Laing Art Gallery

Laing Art Gallery opened in 1904 out of an act of generosity from Alexander Laing. He offered to build a gallery with the purpose of providing the public a gallery free of use and enjoyment in perpetuity. Laing opened the museum without a collection but trusted that the people would fill the space with kind donations.

Featured at the Laing Art Gallery is a wide collection of  art collections that focus on British oil painting, ceramics, watercolours, silver and glassware. Some of the gallery’s most famous artworks are two from Pre-Raphaelite art, ‘Isabella and the Pot of Basil’ and ‘Laus Veneris’. Additionally, Laing Art Gallery holds one of the most important collections of work by John Martin from the 19th century. Throughout the year, the gallery hosts different events and exhibitions, but also has many permanent collections that can be viewed.

Their website hosts a range of virtual archives detailing past exhibitions. These can be viewed via videos under their corresponding titles on the website or youtube.

For more information on virtual exhibitions, click here:

Within the gallery, there is a Café on the ground floor that serves hot and cold drinks as well as meals.

Opening times

Laing Art Gallery is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm and is closed on Sunday as well as bank holidays. Furthermore, the gallery has free entry for all.

Accessibility

Getting to Laing Art Gallery is approximately 5 minutes walk away from Monument Metro Station and approximately 10 minutes away from the bus stop at Haymarket. However, to the side of the gallery is two disabled parking slots for blue badge holders. Access in the art gallery include:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance
• Lift and stairs providing access to all floors
• Accessible toilets are present on the ground and first floor
• Captions available on screens throughout the gallery
• Tactile artworks are available for those who are blind or patially sighted

For more information on accessibility, click here:

For another art gallery to visit, click here: