london art studio tour

11 Best London Art Tours in 2024 (ranked!)

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Ready to book the best London art tours?

You’ve come to the right place because I’m covering the top 11 London art tours here.

How do I know?

I’ve lived in London since 2012 and have explored far and wide, so I know that one of the best things to do in London for art lovers is to book a tour so you don’t miss any of the hidden artistic gems that London has to offer.

Whether you’re interested in street art, museum art, or contemporary art, only quality tours are included in this list so you know that every tour you book is worth your money and time.

Want me to cut to the chase?

The best tour of London art is: Shoreditch Street Art Tour London .

It’s got 5 out of 5 stars with over 260 reviews, so you can’t go wrong!

There are plenty of other London art tours to choose from, so let’s get right down to it.

In this list, you’ll find 11 of the top-rated London art tours so you know you’re making the right choice.

Easy Guide: Best London Art Tours

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1. Shoreditch Street Art Tour London

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 260+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR

Professional expert guide
Unique post-tour email with lots of street art information

Shoreditch is known for its art scene.

You could spend hours here without seeing everything!

So hire a tour guide who will be able to help you find the hidden gems of artwork throughout this neighborhood.

Hear insider stories about local artists.

Explore unique pieces of art, unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

Discover why this area is so crucial for the art scene.

The tour starts at Old Spitalfields Market.

Then you’ll head to Brick Lane while taking a few quick detours to see different pieces of street art.

Finally, you’ll end up in Shoreditch.

2. Street Art Tour and Spray Painting Workshop in London

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 60+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

Local professional guide
Street art workshop
Street art tour
Walking tour

Street art fans and aspiring artists will love this tour !

The tour starts at Old Street Station and you’ll explore Hoxton and Shoreditch.

See lots of examples of street art, including those that are off the beaten path. Your guide will make sure you don’t miss anything!

This tour also includes a street art workshop.

You’ll learn some fun techniques and get to practice making your own street art at their studio! Practice spray paint, cutting stencils, and more!

You’ll leave this tour with a greater appreciation for the art you see throughout the city.

3. Emerging Artist Art Buying Tour in London

⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

Light refreshments
Local guide
Optional pickup
Visit 4 emerging artists

If you want to get into art collecting, but don’t have the budget for household names, book this tour .

You’ll visit 4 emerging artists in London. You’ll have the chance to see their artwork and buy a piece before everybody learns their names!

Not only will you be able to grow your art collection, but you’ll have a chance to learn the personal stories behind the artwork.

Guests will also learn about London’s art scene in general. This will help you to develop a deeper appreciation for modern art.

If you’re worried about being put on the spot to buy someone’s art, don’t worry.

After you visit each studio, there will be a catered reception where you will have the opportunity to buy some artwork. This is a pressure-free way to pick which pieces you want!

4. Private Tour: National Gallery Tour in London with Art Historian Guide

⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

Professional art historian guide
Private tour
Tour National Gallery
Learn art trivia

Art enthusiasts must visit the National Gallery when they’re in London. What better way to do this than to book a private tour ?

The art historian guide who will accompany you has so much information about art history.

He’ll be able to answer any of your questions! He also knows his way around the museum.

He will ensure that you don’t miss anything important. He’ll also help guide you to the stuff you’ll find more interesting.

And he can summarize the loads of information so you don’t have to spend hours trying to look at the artwork.

5. Private Victoria & Albert Museum Tour: Greatest Collection of Arts and Crafts

⭐️ RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars, 15+ reviews ✔️ BOOK NOW

Visit London’s Victoria and Albert Museum
Personalized tour experience

The Victoria and Albert Museum and Apsley House are two prestigious museums in London.

With this tour , you’ll make the most of your visit.

The tour guide is an art history expert who will be able to answer all your questions! He’ll also make sure you make the most of your time here.

Learn about the decorative arts, the Duke of Wellington, and more. Between the two destinations, you’ll also get to stroll along Knightsbridge.

This will be such an enjoyable day!

Because it’s a private tour, the tour will be tailored to your interests.

Spend more time looking at things that interest you and less time on the things you don’t care about.

6. Private Tour : 3 Amazing London Art Galleries 1 tour 1 guide

Private Tour Guide
3 of the world’s best art galleries
Pre-tour updates

Art lovers will want to visit the Tate Britain , National Gallery, and National Portrait Gallery.

The good news is you can see all three on this tour !

It can take hours to visit each of these locations.

That’s because there’s so much information to take in.

And you probably won’t even remember half of it because of information overload.

Fortunately, your private guide will know how to efficiently get through each of these museums.

He’ll make sure you don’t miss anything important while ensuring that you don’t spend too much time on more trivial exhibits.

7. Street Art Walking Tour and Workshop in London

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 44+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

Personalized experience

If you love contemporary art, you’ll appreciate this tour . Admire London’s street art as you explore Hackney.

This is a great way to discover London culture away from the bustling crowds of tourists.

This hands-on experience will help you to deepen your appreciation for urban art forms.

You’ll even get the chance to try your own stencils and spray paint!

After exploring Shoreditch on a personalized walking tour, you’ll be able to make your own art.

It’s such a fun way to immerse yourself in art culture!

8. London East End & Street Art Guided Walking Tour – Semi-Private 8ppl Max

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 9+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2.5 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

Semi-Private Group Size
Professional Tour Guide
Tour Will Run, Rain Or Shine

Not only does this tour cover the street art of London, but you’ll also learn a lot of history.

If you’re interested in the history of London’s East End, you’ll love this tour!

This small group tour is a great way to learn about the East End and its street art without spending too much time.

Catch a glimpse of street art by Banksy and Shepard Fairey while learning about Jack the Ripper.

