Best for
Contemporary art and architecture fans, park walkers
Time needed
45 minutes–1.5 hours
Worth it?
Yes, especially in Pavilion season (summer) — free and genuinely well-curated
Skip if
Contemporary art doesn't interest you and you're focused only on the park itself
About Serpentine Galleries
Serpentine South, opened in 1970 in a converted 1930s tea pavilion, and Serpentine North, a Zaha Hadid-designed extension opened in 2013 a short walk away across the Serpentine Bridge, together make up one of London's leading free contemporary art spaces, showing rotating exhibitions of major international artists, architects and designers.
The galleries are best known internationally for the Serpentine Pavilion, a temporary structure commissioned from a different architect each summer since 2000 — a list that has included Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Ai Weiwei, Herzog & de Meuron and Bjarke Ingels — often the architect's first completed building in England, and free to enter and explore for the few months it stands in the park.
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Beyond the pavilion, the galleries' exhibition programme punches well above its physical size, regularly showing significant names in contemporary art, photography and design against the unlikely backdrop of a Royal Park.
Because both galleries and the pavilion are free, and set inside Kensington Gardens itself, they make an easy and rewarding add-on to a park walk rather than requiring a dedicated separate trip.
What to See: Highlights
- 1The annual Serpentine Pavilion, a new structure by a leading architect every summer
- 2Two free contemporary art galleries inside Kensington Gardens
- 3Zaha Hadid's Serpentine North extension building itself
- 4A rotating programme of major international contemporary artists
- 5A scenic setting beside the Serpentine lake and bridge
- 6Completely free entry to both galleries year-round
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Insider Tips
The summer Pavilion (roughly June–October) is a highlight worth timing a visit around
Combine with a wider walk through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park
Both galleries are small enough to see together in under an hour
Check what's currently showing online, as the programme rotates frequently
The Pavilion often has a café, a nice spot to pause mid-walk
Book a Guided Tour
Get the most from your visit with a local expert guide.
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Getting There
Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA (Serpentine South) and W2 2AR (Serpentine North)
Open in Google Maps →- 1Lancaster Gate or Knightsbridge (Central/Piccadilly lines) — both roughly a 10-minute walk through the park.
Where to stay
Hotels in London
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You're visiting Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park and want a free cultural stop
- You're interested in contemporary art or architecture
- The annual Pavilion is currently open (roughly June to October)
- You want a quieter, less crowded gallery experience than central London's big museums
Skip if...
- Contemporary and conceptual art isn't your thing
- You're visiting outside Pavilion season and prioritising the park itself
