Southampton City Art Gallery
Southampton City Art Gallery
Southampton City Art Gallery
4.3
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
Closed
About
Southampton City Art Gallery is the most outstanding gallery in the South of England and is internationally renowned for its impressive collection and temporary exhibitions programme. The works on display, of both historic and contemporary art, show the breadth and quality of the City’s art treasures. The Gallery attracts a wide audience and through the exciting education programme it provides and promote opportunities for greater access, involvement and understanding of visual art in Southampton.
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See what travelers are saying
- Emily C1 contributionI am a student in year 8 who went to Southampton City Art gallery to look around in a small group, and display what we have seen for an art project in school. So here is my opinion about my visit: As someone who is very passionate about art, i really loved this gallery! I havent been to many before, but this certain one really amazed me! I enjoyed the visit very much. We looked aroumd the main room, and all the art upstairs. While looking at the art downstairs in the foyer, we had the unexpected opportunity to accidently run into the artist whose art was on display! His name was James Kirk Wadmore and we had a great conversation about his art and the meanings behind it. Each room displayed a different era of art, all using many different media too. The whole time i was excited, and i really enjoyed reading and learning about the art pieces. Overall, if you love art and enjoy learning about all the eras, media, backgrounds and artists, you would love this gallery!! I would definately recommend this to my art friends, and i would go again if i get the chance! Hope this helped!!We are so happy you enjoyed your visit and your chance meeting with the Artist! As you probably know we are having a lot of work done on our roof at the moment and have limited access for now, but we will really look forward to welcoming you again when we fully re-open!Written March 5, 2025This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.Visited October 2024Traveled with friendsWritten March 1, 2025
- Clive JPoole, United Kingdom1 contributionThe Southampton City Art Gallery was an excellent experience. There was lots of different types of art made by lots of different types of people such as sculpting, painting, wood carving and much more. It was an amazing looking at the art and seeing how each of them expressed many different emotions and feelings in their own type of way. My favourite piece of art was made out of threads and had different shapes overlapping in different colours. I liked this artwork the best because it was not like any other artwork we saw there and it was expressing lots of feelings. I would definitely recommend this art gallery to the public because even if you are on your own or with your family there is something for everyone to enjoy even if you are a child there is also other things to play and enjoy.Visited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten August 27, 2024
- Tanya l1 contributionI really enjoyed visiting Southampton City Art Gallery. The artworks are easily accessible and displayed beautifully. It was very inspiring to see the different paintings and sculptures. It was easy to navigate our way through the gallery. There are sufficient space to sit down and appreciate the art works. I would highly recommend both families and art lovers to visit this gallery. The variety of artist work will offer something for every taste.Visited June 2024Traveled on businessWritten October 13, 2024
- Catherine C2 contributionsI went to the Southhampton City Art Gallery and had an amazing time. We walked around the Art Gallery marveling at the paintings and taking photos. I loved how there was interactive displays. One of my favourite pieces of art there was a piece called Conquest of the Air. I really liked the different styles of art ranging from illustrations to lazer cutting to hand tufted wool. And as a coincidence, we even got to do a Q+A with one of the artists: Kirk James Wadmore. I also found the size of the Art Gallery perfectly sized so that you wouldn't get bored walking around. I loved going there and would definately go there again.Visited June 2024Traveled with friendsWritten August 11, 2024
- PATO-BETOSan Martin, Argentina21,073 contributionsWe didn't have much time to visit Southampton as we arrived on a cruise, but we were able to enter even a few minutes into this gallery. It has one of the most important art collections in the south of England. We toured a spacious and bright main room. Rotating and permanent samples are displayed. It is located right next to the Sea City Museum. Admission is free.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten June 27, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.3
247 reviews
Excellent
127
Very good
86
Average
22
Poor
5
Terrible
7
Paul H
Surrey, UK99 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
I'm sure Southampton is a lovely place to live, but I found it an awful place to visit. The road signage was terrible, but when I finally found the art gallery I rather wish I hadn't. The gallery is upstairs from the library, and the main part is on the landing area. This feels a litttle like trying to appreciate art on a train station concourse. They've concentrated on modern and contemporary art here, though I have to say with not the best examples of each artists' work. When I visited 2 of the rooms were closed, which doesn't sound much, but there's only eight rooms in total, and there was no mention of this closure on the website. Most of the rest of the gallery was taken up with a temporary photography exhibiition of 'Faces of Southampton', which may be of interest to the locals but really not to a visitor. I paid for 2 hours at the car park, which in truth was about an hour and a half too much to see Southampton.
Written September 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sotontraveller
Southampton, UK495 contributions
Oct 2020
Local residents are so lucky to have this gallery in their midst. It is a pity it is under-marketed by Southampton CC. If the Council were smart, it could charge of many of its specialist exhibitions.
This was my first visit since lock down and proved to be more interesting than I expected. As always, about three exhibitions running con-currently, the one with the highest marketed visibility was the Nahem Shoa "Face of Britain" portrait exhibition. I knew nothing of the artist nor his work. The curating proved to be totally different to what I expected (probably says more about me than the marketing) and was surprisingly interesting: A very clever artist with amazing colour and brush skills. The comparisons with portraits done by white skinned artists of white and coloured skinned peoples were stark and apparent.
Shorter versions of the Hospital Rooms exhibition has been running for some time but really demonstrates what can be achieved with some colour and skills applied by empathetic artists to bring joy and light into mental health establishments.
