London's galleries are reopening

Somerset House

Somerset House is reopening a portion of its vast, Neoclassical buildings from Thursday 16 July, offering visitors a chance to see its free exhibition Mushrooms: The Art, Design and Future of Fungi (pictured), which has been extended throughout the summer. Spread over three rooms, the compact exhibition is a diverse exploration of the role that mushrooms have played (and will play) across art, science, architecture and design.

The courtyard will also be open to visitors looking for a space to sit and relax, and the on-site café Hej will offer takeaway refreshments.

Serpentine Galleries

Hyde Park’s Serpentine Galleries reopens on 4 August, offering visitors a chance to see the Cao Fei: Blueprints exhibition (pictured) which was showing before lockdown. Cao Fei is a Chinese multimedia artist and filmmaker based in Beijing. The Blueprints exhibition brings together her new and existing works in an immersive, site-specific installation underpinned by the artist’s trademark exploration of virtuality.

The V&A

The V&A has announced plans to reopen its doors to the public from 6 August. Visitors will have to book a free, timed entry ticket to enter the buildings, while exhibitions carry a separate charge (as before).

The museum’s Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk exhibition, which opened just weeks before the coronavirus outbreak caused the institution to close, will be the first exhibition to reopen at the V&A, running from 27 August until 25 October. Darren Waterston’s free immersive installation Filthy Lucre: Whistler’s Peacock Room Reimagined also reopens on 27 August.

Royal Academy

The Royal Academy is reopening in phases, initially for just four days a week (Thursday to Sunday, 11am – 4pm). RA Friends have early access from 9 July, while the gallery is open to the public from the 16th. Among the offering is the five-star Picasso and Paper exhibition, which has been extended until 2 August. New safety measures include the compulsory wearing of a face covering, a one-way system throughout the building and multiple sanitisation stations. All visitors must pre-book a timed ticket.

Tate Britain & Tate Modern

From 27 July, art enthusiasts will once again be able to explore the offering at Tate’s four galleries, including its London spaces: Tate Britain and Tate Modern. Both will pick up where they left off in March, with the former reopening its Aubrey Beardsley exhibition and Steve McQueen's Year Three installation , while the latter will continue showing its Andy Warhol exhibition and Kara Walker's Fons Americanus. All visitors (including members) will be required to book a timed ticket online in advance.

The National Gallery

The first national museum to reopen in the UK, the National Gallery springs back into action on 8 July, offering visitors the chance to explore its exhibition Titian: Love, Desire, Death, which ran for only a week before having to close back in March, as well as its permanent collections. Advanced booking is essential while one-way routes and hand sanitiser stations have been installed for safety. Visitors are also encouraged to wear facemasks.

Image: (Detail) Titian, Rape of Europa, 1562. © Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Barbican Centre

The Barbican is reopening its art gallery and conservatory on 13 July, with The Curve following a month later on 11 August. Between the three spaces, visitors will be able to see the unflinching exhibition Masculinities: Liberation through Photography; a new installation A Countervailing Theory by artist Toyin Ojih Odutola; and explore the tropical plants of the Barbican Conservatory. New safety measures include limited visitor capacity, timed entry slots (for which advanced booking is essential), one-way routes through the building and sanitisation points. For now, the Barbican’s restaurants, bars, main shop and cloakroom remain closed, but toilets, takeaway refreshments and a pop-up art gallery shop will be open.

Image: Taliban portrait. Kandahar, Afghanistan. 2002. Thomas Dworzak © Collection T. Dworzak/Magnum Photos

White Cube

White Cube Bermondsey and White Cube Mason's Yard are opening their doors for scheduled visits. At the Bermondsey Gallery you can see Cerith Wyn Evan's exhibition No Realm of Thought, No Field of Vision until 2 August. Peter Schuyff's abstract paintings are on display in the Mason's Yard venue until 8 Aug. Click the link below to book your viewing appointment.

David Zwirner

David Zwirner has two shows in its gallery, Paul Klee: Late Klee and Bridget Riley: Studies 1984-1997. Both are on display until 31 July. Click on the link below to book your appointment.

Pace Gallery

James Turrell's exhibition at Pace Gallery is now open by appointment until 14 Aug. Turrell is known for his immersive light installations, so this really is an exhibition best viewed in person. Contact londoninfo@pacegallery.com to book your visit. After 6 July use the link below.

Simon Lee Gallery

Simon Lee Gallery in Mayfair is showing Chris Huen Sin Kan: Puzzled Daydreams until 3 July. Chris Huen Sin Kan hails from Hong Kong and his large scale paintings explore everyday experience through lively compositions. Book your viewing via the link below.

Gagosian, Davies Street

Gagosian on Davies Street is opening to visitors. Appointments are advised, but not essential. Only limited numbers of people will be permitted entry at any one time, and the wearing of face masks is essential. Hand sanitiser and masks will be provided if you don't have your own. Currently showing, until 19 September is a collection of new furniture pieces from Curzio Malaparte's bespoke home in Capri, Italy. For more information on Gagosian's other London venues please visit the gallery's website.

Hauser & Wirth

Hauser & Wirth is re-opening by appointment only, but from 1 July you can book a viewing time via Eventbrite. Two exhibitions are on display until 7 August. Isa Genzken: Window explores the artist's interest in the architecture of travel. To Exalt the Ephemeral: Alina Szapocznikow, 1962 – 1972 looks at Szapocznikow's sculptural exploration of the human body. To request an appointment, please contact london@hauserwirth or 44 207 287 2300. To book a viewing slot via Eventbrite from 1 July click the link below.

​Annely Juda Fine Art

Annely Juda has extended its exhibition David Hockney: Video Brings Its Time to You until July. The show includes 18 portraits on canvas of Hockney’s friends and two multi-perspective video pieces. Until 6 July the gallery is open by appointment only. Please email ajfa@annelyjudafineart.co.uk for more details.

Stephen Friedman Gallery

Stephen Friedman Gallery is relaunching its March exhibition Mapping Memories, Tracing Time by Swedish artist Andreas Eriksson. Eriksson creates handwoven tapestries that have an expressive, painterly quality. The gallery's re-opening will also see the unveiling of a new work by Yinka Shonidbare, titled Justice For All. You don't need to book an appointment to visit, but struck social distancing will be enforced.

Proud Galleries

Since first opening its doors in 1998, Proud Galleries has become the place to ponder exclusive celebrity portraits. Exhibitions have documented the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Amy Winehouse and a host of other names in music, film, art, fashion and more. Meanwhile its shows have attracted Elton John, Twiggy, Tracey Emin, Jude Law and many, many more A listers. The hip gallery reopens on 22 July with its sellout show Proud Collection, a chance to pore over shots of Audrey Hepburn, Christian Dior, Andy Warhol and more. Admission is free but by appointment only.