What to see in London this summer: top exhibitions of 2025

Summer in London is like a game of Mafia: the city falls asleep, and everyone disappears. Anyone who can escapes the stuffy metropolis. But at Afisha.London, we stand watch over the city’s cultural life – and we know one thing for sure: leaving during exhibition season is risky for your inspiration. So before you pack your bags for the seaside, check out our guide to the best summer exhibitions – and make sure you’re back in the capital in time.

London Design Biennale at Somerset House

Somerset House will be fully immersed in the world of design this June. The London Design Biennale will bring together 50 designers from around the globe, united by this year’s theme — Surface Reflections. The exhibits are inspired by the idea of how lived experience shapes creative expression. The theme was conceived by creative director Dr. Samuel Ross MBE. The Biennale will run for two weeks, offering not only installations but also lectures, performances, and workshops. Dates: June 6–29. Read more

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Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts

The Royal Academy of Arts will once again host its annual Summer Exhibition — a staple of London’s cultural calendar since 1769. This year’s show explores how art can make us more sensitive to social issues. Expect a wide variety of contemporary works: painting, sculpture, photography, prints, and more. Every piece has been carefully selected and arranged by Royal Academicians — leading voices in British art. Alongside them, you will find works by emerging artists and architects. Many of the artworks will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting the Academy’s students. Dates: June 17 – August 17. Read more

Read also: Joseph Brodsky in London: from Soviet outcast to professor at the West’s top universities

Summer Exhibition 2024. © Royal Academy of Arts, London

Richard Rogers: Talking Buildings at Sir John Soane’s Museum

Sir John Soane’s Museum will host an exhibition on Richard Rogers, an architect whose buildings reflect a deep engagement with political, ethical, and social themes. One of his most iconic works is the Lloyd’s building in London. Curated by his son Ab, Talking Buildings will present Rogers’ sketches, models, and two films by Marina Wheeler created specially for the exhibition. Dates: June 18 – September 21. Read more

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Abstract Erotic at the Courtauld Gallery

The Courtauld Gallery presents a powerful exhibition of three legendary feminist artists from 1960s New York: Louise Bourgeois, Eva Hesse, and Alice Adams. Even the gallery itself claims it has never hosted a collection of such significance. The title Abstract Erotic comes from a term coined by influential art critic Lucy Lippard. Curated by Professor Jo Applin, the exhibition draws from her book Eccentric Objects: Rethinking Sculpture in the 1960s America. These installations explore the politics of the female body through abstract forms crafted from materials like foam, latex, plaster, and thread. Dates: June 20 – September 14. Read more

Read also: Sex Education in Schools: Myths and Realities

Drawings by Louise Bourgeois at the Courtauld Gallery

For those inspired by Abstract Erotic, Courtauld’s Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Drawings Gallery offers a deeper look into the inner world of Louise Bourgeois. On loan from the Easton Foundation of New York, her drawings reveal her thoughts, emotions, and process — emphasizing creation over completion. Dates: June 20 – September 14. Read more

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Kiefer/Van Gogh at the Royal Academy of Arts

Another reason to visit the Royal Academy this summer is the joint exhibition of Vincent van Gogh and Anselm Kiefer. While an unexpected pairing, the two artists are connected by geography — at 18, Kiefer received a grant to follow Van Gogh’s footsteps through the Netherlands, Belgium, Paris, and the south of France. Throughout his career, Kiefer was inspired by Van Gogh. In collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, this show explores their artistic dialogue and features new, previously unseen works by Kiefer. Dates: June 28 – October 26. Read more

Read also: Serge Lifar: reformer of the Paris Opera, the protégé of Sergei Diaghilev, and friend of Coco Chanel

Anselm Kiefer ‘Nevermore’, 2014 Фото: Eschaton Kunststiftung, by Charles Duprat. © Anselm Kiefer

Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party at the Garden Museum

The Garden Museum’s Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party celebrates the legacy of the famed photographer and designer, known for his work with the royal family, Vogue, and the film My Fair Lady starring Audrey Hepburn. Inspired by flora and devoted to his own garden, Beaton’s love for flowers is at the heart of this exhibition. Dates: May 14 – September 21. Read more

Here you can find our review on Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party Exhibition.

Cecil Beaton by Cecil Beaton, 1960. Фото: © Cecil Beaton Archive, Condé Nast

Dress Codes at Kensington Palace

For those curious about the royal wardrobe, Dress Codes at Kensington Palace offers an inside look at the fashion rules and traditions of Britain’s monarchy. The exhibition features garments worn by young Queen Elizabeth II, designs by Dame Vivienne Westwood, and rare ceremonial pieces — alongside works by young designers aged 13–17, imagining the future of fashion. Open until November 30. Read more

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Gianni Versace: The Retrospective at Arches London Bridge

Fashion lovers and true crime enthusiasts alike shouldn’t miss Gianni Versace: The Retrospective. With over 450 vintage pieces, this immersive show dives into the Italian designer’s glamorous world, using archive footage and interviews to showcase his impact on 1980s–90s fashion. Highlights include pieces created for Princess Diana and Elton John. Opens July 16. Read more

Read also: The love and hate story of artist Pablo Picasso and Ballets Russes dancer Olga Khokhlova

Gianni Versace on FW Runway, Milan, 1990. Фото: Paolo Castaldi

Virtual Beauty at Somerset House (Terrace Rooms)

Virtual Beauty at Somerset House explores how digital culture and technology shape modern beauty standards. Central to the show is Omniprésence (1993) — a video performance by artist Orlan of a live plastic surgery operation, critiquing Western beauty ideals. The exhibition invites reflection on today’s obsession with “perfection.” Dates: June 23 – September 28. Read more

Millet: Life on The Land at The National Gallery

Marking the 150th anniversary of Jean-François Millet’s death, The National Gallery presents an exhibition of his powerful realist paintings. A pioneer of peasant and working-class subjects in art, Millet’s influence can be seen in the works of Van Gogh, Degas, and Pissarro. Dates: August 7 – October 19. Read more

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Last chance to see:

• Cartier – until November 16
• The Edwardians: Age of Elegance – until November 23
  
• Pirates – until January 4
  
• Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style – until August 17
  
• Grayson Perry: Delusion of Grandeur – until October 26
  
• Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo – until June 29
  
• Edvard Munch Portraits – until June 15

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Also worth your attention this summer:

Post-War Abstraction — works from the Courtauld at The Project Space, The Courtauld Gallery. A showcase of European and American abstract art from the 1950s–60s featuring artists like Joseph Beuys, Philip Guston, and Jean Dubuffet. Open July 2 – October 12.

Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs at Lightroom — travel back 66 million years to explore the evolutionary legacy of dinosaurs. Dates: July 9 – November 2.

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Gated Canyons by Rachel Jones at Dulwich Picture Gallery — an exhibition exploring emotion and perception through vibrant works inspired by Looney Tunes and Peter Boyle. Dates: June 10 – October 19.

Edward Burra watercolours featured in Ithell Colquhoun at Tate Britain, full of satirical scenes inspired by popular and queer culture of the 1920s.

To stay in tune with London’s hottest events this summer, be sure to explore the “Events” section on the Afisha.London website and follow our Telegram channel for regular updates on exhibitions, concerts, lectures, tours, workshops, and more.

Share this article with your Russian-speaking friends – you can find it in the Russian version of Afisha.London magazine’s website: read here

Cover photo: © Royal Academy of Arts

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