A list of museums and heritage sites to visit outside London
The much-awaited summer has finally arrived in the UK! In this list, we have collated a selection of recommended museums, galleries, and heritage sites outside London for you to make the most of these warm and sunny days. Most of these wonderful destinations are not too far from the capital and could be visited during a day trip, so don’t worry if you haven’t had the time to book your holidays yet!
1. Turner Contemporary, Margate
The southeast England seaside town of Margate, in Kent, has received increased attention in the last years due to its ever-growing art landscape. Home to renowned British artists such as Tracey Emin, who has recently relocated her studio from London to the Kent coast, Margate has attracted artists looking for a sense of local community together with the fresh breeze of the sea. Turner Contemporary is an art gallery situated on Margate seafront, and it offers an extensive programme of contemporary art exhibitions with stunning views and groundbreaking architecture.
2. Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YPA) is a leading outdoor art gallery in West Yorkshire. Founded in 1977, YPA is the largest sculpture park of its kind in Europe, and it owns a collection of important works by artists and sculptors Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Damien Hirst, Andy Goldsworthy, and Alfredo Jaar, among many others. It hosts several temporary exhibitions throughout the year, creating a perfect balance between nature, art, and architecture.
3. The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield
This art gallery takes its name from British artist and sculptor Barbara Hepworth. Located in the heart of Yorkshire, in the town of Wakefield, the museum presents temporary exhibitions alongside a display of Hepworth’s extensive collection, including her sculptures and various works by other celebrated British artists of the 20th century. By exploring her artistic trajectory and creative process, the gallery fosters dialogue between sculptural practices, materials, and influences.
4.Chatsworth House, Derbyshire
This stunning stately house in the Peak District National Park, in Derbyshire, is home to a historical collection of artworks and artefacts that span 4,000 years up to the present day, including paintings, sculpture, textiles, furniture and more. In addition to the interiors of Chatsworth House, visitors can dine at onsite restaurants and cafes, enjoy the vast gardens, and visit a charming farmyard with goats and guineapigs, making it an ideal destination for the whole family.
5. Henry Moore Studios & Gardens, Hertfordshire
This is a must-see for those interested in learning more about famous British sculptor Henry Moore. Located in rural Hertfordshire, visitors can explore Moore’s family home, where he and his wife Irina lived for almost fifty years, his six studios used during his lifetime, which reveal the artist’s fascinating creative process, a huge sculpture garden with his monumental sculptures, and a 16th century farm building where Moore’s collection of tapestries can be seen.
6. Charleston House, Sussex
Charleston was a hub for some of the 20th century’s most revolutionary artists, known as the Bloomsbury Group. Located in Firle, it was the home and studio of modernist painters Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, and it offers a year-round programme of exhibitions, events and festivals centred around the collection, the house and its garden. Charleston Lewes, a recently opened venue in Lewes, Charleston Lewes, presents a schedule of temporary exhibitions of contemporary art.
Caroline Fucci for London Art Walk
July 2024