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Arts and culture

West Midlands Growth Company

Family crouching to look at an animal skeleton on display

Bowie, Beatles, Burns, Brontë and Bush. Just five of thousands of cultural icons heralding from these fair isles, but it’s not only homegrown talent that makes Britain a beacon of culture. Galleries and museums from Glasgow in the north to Cornwall in the south are famous for showcasing emerging artists from across the globe.

An art and culture showcase

Why Britain's best for art and culture

Oh, and we’ve not even mentioned our jam-packed festival season or countless special events and free cultural activities found in unexpected spaces. Where else can you see Burning Man’s wacky sculptures sprawled the across pristine parklands of 16th century stately home or spot some of Banksy’s earliest and most famous artworks for free? We’ve got a feeling you’ll be coming back for your Great British culture fix again and again once you’ve discovered some of our top recommendations…

Top art and culture experiences

Whether you're looking for museums, markets or amazing views, we'll prove you really can get something for nothing.

visitlondon.com

Interior of the Natural History Museum, London

Explore striking outdoor displays, intriguing sculptures and rural trails.

VisitBritain/Sam Barker

One young woman using aerosol to create street art mural

Meet your favourite writers, enjoy expert discussions and hear live readings at one of Britain's literary events.

Spencer McPherson, StillMoving

Cheltenham, England

Cheltenham Literature Festival

From fine dining, artisan spirits and craft beers, there’s a British pub to suit every occasion.

VisitBritain/Tommaso Fogliata

Pub decorated with many pots of flowers and flags

Discover Britain’s unmissable exhibition and theatre shows that wrap you in multi-sensory world.

Tate Liverpool

Young people discussing Bridget Riley at the Tate Liverpool

Britain packs a punch when it comes to the eclectic range of destinations within close proximity to London.

VisitBritain/Simon Anderson/Royal Pavilion

Brighton

Royal Pavilion at dusk, lit up in a range of vivid colours

Top art and culture destinations

Where to find the best art and culture experiences

Featuring over 500,000 artworks and artefacts from around the world, this university museum is a joy to explore.

Book your tickets for The Fitzwilliam Museum

VisitBritain/Jon Attenborough

Rear view of man standing looking at portraits in a gallery
The Fitzwilliam Museum

A five-yearly tour marking the best of cutting edge art by emerging British artists.

Find out more about British Art Show 9

Photo: Aurelien Mole. ©Than Hussein Clark, courtesy of Gallerie Crèvecoeur

British Art Show 9, 2020, Than Hussein Clark
British Art Show 9

See colours pop at this vibrant collection of over 300 works from contemporary artists including the likes of renowned stencil artist Banksy, Blek le Rat and Damien Hirst.

Get artsy at Mutiny in Colour

Geoff Price

An artist posing in front of two artworks at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, part of the wider Mutiny in Color exhibition
The Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour

Explore the golden world of modernist Gustav Klimt in this all immersive experience

Discover more about Klimt: The Immersive Experience

Klimt Immersive Experience

Person observing artwork at Klimt: The Immersive Experience exhibition
Klimt: The Immersive Experience

Glasgow’s Mural Trail transforms the city’s streets.

Discover more about Glasgow's Mural Trail

Art Pistol & Rogue Oner, Bubbles/Glasgow Mural Trail

Glasgow

Mural on wall of kids blowing bubbles, Glasgow Mural Trail
Glasgow Mural Trail

Digbeth’s former industrial areas have transformed into a focus for colourful street art.

Learn more about the urban art of Digbeth here

Digbeth Estate Tom Bird

People sitting down at Digbeth Estate
Birmingham's street art

Yorkshire’s renowned and new artists at the outdoor gallery set in an impossibly scenic Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Discover art in scenic Yorkshire Sculpture Park

The Sculpture Park

Nicola Godden artist with her sculpture Theia Goddess of light at The Sculpture Park
Yorkshire Sculpture Park

In questo lato felicemente stravagante del Galles, in una penisola privata, troverai una piccola fetta della riviera italiana.

Scopri di più su Portmeirion

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Revellers at a forest gig at music festival
Portmeirion

Step into Beatrix Potter’s enchanting stories, with a chance to meet Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and friends.

