How busy is the Royal Academy?
The RA works differently from London's big free museums. Most people come for one ticketed exhibition, and entry to those is by timed slot, so the galleries are managed rather than mobbed. The crowding you'll notice is inside popular shows, in front of the star works, and especially in the first and last weeks of a major exhibition, when everyone who's been meaning to go finally does.
The Summer Exhibition, the RA's open-submission show held every summer, has a different feel: it's huge, sociable and busy on sunny weekends, with the opening days and the last weeks the most crowded.
Crowds by day and time
From the typical weekly visitor pattern for Royal Academy of Arts, based on Google’s popular-times data.
Quietest time
Saturday, 8-9 pm
Busiest time
Tuesday, 11 am-5 pm
Tickets and prices
Painting the French Riviera brings together more than 160 works spanning the 1870s to the 1960s, from the painters who turned the Mediterranean coast into a laboratory for modern art. It runs in the Main Galleries at Burlington House until 31 January.
Where to buy
How to skip the queue
There's no fast-track ticket. Your timed ticket is the fast track: you skip the ticket desk and walk in at your slot. To make the most of it:
- Book the 10 am slot on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
- Or book a Friday evening slot and finish with dinner in Mayfair or Soho.
- Book early in a show's run. The final weeks sell out at weekends.
- Walk straight to the back rooms first if the first gallery is crowded, then loop back.
What's free at the RA
You can walk into Burlington House from Piccadilly without a ticket. The courtyard, the shop, the cafés and selected displays from the RA's collection, including a gallery of collection highlights, are free. The RA also runs free displays and installations through the year; check the What's On page.
If you only have half an hour in the West End, the free collection rooms are a calm break from Piccadilly's crowds.
Plans by visitor type
Families
Under 16s are free with a paying adult, so a family of four pays for two. Go at 10 am on a weekday or Sunday morning and keep it to one exhibition.
Students and young visitors
Join 25 & Under online for half-price exhibition tickets. It covers exhibitions only, not events or the shop, and you'll need ID at the door.
Art lovers with a day in Mayfair
RA exhibition at 10 am, lunch, then the Wallace Collection (free, 20 minutes' walk) or the National Gallery (15 minutes).
Getting there
The main entrance is at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD. Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines) and Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo) are both about 5 minutes' walk. The RA's second building faces Burlington Gardens on the north side of the site.
Mistakes to avoid
- Turning up on a Monday: the RA is closed.
- Leaving the exhibition you want to see to its final weekend.
- Buying an under-16 ticket without a paying adult in the booking.
- Expecting the exhibition to be free because the building is.
- Not checking exhibition-specific hours, which can differ from the building's.
FAQs
Is the Royal Academy of Arts free?
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Entering the building and seeing selected collection displays is free. The major exhibitions are ticketed.
How much are Royal Academy exhibition tickets?
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It depends on the show. Painting the French Riviera costs £24-£26, or £27-£29 with a donation. Under 16s are free with a paying adult.
What are the Royal Academy opening hours?
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Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm, with late opening until 9 pm on Fridays. Closed on Mondays. Some exhibitions have their own hours.
Do I need to book the Royal Academy in advance?
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For exhibitions, yes if you're going at a weekend or near the end of a show. Weekday morning slots are often available on the day.
Are children free at the Royal Academy?
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Yes, under 16s get free entry to exhibitions when accompanied by a fee-paying adult.
Heading to Royal Academy of Arts?
See how busy it is right now and the quietest hours for your date, then walk in when the line is short.
Check live crowds →Sources
How we research: every guide is written by the BeatTheCrowd team from official sources and recent traveller reports, cross-checked against each other, and dated so you know how fresh it is. Last checked 10 November 2026. Prices and rules change, so always confirm on the official site before you book.
