The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition is illuminating, bizarre, moving and often laugh-out-loud funny. No wonder it has special bragging rights. It screams London in the summer.
This flag ship show is where amateur and professional artists compete to exhibit and sell their art. It is coordinated by a leading artist and equally celebrated committee.
As you go from room to room, you can detect the individual curator’s taste. Some rooms have a dark and gloomy vibe, while others are colour themed, industrial or cutesy. One gallery this year closely resembled a craft shop.
Prepare to be entertained by the significant proportion of odd exhibits. I have seen art school tutors laughing and debating the more “out there” creations…evidently too much even for them.
Here are my tips to get the most out of the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Gain Free entry to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Consider becoming a Royal Academy member. Annual membership (£138 for 2 people and half price for the under 35s) will allow you to dip in and out of the Summer Exhibition on the day and visit multiple times free of charge. And if you have any spare energy on the day you can visit other exhibitions within the building without charge.
Membership allows you to dip in and out of the RA Summer Exhibition
You’ll need at least two hours to see the RA Summer Exhibition properly
Go With An Open Mind
Expect to love, hate and be indifferent to many exhibits and that is all ok. Seek out the one or two exhibits in each room which “speak to you”. That way you will enjoy it more instead of feeling the need to generalise about the show as a whole.
Spot Exhibits by Royal Academicians
Interspersed with works by amateur and unknown artists you will see a few by Royal Academicians like Tracey Emin.
Look Up and Down
Not every painting has a prime spot some great pieces will be placed above and below eye level.
Make Use of the Royal Academy Member’s Room
The Summer Exhibition is an assault on the senses and you can tire quickly. There’s a Member’s Only room beside the entrance called the Keeper’s House. You can get alcoholic refreshments, teas and coffees, cakes, bowl salads and sandwiches in much nicer surroundings than the general café.
Google the Room Curator
The name of the curator who has chosen the art for each room is displayed on the wall by the room entrance. You can find out more about them with a quick internet search. There’s a good internet signal in the exhibition.
Use the Viewing Benches
There are backless benches in every room and these are usually placed at a good angle for viewing the art so it makes good use of them if you need a rest from walking or standing.
Use the viewing benches
You can combine a trip to the Royal Academy with a DIY bus tour using the Number 9 bus which starts at Kensington Palace and terminates at Covent Garden.
Buy the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Catalogue
The catalogue for the RA Summer Exhibition shows the name of the artist the name of the work of art and the price of the piece. It costs £3.50 (2024) and is essential if you want to buy anything. Bring a pen so you can mark the title that you are interested in on the catalogue.
Buy the RA Summer Exhibition Catalogue
Use the Large Print Programme
Alternatively, there are several large print catalogues for the partially sighted which show essential information on the artist, art name and price. This is available in each room and needs to be returned to he stand before progressing to the next room.
Use the large print guide for the partially sighted
Identify the Red Sold Stickers
You’ll see a red sticker on a piece when it is sold. If you see multiple stickers on a piece, it means that it is a limited edition work with more than one copy available.
A red dot sticker indicates the piece has been sold.
If Buying Art, Visit Early in the Season
Many works are priced under £250 which make them a great buy for budding art collectors. Bear in mind that the cheaper exhibits tend to sell first. If you want to buy, attend a ‘member’s only’ preview or go early on in the exhibition calendar. You can book your tickets on the Royal Academy website. Entrance is £22 – £24.50 per person.
Look for Art that May Work in Your Space
The purpose of art is never to merely adorn walls but when viewing look for a special piece that may fit in your home. Even if you don’t buy, it will give you purpose and you browse through hundreds of works.
Take Photos
There are no restrictions on photography at the RA Summer Exhibition. You can fill your social media feed with inspiring and colourful shots. Aim to provide a context for the day by photographing the exterior of the iconic Royal Academy building and take some general shots of the viewing galleries.
Gain Inspiration For Your Own Creations
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition provides fantastic inspiration for your own arts and crafts. Sometimes a piece is so intricate and created by such talented artists it would be impossible to recreate but equally there are many ideas in the show that are genius concepts but with simple execution.
