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We might sometimes take it for granted, but the UK really is home to some of the finest art galleries in the world. Not only was London ranked as the top city globally for art by Time Out’s global survey of city-dwellers, but we’ve just published a guide celebrating the length and breadth of the nation’s galleries.
In Time Out‘s 2026 list of the best art galleries in the UK, The Lowry, often described as the Salford Guggenheim, took top spot and Cambridge’s Kettle’s Yard nabbed silver. Third place went to the institution we’re spotlighting in this piece: Hastings Contemporary.
The south coast exhibition space – which was formerly known as the Jerwood Gallery – might win you over with its seaside location and sleek black exterior alone. But there are even more treasures on the inside. Hastings Contemporary was chosen for the feature by Time Out writer Amy Houghton, who said:
‘With a façade made up of around 8,000 glazed black tiles, Hastings Contemporary blends seamlessly with the clusters of wooden fishing-net shops that line the town’s Rock-a-Nore Road. Inside, its floor-to-ceiling windows frame the fishing boats lined up on the shingle.
‘In other words, this is a gallery that is proud of its local area. And it’s increasingly ambitious with its exhibitions.’
With no permanent collection, the gallery has free rein with its programming. This year, Hastings Contemporary put on the first-ever major exhibition to explore the connection between 20th-century titans Lucian Freud and sculptor Henry Moore, examining their shared approaches to human subjects.
Hastings Contemporary embraces the area’s roots too. It has spotlighted exhibitions exploring coastal themes, such as its Seaside Modern: Art and Life on the Beach show in 2021. In 2025 it introduced the Sussex Spotlight series, which highlights a different local artist every few months. So far, this has included the likes of Alessandro Raho, Maggie Scott and Richard Phoenix.
Right now Hastings Contemporary’s Edge exhibition has just opened, exploring through painting, photography, film, sculpture and installation where the land meets the sea and the role both ecosystems play in creating and sustaining life.
Oh, and it’s only a one-hour, 20-minute train from London. For a cultural day trip, check out all the top galleries near London here.
You can find out more about Hastings Contemporary on the gallery website.
🎨 Discover the best art galleries in the UK, according to Time Out.
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