WHITECHAPEL · Free
Whitechapel Gallery
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Founded 1901 to bring great art to the East End, it gave London its first sight of Picasso's 'Guernica' in 1939 and Pollock in the 50s. Still free, still ahead of the curve, with a good café and bookshop to round out a slow morning.
FreeContemporary artHistoricCafé
Real Talk
What to actually expect.
Some shows are ticketed
The building is free, but the big headline exhibitions sometimes carry a charge. Check what's on before you make a special trip.
It's compact
A focused gallery, not a day-long national. Pair it with a Brick Lane / Spitalfields wander to fill the afternoon.
No booking needed. Just walk in.