The best UK galleries outside London.
London is the UK’s definitive cultural hub and boasts some incredible national institutions, but when thinking of art spaces in this country, the city does not have a monopoly on beautiful, transcendent spaces with great art.
1- National Galleries of Scotland
In three incredible locations, Edinburgh’s National Galleries certainly rival those of London. The spectacular National and RSA buildings on the Mound feature collections of both Scottish and international art, ranging from Rennie Mackintosh’s fascinating landscapes, painted in the final years of his life to breathtaking galleries of Impressionism and cerebral halls of Renaissance art. The gothic Portrait is arguably the best space of the three, with an amazing café, an almost Turkish central hall and breathtaking spaces showing portraiture from across the centuries. The Modern, broken up into two grand palaces near the West End, features a smaller permanent collection but an eclectic mix of temporary displays, such as the stunning Everyln Nicodemus exhibition and Women In Revolt, in collaboration with the Tate. The finest and most complete collection of art outside London.
2- Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool
Liverpool’s grand gallery is the largest in the North and feels no less grand than its London contemporaries. The gallery is structured chronologically, from medieval to modern art, and with a robust 22 galleries (including temporary, paid-for exhibitions) it feels as if one can return again and again without the process feeling staid. The collections are stunningly laid out, the renovated medieval, renaissance and baroque rooms being a particular highlight. It’s also home to the UK’s most important painting prize, the John Moores Prize, won by some of contemporary art’s biggest names, including David Hockney, Patrick Heron and Rose Wylie. A wonderful ground floor sculpture gallery completes this experience of grand scale. The most complete gallery space in the North.
3- Ashmoleon, Oxford
Oxford’s world-class museum is one of the best in the UK, and has a far more intuitive and modern layout compared to its London contemporary, the British Museum. Its 25 galleries focused on art spanning over 6 centuries have a more classical feeling to the rest of the museum, which was completely renovated in 2009, which resulted in the demolition of much of the Victorian gallery spaces. The Ashmoleon feels unique in its seamless combination of art and archaeology, and the complex layout of the spaces means that upon returning one always discovers something new and beautiful, whether it be an entire gallery dedicated to still life or an Egyptian temple. It also boasts a great selection of changing exhibitions, with the current display of Anselm Kiefer’s work being well worth the price of admission.
4- Compton Verney, Warwickshire
Warwickshire’s finest space is an incredible fusion of the classical and the contemporary, not just in its architecture but also in its collection. The ground floor features grand galleries focusing on the art of Naples (sadly their Caravaggio is on loan to the Met until later this year), medieval European art and British portraiture. From here, you enter the grandeur of the Adam Hall, which showcases temporary exhibitions. The latest one, titled ‘Breathing with the Forest’, was an immersive joy that almost acted as a meditative punctuation to the rest of the collections. The other floors showcase Europe’s third greatest collection of Chinese decorative work, and a unique collection of folk art, alongside two more special exhibition spaces. It’s wholly worth the £10 price of entry for students and young people.
5- Tate St Ives, Cornwall
This inspirational space is the UK’s largest centre for contemporary art outside London, and it just feels incredibly special to step inside. The permanent collection, displays key works from the internationally renowned group of artists from the area, from Barbara Hepworth to Patrick Heron across six large galleries. Even more of a draw is the selection of temporary exhibitions, which tour across the various Tate galleries across the UK. The current display of Surrealist artist Ithell Colquhoun is a celebration of the huge change that British art underwent in the 1930s, and is complemented by works from contemporary artists that capture surrealism for a new audience. Plus, the rooftop cafe is the best in St Ives.