miss the gift shop where you'll likely blow all that you saved by coming to this free museum. I certainly did. I left wanting to return to the Wellcome Collection and that was before I even looked at their web site and saw all of the talks and group activities they regularly offer (Death Cafe anyone? Grief Group?). I wish the Wellcome Collection were in my own community as I'm certain I'd take advantage of much more that they have to offer.

    I don't know if I caught the museum on a bad day or what. I walked in and said hello to the staff…read moreperson near the entrance - I was rewarded with a dirty look. I was going to ask for some directions but instead just found myself a map. I checked out the two exhibitions they had open. They both were okay. Being Human was fine, not much to see in the gallery to be honest. The other one, Objects in Stereo, was a clever idea that could have been better. I don't understand the point of looking at photos of objects and storage when one could put those objects on display. Fragile things can be displayed in the right way with the right light and temp/humidity conditions. I was very disappointed to not see more of the permanent collection being used. I work as a museum registrar and I was having trouble understanding the reasoning here. Especially since similar objects were on display upstairs. The reading room was the highlight of the collection. Finally some AMAZING historical, medical related objects and art!

    Photos
    Wellcome Collection - Heart Exhibition

    Heart Exhibition

    Wellcome Collection - Wellcome Collection

    Wellcome Collection

    Wellcome Collection - Jennifer Sutton looking at her own heart in the Heart exhibition

    See all

    Jennifer Sutton looking at her own heart in the Heart exhibition

    Hayward Gallery - museums - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...