Skull made using vintage cast off jewellery which could be the inspiration for your own arts and crafts.
Pace Your Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Viewing
There are approximately 9 key rooms in the RA Summer Exhibition with the smaller more interesting art pieces densely exhibited in the final rooms.
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition contains over 1700 works of art.
There is usually at least one fascinating large-scale installations in the final room. Most people have a tendency to take their time viewing the first three rooms and run out of energy when it comes to the later exhibits. You may even want to see the show in reverse order, by starting with the final rooms and work your way forwards.
A large scale installation in the final room with accompanying classical music.
Dress the Part
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition is the place to see and be seen. Dress exotically and extravagantly…act as if you are a hip artist or muse, not a suburban spectator.
Moving to London or thinking of living here? Maybe you have concerns about high prices or fitting in? Here I lay all of your worries to rest and give you the many reasons why London is the World’s Capital andone of the best places to live regardless of your personal circumstances.
Here are some unarguable reasons to move to London.
London has a Fascinating Geography and Skyline
Consider moving to London for our fabulous architecture.
Most cities that have been burnt to ashes in fires, or blitzed to smithereens in wars are reconstructed on a communist style grid system but not ours.
We have tiny alley ways with ancient pubs nestled next to giant plate glass tower blocks.
Turn a corner and go down a path to seemingly nowhere and you’ll find a hidden court yard which may be the inspiration for Scrooge’s Counting House in Dickens’s Christmas Carol.
Cross our numerous bridges, or take the lift to a viewing platform at the Shard or the Tate Modern and you’ll see our skyline of majestic buildings – St Pauls, Tower Bridge, The Tower of London peppered with newer buildings like the Gherkin, County Hall and the Walkie Talkie.
And look at the red cranes and the scale of new development. The geography of London is constantly changing.
The Shard dwarfing its surroundings
London has Fantastic World Beating Culture
Our arts scene is second to no other country on the planet and there’s no better reason to consider moving to London. You could never be bored here. There is a constant and never ending stream of entertainment and intellectual stimulation.
London has 230 theatres with 100,000 seats available each and every night. They range from the largest theatres which show musicals and blockbusters, to the oldest theatres like the Theatre Royal (May 1663) to the smallest theatres like the Duchess Theatre with just 494 seats.
With their frequently changing programmes, you could go to two shows a day for a year and never see the same thing twice.
The Savoy Theatre next to the Savoy Hotel
Then there are our free world-class museums like the V&A, Science Museum and the Natural History in South Kensington. Art lovers will appreciate the free Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea, the Wallace Collection and the Tate Modern. History lovers will enjoy a day at the London Museum and wannabe Egyptologists and archaeologists and all lovers of antiquities, can join the crowds at the British Museum.
And when you’ve exhausted their permanent galleries you can go their special exhibitions where treasures are gleaned from around the world. Use a National Art Pass for discounted entry.
London galleries have art of all genres which is a great reason to move to London.
Our Love of the British Royal Family is Another Reason for Moving to London
Portrait of the Queen on a £20 note
Most of us Londoners don’t want to be a republic.
We like the fact that our Royals can sit bolt upright, behave with class, wear stockings instead of bare legs in a heatwave, do public good works and save us from the ills of the government of the day. Her Mag has got to be a restraining influence on Boris, surely? After all she holds him to task at a weekly audience and without her, we don’t like to think what might happen!
And when our Royals get it wrong, they get it spectacularly wrong. We then enjoy the gaffes and the blunders. Many of us remember that rogue, Michael Fagan who scaled the walls of Buck House and evaded palace security, to sit at the end of the Queen’s bed. There’s many a pub debate on whether Diana was a latter day saint or mad, bad and dangerous to know. Has Prince Harry lost the plot and been duped by a conniving Meghan Markle or are they “innocent victims of the palace machine”? And don’t get us started on Prince Andrew and his alleged friendship with a friend of an alleged paedophile (and THAT television interview)!