You’ll get to visit Petticoat Lane Market and Old Spitalfields Market. Walk along Shoreditch High Street, Brick Lane, and the Artillery Passage. You’ll also get to explore Whitechapel.

9. Shoreditch Street Art Private Photography Tour including Brick Lane

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars, 110+ reviews | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

Professional Fine Art Photographer
Review of photographs and how to develop skills
Expert photography instruction
Private Tour

If you love street art and photography, take this tour .

Not only will you explore amazing street art, but you’ll also practice your photography skills. You’ll have so many Instagram-worthy photos after this tour!

This personalized experience is led by a local who has all the insider info.

You’ll learn so much and gain a great appreciation for modern art styles.

You’ll get to explore Shoreditch and Brick Lane as you learn all about the art scene in this part of the city.

Then you’ll leave with memories and your own iconic photos to keep!

10. London Instagram tour with London expert

⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours | ✔️ BOOK NOW

Instagrammable tour stops
Find hidden gems
Personable tour guide

If you want to visit London’s most Instagrammable places, book this tour .

The guide will take you throughout London to ensure that you don’t miss any!

He’ll also help you find everything more efficiently.

He’ll also make sure you find the hidden gems around this city.

Other tourists might not know they exist, but you’ll love seeing them. Take plenty of pictures to share on your socials! Did you even go to London if you didn’t share the most iconic Instagram post?

This private tour will also be personalized to you. This will ensure you enjoy the day to the max!

11. Medieval to Art Deco: Eltham Palace Private Tour

Professional guide/driver
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Private tour and vehicle transport

Book a private tour at Eltham Palace if you would love to explore one of London’s less popular landmarks.

Although it’s not at the top of everyone’s bucket list, it is still quite a distinctive attraction.

This royal palace is an unusual representation of Art Deco.

Built as a medieval palace, it also served as a Tudor royal residence.

It was neglected for quite awhile before someone took it over again in the 1930s.

Because of its unusual history, it has examples of several different art forms.

Discover this palace at your own pace on this private tour!

London artists opening their doors for 30th studio tour

Where Arale Vallely goes, inspiration for her art follows.

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London artists opening their doors for 30th studio tour back to video.

Living in Qatar, where the self-taught artist from Hong Kong discovered silk painting, Arab women and cultural subjects were often her muse.

Then she moved to Canada, where nature and the changing landscapes of the four seasons provided constant inspiration.

“The subject matter is quite influenced by the country that I live in,” said Vallely, who has called London home for eight years.

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The silk painter is among 19 artists opening their doors Friday through Sunday for the 30th London Artists’ Studio Tour.

People can view and interact with artists and work and learn about the process.

“For a lot of people, there’s a bit of mystery about it. So to come in and see how they set up their studio” takes some of that away, said Sarah Cowling, one of the artists and tour organizers.

For Vallely, this will be her seventh tour. On display in her basement studio, where she teaches silk painting, are works inspired by flowers, fruits and vegetables from her garden.

“Growing up in Hong Kong, I didn’t get the chance to get into nature,” so caring for plants and enjoying nature was a massive change, she said.

“Sometimes,” with fruits “people walk past (and) don’t really see the colours. They don’t really care about a tomato, or a dragon fruit, or a pineapple, but I paint those things so people stop and look at them.”

The London Artists’ Studio Tour partnered with London Brewing Co-operative for a third year. The co-op released a beer celebrating the city’s artists, with can designs featuring some of their works.

Not all studios are wheelchair-accessible, but some artists will have displays at that level, “and we’re always happy to bring something out,” Cowling said.

Cowling is known for her collage work. Much of it focuses on themes of women’s issues, abstract work, landscapes, memory and fantasy.

“All my pieces tell a story,” she said.

Despite a successful return last year after pandemic restrictions, Cowling said a limited budget makes expanding difficult.

“We need to get our momentum back,” she said.

Attendance last year was strong, but “I think it’s more a feeling that, ‘Yes, we’re rolling and we can do this.”

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What: London Artists’ Studio Tour

When: Friday, 7-9:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

Where: Locations across London. Visit londonstudiotour.ca for artist profiles, brochures and a map of tour stops. Printed brochures are available at London Public Library branches, Tourism London, Museum London and art stores.

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Artists open their studios to curious Londoners this weekend

The 30th annual studio tour showcases how artists do their work in metal, wood, ceramics and more.

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Artists who normally work alone in their studios are throwing open their doors this weekend, allowing visitors to peek behind the creative curtain at how and where the magic happens.

"The problem for artists is unique among arts people — theatre people get together all the time to produce shows. Musicians play in groups. Artists tend to work by themselves, so unless you're connected with a commercial gallery, it's very hard to get your work out to the people around you," said Kevin Bice, who launched the studio tour 31 years ago.

This weekend, 31 artists from around the city will display their work in their studios, from sculpture to pottery and textiles to painting. Eight of this year's artists are new to the tour.

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Artist Daumante Stirbyte is participating. The main focus of her art is finding wonder and curiosity in everyday things, she said.

"I always say ceramics gives me the freedom to create like a universe of my own. I love creating characters and telling a story," Stirbyte said.

A young woman looks at the camera and is smiling.

Painter Olukayode (Kay) Ojo's studio will also be open for tours this weekend, the second time he's participated in the annual event.

"Interacting with other artists is a very rewarding experience," he said. "I think art is only complete when it is seen."

Some artists are shy and introspective, so having people to come to their studio is both exciting and nerve-wracking, said Bice. "I get a lot of parents with kids who come and the kids are excited because they like making art and to see an adult doing it, it's exciting for them."

The tour takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It's a self-guided tour, so people can drive, walk or cycle to whatever studio they want to see. The event is free.