Royal Academy of Arts

Stunning venue for large-scale exhibitions. Although it's often quite pricey to see their major exhibitions, they are always really well put together - I saw an Ai Weiwei exhibition here, as well as the recent Russian Revolution exhibition - both were absorbing and well thought-out.

I have a love hate relationship with the RA. The building is so big yet so little of it is actually exhibition space, at least so it seems. 

If you're looking into going to more than one show here in the span of a year, I strongly recommend getting a Membership, it is completely financially worth it. And you get to go to the members only weekends, which are WAY WAY less busy.

Having been with my mother to see Ai Wei Wei, and then to see the Monet to Matisse, and more recently the Abstract Expressionism, each show had its highs as low. The first few rooms definitely draw you in to the subject matter, but the last few rooms always seem a little dull and less exciting. That being said, I love how they integrate sculpture with the artwork behind it, especially with the amazing abstract sculptures in the Abstract Expressionism show. 

I've heard good thing about their current exhibition too. The RA's definitely worth going to. 

The Royal Academy of Arts' gallery is on Piccadilly, it is directly across the road from Fortnum & Mason.

The Academy was founded in 1768 by King George III. They have many varied exhibitions throughout the year. These include single artist exhibitions, for example, Hockney and Ai Wei Wei have been on so far this year. There are also themed shows containing many different artists. "Painting the Modern Garden" included works by Kandinsky, Monet and Matisse. Next years "Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932" will have Chagall, Rodchenko and Eisenstein among others.

The highlight of their year is the Summer Exhibition, on open submission exhibition, to showcase the talent of emerging and established artists. The first one was in 1769 and it has run every one of the 248 years since. This is a huge and wide ranging exhibition usually holding over 1000 pieces, of every shape, size and medium. Most of the works are for sale differing in price from a hundred pounds to hundreds of thousands.

The gallery is nominally free, but most of the exhibitions are charged, so choose what you wish to see. 

The Summer Exhibition is good value, although I take off the voluntary donation and only buy one list of works for the whole party, the cost of these is automatically added unless you ask for them to be removed.

The Royal Academy is  self funded, though, so do as your conscience sees fit!  Personally, I don't feel too guilty as they charge 30% commission on any work sold.

Went to the RA Late: Venetian Magic event this last weekend. The event was put on in conjunction with their "In the age of Giorgione" exhibit. It was promoted as a sort of Venetian masquerade and boy, it did not disappoint! 

The Royal Academy itself it a beautiful feature, with ornate gilded rooms. It was amazing to see so many people dressed up in proper costume with fully decked out Venetian masks, wandering around these historic spaces. There were various rooms to entertain: a carnivale with DJs and actors performing dance pieces, another with props for taking photos, a room with a prosecco-bar and plush velvet sofas, a life-drawing room lit by (fake but still cool) candle light, and even a film viewing in another room. Guests also had access to the exhibit, but unfortunately I found it to be a bit disappointing. It could be that the rest of the rooms were so decadent and creatively done that the exhibit fell a bit flat for me.

Overall, it was an amazing alternative night out. Enjoyed being able to do something fun and exciting on a Saturday night that didn't involve a pub or a club. Would absolutely go to a late at the RA again! 

My favourite ever museum in London, the Royal Academy of Arts. A spectacular museum on Piccadilly, 5 mins walk from Piccadilly Circus.

Exhibition of the year is on: Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse.

Book in advance as queues are always long.

Pop to Laduree in the Burlington Arcade which is almost next door (very pretty arcade and excellent macaroons)

Wonderful space with great exhibitions and I really loved their 24 hour openings following the demand for Ai Wei Wei exhibitions. I think more galleries across London should do the same. There's a different feel late at night and your mind perceives things differently then. 

The RA is a lovely place but it can be a bit hit and miss at times with the shows, and the facilities are under going a needed redesign to cope with numbers. Currently they have a number of exhibits on, Ai WeiWei, Edmund De Waal and the Waterloo Cartoon among them, and all worth seeing - u can find on Time Out more detailed reviews of Ai WieWie. The de Waal is also a must see, though will cost members and non members alike £5 and is only open on Thursday-Saturday as it is set through the 2 rooms of the RA's working library, a room that is a beauty in its own right. If you read the Hare with the Amber Eyes, you will want to visit as it is an exhibition of white that accompanies his his new book on his journey with white and porcelain. Included are works by de Waal, a sculpture from 1BC South Arabia, Turners water colour palate and the Hare with the Amber Eyes itself. The way the pieces de Waal has chosen as spread through the library make it hugely engaging and a semi treasure hunt.

The academy itself is beautiful with lovely interior design. However, I wasn’t impressed with 2015’s summer exhibition.

It seemed thrown together and there was little cohesion or explanation. Had I not been a guest at a free event I would have been very disappointed with my experience, as the content was not up to the standard I would expect of a leading gallery; we spent no longer than 20 minutes in the rooms because there wasn't much of interest to see.

I'm unlikely to be paying to return. However, art is subjective, so maybe see for yourself.