The Shade and Light exhibition I found to be predominently underwhelming, reminding me somewhat ironically of Jeff Koons work at the very end.
Well worth a visit.
A great pity that Southampton Art Gallery hasn't bothered to update it's web site given the Central Library had to be closed because of a confirmed case of C19. The public needs to be able to make its own informed decisions to attend or not.
This was my first visit since lock down and proved to be more interesting than I expected. As always, about three exhibitions running con-currently, the one with the highest marketed visibility was the Nahem Shoa "Face of Britain" portrait exhibition. I knew nothing of the artist nor his work. The curating proved to be totally different to what I expected (probably says more about me than the marketing) and was surprisingly interesting: A very clever artist with amazing colour and brush skills. The comparisons with portraits done by white skinned artists of white and coloured skinned peoples were stark and apparent.
Shorter versions of the Hospital Rooms exhibition has been running for some time but really demonstrates what can be achieved with some colour and skills applied by empathetic artists to bring joy and light into mental health establishments.
The Shade and Light exhibition I found to be predominently underwhelming, reminding me somewhat ironically of Jeff Koons work at the very end.
Well worth a visit.
A great pity that Southampton Art Gallery hasn't bothered to update it's web site given the Central Library had to be closed because of a confirmed case of C19. The public needs to be able to make its own informed decisions to attend or not.
Written October 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tsingiwoman
Basingstoke, UK114 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
This free to enter gallery is well worth a visit if you like art. The permanent collection includes some very good pieces including an early Antony Gormley, Edward Burne Jones' Perseus series and a lovely Monet. The current temporary exhibition (focussing on portraiture) is rather weak with an over-reliance on children's drawings.
Written August 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
figarococonutties
Fareham, UK85 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Attended as solo adult with my 2 primary school aged kids; 1 is particularly interested in art. What a space ! That art deco ceiling as you walk up the stairs. And it’s free ! I mean ‘wow!’ .. And so accessible above the library with such a lot to look at! Exhibitions always on, change is regular but with many pieces aleays remaining.
Each time we go we meet really warm, lovely staff.
There is a space which invites people to draw.
Love it !
Each time we go we meet really warm, lovely staff.
There is a space which invites people to draw.
Love it !
Written August 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
379Mel
Manchester, UK77 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
I really enjoyed my visit today. There is a splendidly diverse range of paintings, which are presented in an engaging way, with useful explanations. The atmosphere today was helped along by a live pianist. I will be back soon.
Written February 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris S
Southampton, UK34 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
A treasure of a gallery - one of the best outside London. Very current temporary exhibition by British Muslim women artists - extremely informative. The gallery’s own collection includes Rodin and Monet among many others of that standard. They have had a special relationship with Director of the National Gallery since the 1930’s which has guided their acquisitions, and more recently they have similar access to the Director of the Tate’s expertise. The displays are varied, well presented and thoughtful.
Written October 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrushandJarArt
5 contributions
Aug 2021
We popped in after seeing it was free while passing and we were really pleasantly surprised! Many beautiful works of art in a really unique building, with lots of very big name artists, with unique pieces. I really enjoyed their section with Islamic arts, the geometry was amazing. Really varied pieces too - I'd recommend a visit to anyone!
Written September 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenny B
Nottingham, UK203 contributions
Nov 2021
Apart from the burn jones Perseus exhibition, a couple of Rodin sculptures the rest is very poor. A lot of art has been “donated” and some is not very high quality. Also will not accept cash at the til to buy from the shop……yet are willing for you to put cash in their donation pods.
Written November 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sotontraveller
Southampton, UK495 contributions
Feb 2020
This is a wonderful gallery. It's such a pity the City Council doesn't promote it nor fund it sufficiently to open it for longer hours and on Sundays !
The main gallery has recently been rehung and some of my favourites have been archived but they have been replaced by some very contemporary art which is fascinating. In one of the side galleries, there is a display of Southampton Water paintings and for me the stand out one is by CRW Nevinson of the port, done as he was returning to the Front Line. An under-exhibited artist. Just about worth the removal of the William Roberts' !
Pity the gifts and books are rather tired. It needs a major overhaul.
The main gallery has recently been rehung and some of my favourites have been archived but they have been replaced by some very contemporary art which is fascinating. In one of the side galleries, there is a display of Southampton Water paintings and for me the stand out one is by CRW Nevinson of the port, done as he was returning to the Front Line. An under-exhibited artist. Just about worth the removal of the William Roberts' !
Pity the gifts and books are rather tired. It needs a major overhaul.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LauraDaveJames
Solihull, UK5,309 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We enjoyed our visit to this art gallery which is free to enter. We spent about an hour enjoying the exhibits. We may well have taken longer but the main exhibition focused on exploring the legacy of the Pre-Raphaelites. We are very familiar with Birmingham Art Gallery which has one of the worlds's largest collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, so this was perhaps more familiar to us.
Definitely worth a visit.
Definitely worth a visit.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there any guided talks in regard to the da vinci exhibition?
Written March 22, 2019
I am not sure. They certainly do provide guided tours of the gallery - there was one being conducted during the time we visited (though we were not part of it). There are audio guides for the Da Vinci exhibition. I would contact the gallery in advance (the staff are very helpful) in advance.
Written March 24, 2019
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