We like the pageantry, the castles, the palaces the pomp and the circumstance…and the time when we met the Queen, or almost met the Queen. And moving to London means that you can share in all the pomp and circumstance that comes with the our royal connections.
Nowhere Does Understated Luxury Like London
Harrods is our most famous store and a byword in luxury
As a nation we aren’t ones to bare all, teeter around in 6 inch heels or wear colossal rocks on our fingers. We prefer understated quality like wool tweed coats, cashmere jumpers and silk shirts. Many of our luxury branded goods are made by Royal Warrant Holders who supply Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip or Prince Charles.
There is nothing like a stroll round Harrods, Liberty’s, Fortnum and Mason, Jermyn Street and the Burlington Arcade make sense of the London Look.
A Londoner shopping in Regents Street and wearing the iconic Burberry Mac.
Our prestigious hotels are far more than places where the rich stay when visiting London, we arrange to meet our friends for afternoon tea, we use their foyers to host business meetings over a coffee or try to evade capture by the hotel doormen as we sneak passed solely to use the loo.
Luxury cars outside the equally luxurious St Pancras Renaissance Hotel
Here’s what to expect for a hotel afternoon tea.
London’s Bargains and Deals Defy Belief
London has an unjust reputation as being one of the most expensive and pocket draining capitals in the world. And it’s true, if you are going to dive into the nearest cafe or restaurant and zig zag between destinations in a black cab you’ll feel chewed up and used.
Accommodation
The main expense for anyone living here is accommodation, that’s true whether you are on holiday, renting a flat or buying a home. Costs can be reduced by house sitting, staying in hostels, sharing with friends or living in the suburbs. Once your accommodation has been sorted, London can be surprisingly economical.
Travel
The Oyster card (which is the card that you need to travel on London Transport) has a capped daily spend. So you will spend a fixed amount no matter how many journeys you make.
If you are permanent resident and over 60 you currently get free travel (and long may that continue).
Save Money by Moving to London
If you are moving to London on a budget you can focus on the free and cheap stuff. Think:
Museums
Art galleries
Libraries
Window shopping
Lunchtime recitals
Parks
Street performers
Street markets
Street food
Green Spaces with Free Entry
Lesser known is that there are number of roof gardens all over the City and many are free to enter (although some may require online booking).
This is the Crossrail Place Roof Garden in Canary Wharf which is full of exotic plants with many benches and hidden pathways and an extensive programme of free performances and music.
If you are using the Elizabeth Line at Canary Wharf tube station…the Crossrail Roof Garden is above you and accessible by lift or escalator. You may enjoy our blog post on this garden.
Exotic plants in the Crossrail Place Roof Garden in Canary Wharf
Food Deals
Food deals abound. London markets and supermarkets sell their produce off at a fraction of the price at the end of the day. Ask at one of the bigger supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Waitrose when they make their evening reductions.
Many chain restaurants do introductory offers which can result in you scoring a free meal. Download apps for the chain restaurants and research deals online. Follow your favourite restaurants on Twitter to be the first to hear of their latest promotion
London markets have bargains galore which are perfect if you are moving to London on a budget.
Cheap Shopping
Every January and July we have sales in our flagship shops and department stores in Knightsbridge and Oxford Circus. In the last few days of the sale, it is not unusual for prices to be reduced by up to 80%
Many People come to London for the January and July Sales
London Weather is Interesting
London has interesting weather.
Our weather changes by the hour, although on most days you can be guaranteed rain. Tourists and newcomers may see this as a bad thing but we tend to like it.
The truth is London weather is as interesting as it is varied. It rarely gets unbearably hot, and neither does it get extremely cold.
Just think, our moderate climate is very good for the complexion and delays ageing.
And you will never stumped for conversation. Our weather is the perfect subject when talking to someone that you’ve just met, or for polite conversation with neighbours when you don’t want to get too intimate.
If you are visiting London in the Winter you must be especially prepared for cold and rainy weather. We advise you on what to pack.
London Transport is World Beating
London Transport is speedy, safe and efficient.
