Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
Serpentine South Gallery
Museum & collection
Place photograph
5.8
Wildland
1–2 hours
Time
Free
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
5.8A former Kensington Gardens tea-room turned contemporary-art gallery, where changing exhibitions meet the park and the Serpentine Pavilion.
Serpentine South earns its place as a distinctive cultural stop within Kensington Gardens: a 1934 tea-room building now showing contemporary art, with the changing Pavilion on the lawn. It works best as part of a considered park visit rather than as a standalone nature destination.
Atmospheric · Quirky
Find your way
Open mapKensington Gardens, London W2 3XA
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The experience
See the current exhibition, then look at the temporary Pavilion on the lawn and take a short walk through Kensington Gardens. The gallery is free; visitors are advised to book a ticket.
Things to do
See the current exhibition
Exhibitions change throughout the year. Check the gallery’s current programme and ticket advice before visiting.
1–2 hours
Look around the Serpentine Pavilion
A temporary architectural commission is placed on the lawn in front of the gallery. Check whether the Pavilion is open and on view during your visit.
Walk to Serpentine North
The two Serpentine galleries are on either side of the Serpentine Bridge in Kensington Gardens. The Royal Parks describes the walk between them as about five minutes.
About 5 minutes between galleries
Make a day of it
Quick escape · 1–2 hours
Quick gallery and Pavilion visit
- 01
Check the current exhibition and book a ticket if advised.
- 02
Visit Serpentine South Gallery during its published opening hours.
- 03
See the temporary Pavilion on the lawn, if it is in place during your visit.
Half day · Half day
Gallery visit and Kensington Gardens stroll
- 01
Check the current exhibition and visit Serpentine South.
- 02
Explore the temporary Pavilion on the lawn, if it is open during your visit.
- 03
Continue with a walk through Kensington Gardens.
- 04
For a longer art-focused outing, visit Serpentine North; the official site describes the two galleries as a short distance apart on either side of the Serpentine Bridge.
Verified history
Serpentine South was established as a gallery in 1970. Its classical-style building was built as a tea-room in 1934, replacing an earlier refreshment house added to Kensington Gardens in 1855. The Royal Parks says the gallery has presented the work of 1,600 artists over 43 years. Its annual Pavilion commission brings temporary architecture and public programmes to the lawn in front of the gallery.
Hidden details
A gallery in a former tea-room — The classical-style building began as a tea-room in 1934; before it, an earlier refreshment house stood here from 1855.
The Pavilion is a separate annual commission — The temporary structure on the lawn is an architectural commission and venue for public programmes, rather than a permanent part of the gallery building.
When to go
· During published gallery opening hours; check the official visit page for current arrangements.
The exhibition programme changes through the year, and the Pavilion is temporary. There is no sourced basis for identifying a single best month.
The gallery is indoors; the Pavilion and surrounding park walk are outdoors. Check conditions before planning time outside.
Worth pairing with
Serpentine North Gallery
Pair the South gallery with its sister gallery across the Serpentine Bridge for a longer art visit. The official visit page describes them as a short distance apart.
Kensington Gardens
The gallery sits within Kensington Gardens, making a park walk a natural extension of a gallery visit.
What to look for
- 01
Notice the gallery’s classical-style exterior, built as a tea-room in 1934
- 02
look for the temporary Pavilion on the lawn and how its architecture sits within Kensington Gardens. Exhibition details change, so check the current programme.
The story
Art and architecture
Best time to go
Year-round; exhibitions and the temporary Pavilion change, so check the current programme.
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am–6pm according to the official visit page. Check for changes before travelling, and check the Pavilion dates if that is part of your visit.
How long to spend
1–2 hours
Perfect for
Couples · Families · Photographers · History lovers
Before you go
Address
Phone
Website
Listed hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10am-6pm
- Wednesday: 10am-6pm
- Thursday: 10am-6pm
- Friday: 10am-6pm
- Saturday: 10am-6pm
- Sunday: 10am-6pm
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Free and open to all. The gallery advises visitors to book a ticket. Current exhibitions and opening arrangements may change; check the official visit page before setting out.
Check before visiting
Parking
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Toilets
The source listing reports a toilet and an accessible toilet; confirm current facilities with the gallery.
Food & drink
Check before visiting. The official visit page identifies a café at Serpentine North, not at Serpentine South.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Check before visiting
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The source listing reports a wheelchair-accessible entrance, car park and toilet. Confirm current access details with the gallery before visiting.
Cost
Free
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Serpentine South Gallery
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
