The free Bloomberg Connects app features expert-curated guides to hundreds of museums, galleries and cultural spaces, making it easy to discover arts and culture wherever you are
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From world-renowned art galleries such as the Tate to landmark institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery, Britain is not short of cultural big-hitters. But it also boasts countless smaller attractions that are off the usual tourist trail but are well worth seeking out.
The Bloomberg Connects app allows you to discover these under-the-radar gems at the touch of a button. You can find curator and artist insights, listen to audio commentary, and watch behind-the-scene stories on site, or wherever you are in the world.
Here’s our pick of hidden gems you can discover across the British Isles:
Aberdeen Art Gallery
Home to one of the finest UK collections, spanning 700 years and including a staggering range of works by local, national and international artists, designers and makers. For over 130 years they have been acquiring the most interesting contemporary artworks.
Pier Arts Centre
This amazing collection of art is tucked away in a picturesque harbour on the tiny Scottish island of Orkney. The core collection charts the development of modern art in Britain through the 1930s to today, and includes outstanding paintings by Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon and Alfred Wallis.
American Museum & Gardens
A quirky, interesting collection set in 125 acres of greenery and stunning formal gardens on the edge of the heritage city of Bath, overlooking the rolling Cotswold hills. The handsome manor house was transformed into a museum in 1961 by an Anglo-American couple and holds an impressive collection of American decorative and folk art.
Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery
The beautiful medieval town of Shrewsbury is worth a visit in its own right, and the town museum offers a journey through local history, from prehistoric exhibits to the Tudors and Stuarts.
Cyfarthfa Castle Museum & Art Gallery
A castellated mansion built by the wealthy Crawshay family to overlook their booming Cyfarthfa Ironworks. Now a museum, it showcases an eccentric collection of curios, including the works of Penry Williams, known as ‘the Welsh Turner’ for the similarities in their painting style.
Courtauld Gallery
This exceptional gallery, located at Somerset House in Central London, boasts a world-class collection of masterpieces, including iconic Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works such as Manet’s A Bar at the Folies Bergère, Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and the most significant collection of works by Cézanne in the UK. The Gallery reopened in November 2021 following a major transformation project and was shortlisted for the 2023 RIBA Stirling Prize.
Penlee House Gallery & Museum
Set in an elegant Victorian house and park, this gallery puts on a year-round programme of exhibitions focusing on the art of West Cornwall, usually featuring the Newlyn School and Lamorna group, which offer the unique opportunity of viewing such major works a stone’s throw from where they were created.
Turner Contemporary
The opening of Turner Contemporary in 2011 in Margate sparked a cultural renaissance in this Kent seaside town. Built on the site of the boarding house where the artist JMW Turner once stayed, the gallery is inspired by the life and work of the celebrated artist, who was inspired by the town’s skies and light. It hosts an exciting programme of contemporary exhibitions and cultural events.
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
This unique attraction sets an array of sculpture within 500 acres of rolling 18th-century landscapes. Art Outdoors displays include long-and short-term loans, gifts from artists and individuals and site-specific commissions. With around 100 sculptures and installations, there’s always something new to discover.
F.E. McWilliam Gallery & Studio
Dedicated to the memory of sculptor Frederick Edward McWilliam, one of Ireland’s most influential and successful artists, this gallery in County Down, Northern Ireland, features a permanent display of McWilliam’s work, as well as temporary exhibitions of Irish and international art.
The App
And the best part? You can find out more about these hidden gems, and hundreds of Art UK collections, on the free Bloomberg Connects app. Get ready to embark on a journey of exploration and immerse yourself in the vibrant UK cultural landscape.
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