Sometimes, I meet friends who go back home to America and Australia and they return with horror stories of how they had to wait 40 minutes or an hour for a bus.
Well that doesn’t happen when you live in London!
Our trains and buses run every few minutes. You may be crushed like sweltering, sardines in the rush hour and need to carry a bottle of water with you at all times but these are minor inconveniences for a relatively safe and speedy journey.
London Markets Cater for all Tastes and Budgets
London has speciality markets catering for bargain hunters, flea market sifters, artisan foodies and arty craft lovers.
Each market has its own unique personality.
Columbia Road is a flower market with a diverse East End vibe. Covent Garden is known for its upmarket crafts and unusual souvenirs and is popular with tourists. Borough Market, visited by locals, tourists and office workers alike, is famed for its fruit, vegetables and artisan street food. There’s a second hand book market in front of the BFI. Portobello Road is a famous flea market with a lot of bric-a-brac, antiques and second-hand stalls. Greenwich Market has a thriving craft and hippy market as does Camden Town.
And if you see an advertisement for a Car Boot Sale, run don’t walk, you will find local people selling their cast off stuff for a pound or so. A top tip is to get there early and be vigilant as the cars are being unloaded.
Tasty Bland English Food and Boozy Pubs are yet Another Reason for Moving to London
London Pubs serve traditional British food.
Fish and Chips
Full English Breakfast
Bangers and Mash
Steak and Kidney Pie
British food like bangers and mash, fish and chips and steak pie with lashings of gravy are the nectar of the gods.
We don’t need to eat garlicky olives and salamis, or a vindaloo, when we have the right mix of crispy, creamy, gravyness in our national cuisine.
Moving to London Means you can Experience a Unique, Diverse and Multi Cultural Population
London is multicultural and diverse and everyone feels that they belong. And if they don’t feel that they belong, it just means that they need to make a modicum of change e.g. join a new MeetUp, move a mile down the road, speak to a new neighbour.
Meeting a white British Londoner is a bit of a rare thing here…even the people who purport to be British or Londoners aren’t! And when you leave the City for a few days, you miss the melting pot of interesting people and everything that goes with it – the ethnic food, the liberal attitudes and the range of beliefs and life styles.
London Pride is the annual LGBT celebration
Free speech and protests are a hallmark of London life.
Moving to London will allow you to meet different ethnicities
A major plus point of our ethnic diversity is the myriad of cuisines available – you name it, we have it, from the Curry Houses in Brick Lane and Southall, to Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, Jewish bakeries in Stamford Hill and the Middle Eastern kebab shops on the Edgware Road. Whatever you want, and whatever time of day you want it, you can have it.
And with this comes the speciality grocery shops that supply them, so whether you are looking for wonton wraps, pomegranate molasses or dried anchovy, it’s here somewhere near you.
Emigrate to London to Witness Firsthand Tetchy Impatient Londoners
Londoners walking to work.
Londoners, dressed uniformly in black and grey, will leave their suburban homes and descend from the main line stations of St Pancras, Kings Cross, Victoria, Euston and Charing Cross each morning. They will then, unrelentingly and at speed, oblivious to stunning sights, march to their City offices.
Do not stop them, or get in their way or ask for directions. Dithering, pointing, or map reading tourists are likely to enrage them and woe betides anyone who causes them to trip over a wheeled suitcase.
As far as they are concerned, you are a “Johnny Come Lately” and London belongs to them. By living in London you can join us in our bad tempered and impatient ways.
Consider Moving to London to Enjoy the Anonymity
People are like ants at Paddington Station
In London, you are the proverbial drop in the ocean of humanity.
Discharged from prison? Change your name and address and make a fresh start. If you’ve had an argument with a friend, don’t worry about it, you’ll never see them again. Getting over a bad relationship? You’ll find hundreds of better partners living within a few metres of you, online. Fleeing a bad family situation? They’ll never find you here.
London is the perfect place to get lost, start over or disappear. You will never regret moving to London.
The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition is illuminating, bizarre, moving and often laugh-out-loud funny. No wonder it has special bragging rights. It screams London in...
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