Discover The World of Beatrix Potter

www.stevenbarber.com

Peter Rabbit 2013 credit photograper Steve Barber
The World of Beatrix Potter, Lake District

Art, nature, history, science: this vast museum puts centuries of heritage at your fingertips, featuring local and international treasures alike.

Plan your visit to Ulster Museum

Ulster Museum/Johnny Frazer

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Piece of artwork in the Ulster Museum, Johnny Frazer
Ulster Museum

More than ten acres of sculpture park with an ever-rotating collection of internationally renowned artists at Surrey’s The Sculpture Park

Discover more about The Sculpture Park

thesculpturepark

The Sculpture Park
The Sculpture Park

You’ll find everything from dinosaur bones to contemporary art at this fantastic free museum.

Delve into the National Museum Cardiff

Visit Wales Image Centre

People viewing artwork in the National Museum Cardiff
National Museum Cardiff

For a truly unforgettable experience, head to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall, an outdoor theatre hewn out of a cliff-top.

Minack Theatre

VisitBritain/Sarah McNally

View from the top of the Minack Theatre
Minack Theatre

Featuring over 500,000 artworks and artefacts from around the world, this university museum is a joy to explore.

Book your tickets for The Fitzwilliam Museum

VisitBritain/Jon Attenborough

Rear view of man standing looking at portraits in a gallery
The Fitzwilliam Museum

A five-yearly tour marking the best of cutting edge art by emerging British artists.

Find out more about British Art Show 9

Photo: Aurelien Mole. ©Than Hussein Clark, courtesy of Gallerie Crèvecoeur

British Art Show 9, 2020, Than Hussein Clark
British Art Show 9

See colours pop at this vibrant collection of over 300 works from contemporary artists including the likes of renowned stencil artist Banksy, Blek le Rat and Damien Hirst.

Get artsy at Mutiny in Colour

Geoff Price

An artist posing in front of two artworks at Moyse's Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, part of the wider Mutiny in Color exhibition
The Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour

Explore the golden world of modernist Gustav Klimt in this all immersive experience

Discover more about Klimt: The Immersive Experience

Klimt Immersive Experience

Person observing artwork at Klimt: The Immersive Experience exhibition
Klimt: The Immersive Experience

Glasgow’s Mural Trail transforms the city’s streets.

Discover more about Glasgow's Mural Trail

Art Pistol & Rogue Oner, Bubbles/Glasgow Mural Trail

Glasgow

Mural on wall of kids blowing bubbles, Glasgow Mural Trail
Glasgow Mural Trail

Digbeth’s former industrial areas have transformed into a focus for colourful street art.

Learn more about the urban art of Digbeth here

Digbeth Estate Tom Bird

People sitting down at Digbeth Estate
Birmingham's street art

Yorkshire’s renowned and new artists at the outdoor gallery set in an impossibly scenic Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Discover art in scenic Yorkshire Sculpture Park

The Sculpture Park

Nicola Godden artist with her sculpture Theia Goddess of light at The Sculpture Park
Yorkshire Sculpture Park

In questo lato felicemente stravagante del Galles, in una penisola privata, troverai una piccola fetta della riviera italiana.

Scopri di più su Portmeirion

VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Revellers at a forest gig at music festival
Portmeirion

Step into Beatrix Potter’s enchanting stories, with a chance to meet Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and friends.

Discover The World of Beatrix Potter

www.stevenbarber.com

Peter Rabbit 2013 credit photograper Steve Barber
The World of Beatrix Potter, Lake District

Art, nature, history, science: this vast museum puts centuries of heritage at your fingertips, featuring local and international treasures alike.

Plan your visit to Ulster Museum

Ulster Museum/Johnny Frazer

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Piece of artwork in the Ulster Museum, Johnny Frazer
Ulster Museum

More than ten acres of sculpture park with an ever-rotating collection of internationally renowned artists at Surrey’s The Sculpture Park

Discover more about The Sculpture Park

thesculpturepark

The Sculpture Park
The Sculpture Park

You’ll find everything from dinosaur bones to contemporary art at this fantastic free museum.

Delve into the National Museum Cardiff

Visit Wales Image Centre

People viewing artwork in the National Museum Cardiff
National Museum Cardiff

For a truly unforgettable experience, head to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall, an outdoor theatre hewn out of a cliff-top.

Minack Theatre

VisitBritain/Sarah McNally

View from the top of the Minack Theatre
Minack Theatre