Royal Academy of Arts
Royal Academy of Arts, Art museum in Piccadilly, London.
The Royal Academy of Arts fills Burlington House in the heart of Piccadilly with exhibition rooms, studios, and teaching areas spread over several floors of the historic building. The spaces blend classical architecture with contemporary elements, with some halls retaining their original ceiling paintings and wood paneling.
In 1768, a group of artists and architects founded the institution under the patronage of King George III to promote British art and train painters. The building moved locations several times before the academy settled in Burlington House in 1868, establishing its collection and activities there permanently.
The institution's Summer Exhibition has run for more than 250 years without interruption, displaying work from all artistic fields chosen by academy members themselves. The names of participating artists appear traditionally in alphabetical order, with no distinction between well-known and unknown creators.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday with elevators, ramps, and special facilities for visitors with limited mobility. Most exhibitions are accessible to wheelchair users, and staff assist with navigation through the different rooms when needed.
The building's courtyard received a wavy glass roof that channels natural light into the central hall and creates additional exhibition space. This covering changes the courtyard's mood depending on weather and time of day, making the space feel bright and airy at times, subdued at others.
Location: City of Westminster
Inception: 1768
Founders: William Chambers
Official opening: 1768
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Part of: Royal Academy Including Burlington House And Galleries And Royal Academy Schools Buildings
Address: Burlington House, London W1J 0BD
Phone: +442073008000
Website: https://royalacademy.org.uk
GPS coordinates: 51.50917,-0.13944
Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:20
London opens its big museums for free to families. The Natural History Museum shows its dinosaur skeletons and its blue whale hanging in the main hall. The Science Museum has rockets, steam engines, and hands-on experiments. The British Museum displays Egyptian mummies and Greek sculptures in its...
Burlington House
31 m
Burlington Arcade
60 m
Albany
65 m
6 Burlington Gardens
79 m
Statue of Joshua Reynolds
32 m
Atkinsons Building
124 m
Stafford Gallery
105 m
Royal Academy Including Burlington House And Galleries And Royal Academy Schools Buildings
19 m
Melbourne House (a1 To A15)
48 m
Royal Academy War Memorial
25 m
The Learned Societies, Forecourt Buildings To Burlington House
68 m
Artists Rifles War Memorial
11 m
33, Sackville Street W1
70 m
31, Sackville Street W1
76 m
Prototype K2 telephone kiosk to western side of entrance portal of Burlington House
79 m
8 Lampstandards In Burlington House Courtyard
39 m
Easternmost K2 Telephone Kiosk Within Entrance Portal Of Burlington House
78 m
Bodley House Chambers B1 To 6, C1 To 6, D1 To 6, E1 To 6, F1 To 3, G1 To 3, H1 To 6, I1 To 6, K1 To 6 And L1 To 6
105 m
30 And 30A, Sackville Street W1
81 m
29, Sackville Street W1
81 m
34 And 35, Sackville Street W1
71 m
22, Old Bond Street W1
107 m
32, Sackville Street W1
72 m
2 Lamp Standards Numbered 1 And 2
78 m
3 K6 Telephone Kiosks, Outside Museum Of Mankind
101 m
36, Sackville Street W1
72 mPace London
94 mLDN_13
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