Located on the South Bank of the Thames, the Hayward Gallery showcases innovative and thought-provoking works by both established and emerging artists. With its iconic roof and brutalist architecture, the Hayward Gallery offers visitors a unique setting to explore a diverse range of contemporary art forms, from painting and sculpture to multimedia installations.
![The yellow staircase at the Southbank Centre, leading to the Hayward Gallery. (Photo: Garry Knight [CC BY-SA 2.0])](https://englandrover.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/hayward-gallery-yellow-staircase.jpg)
What to see at the Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery does not have its own permanent collection and, instead, hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions.
Current and planned exhibitions include:
Yoshitomo Nara
This exhibition (10 June–31 August 2025) marks the first UK solo show of Yoshitomo Nara, one of Japan’s leading contemporary artists. Featuring over 150 works across drawing, painting, sculpture, and ceramics, it offers insight into Nara’s personal and creative worlds. Known for his expressive portraits and sculptures, Nara explores themes of rebellion, isolation and freedom. £20.
Ghazaleh Avarzamani and Ali Ahadi: Freudian Typo
This exhibition (10 June–31 August 2025) presents new collaborative work by Iranian-Canadian artists Ghazaleh Avarzamani and Ali Ahadi. Using sculpture, video, found objects and image-based work, it explores the language of debt, development and corporate finance. English nursery rhymes serve as a reference point for broader reflections on power, ownership and loss. A sculpture of Palmerston the cat and a motorway sign form the exhibition’s central installation. Free.
Gilbert & George: 21st Century Pictures
This exhibition (7 October 2025–4 January 2026) spans 25 years of work by Gilbert & George, showcasing large-scale images that explore human experiences and their motto, Art for All. Featuring bold titles, each piece examines social norms and taboos, tackling themes from the everyday to the controversial. Key series such as New Horny Pictures (2001), The London Pictures (2011), and The Corpsing Pictures (2022) address issues of hope, fear, sex, religion, and death.
Visiting the Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery is part of the Southbank Centre on the South Bank of the River Thames between Hungerford Bridge and Waterloo station.
The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday (it is closed on Mondays).
Admission to exhibitions is fairly expensive when compared to other art museums in London, although it is cheaper if you’re aged under 30. Unlike most other galleries, the Hayward Gallery does not offer discounted entry if you have a National Art Pass.
The Hayward Gallery Cafe is a nice spot for a drink and a light meal and its central location means that there are plenty of other places to eat and drink nearby.
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