15 MAY 2024 – Preview Day

Opening hours 1pm to 9pm. No re-entry.

To purchase tickets over the phone, customers can call the following number 0333 320 2836.

Lines are open between 9am-8pm Mon-Fri, 10am-8pm Sat, 10am-6pm Sun and Bank Holidays.

For group bookings of more than 10 tickets, please contact Somerset House at visitor@somersethouse.org.uk

 

All tickets include access to the Fair plus access to all special exhibitions. Children under 13 and a disabled companion go free. Preview Day tickets permit access to Photo London on either Preview Day (from 1pm) or any other Public Day (from 11am). No re-entry.

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Private Tours

Photo London VIP Tours are led by photography specialists including critics, curators, and teachers and are tailored to the interests of each group.

They are an excellent opportunity to discover new photography, be introduced to gallerists from across the world, and experience the fair alongside a knowledgeable guide.

Private Tours are £250 for an hour-long tour for up to 15 people.

For enquiries please email tours@photolondon.org

 

Arrange Your Private Tour Now

Please note Photo London VIP Tour tickets do not include admission to the Fair. Day Pass tickets can be purchased here.

Talks Programme

The 2024 Talks Programme promises to present a strong line-up of speakers for its ninth edition. Curated by Thames & Hudson, with contributions from Photo London partners Nikon and FT Weekend and this year will be free of charge.

Full details will be announced ahead of the Fair, the talks will provide listeners with a unique insight into some of the world’s most exciting voices in the medium. Expect to hear lively talks, debates and discussions to broaden – and deepen – your understanding of photography.

Public Talks are free to ticket holders, but require registration through ticketing platform. More details to be announced soon.

Please note Photo London Public Talks tickets do not include admission to the Fair. You must purchase a Day Pass ticket in order to register for a free Talk ticket on the same day as the Talk is taking place.

 

This year Photo London showcases three major exhibitions as part of its Public Programme. Held in the Embankment Galleries at Somerset House, these special exhibitions are celebrated as a cornerstone of the Fair.

 

2024 Master of Photography Valérie Belin

The centre point of the programme is the highly anticipated solo exhibition ‘Silent Stories’ by this year’s Master of Photography Valérie Belin, which presents three decades of Belin’s works, reflecting an iconography that is deliberately silent through images that — in the words of their creator — ”are neither narrative nor documentary and tell no particular stories, but are designed to be seen as the mirror of fictions without words.” 

 

The Magic Art of French Calotype. Paper Negative Photography 1846–1860

Curated by Robert Hershkowitz. Its title references Francis Wey’s pronouncement in 1851 that “Photography has attained a magic feeling that neither painting nor drawing could have reached.”

 

See/Change — Art Collection Deutsche Börse @25

Curated by Anne-Marie Beckmann, Director of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, and Renée Mussai, London-based independent curator and scholar, and member of the Foundation’s Advisory Board, this exhibition showcases current artistic positions and recent acquisitions centred around the theme of human condition. 

Book Signings

An exciting programme of book signings with today’s most distinguished photographers takes place throughout the Fair.

Check our Public Programme section for book signings, details will be available soon.

When is Photo London?

Photo London is an annual event, usually held in May of each year in London. The ninth edition of Photo London will take place between 16–19 May 2024, with Preview Day on 15 May. See our Visiting page for opening hours and more details.

How do I get to Photo London?

Photo London 2024 will be held at Somerset House in central London. Somerset House is accessible by public transports, taxi, coach, car and bicycle. Please see our Visiting page to plan your journey via London Underground, rail or bus.

How do I get a ticket for the Fair?

Tickets for Photo London 2024 are available on our Tickets page. For group bookings of more than 10 tickets, please contact Somerset House at visitor@somersethouse.org.uk.

General admission tickets for the Fair are only valid for the day(s) you book them. Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. There are Concession rates for full-time students, the disabled with complimentary tickets for carers/companions. Children 12 and under go free, and a Children rate applies for 13 – 18-year-olds.

Can I leave and re-enter the fair on the same day with a day ticket?

Re-entry is not allowed with day tickets. Weekend passes allow you to visit on Saturday and on Sunday, but equally, there is no same-day re-entry.

Where can I eat and drink at Photo London?

Photo London has places to eat and drink within the fair at Somerset House.

Can I keep my bag with me?

For the safety of the artwork exhibited at Photo London, large bags and backpacks are not allowed inside the fair. The following are not allowed and must be checked into the Photo London cloakroom.

• Backpacks of any size
• Bags/cases on wheels
• Bags larger than an A3 tote bag
• Multiple bags per person

Is there a cloakroom?

Yes, Photo London has a cloakroom.

Can I bring a camera with me?

Cameras with telephoto lenses and/or tripods are not allowed inside Photo London without a Camera Pass. Those without a Camera Pass must leave their equipment with telephoto lenses and tripods in the cloakroom. Cameras without a telephoto lens or tripod can be brought into Photo London.

Can I  visit with children?

Children are welcome and under 13 go free.

Is the site fully accessible?

All areas of Somerset House area are accessible via certain routes. Please note there is cobble stone paving’s from the Strand into and in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court with a flat pavement around the edges.

Please see full details about accessibility, including accessible parking for Blue Badge-holders, on Somerset House’s accessibility page.

I am disabled, does my companion need to purchase a ticket?

Disabled companions go free but need to book a complimentary ticket on our Tickets page.

Can I visit with my pet?

Animals are only allowed in the courtyard. Access to the indoor areas is restricted to all animals except for guide dogs.

Can I bring food and drinks with me?

No food and drinks from the outside are allowed in.

Do you have gender-neutral toilets?

Somerset House has gender-neutral toilets everywhere except in the New Wing.

I am travelling to visit Photo London, where can I stay?

Photo London is delighted to provide their exhibitors, guests and visitors with a selection of the most elegant and prestigious hotels, all of which are conveniently located in the heart of the city and a short distance from Somerset House. Plan your visit here.

Can I bring a camera with me?

Cameras with telephoto lenses and/or tripods are not allowed inside Photo London. Cameras without a telephoto lens or tripod can be brought into Photo London.

Camera passes are for press only, not the public and this will be communicated directly with accredited press.

The ninth edition of Photo London will take place at Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA, between 16–19 May 2024, with a Preview Day on 15 May.

Ticket Information

Tickets for Photo London 2024 are available on our Tickets Page. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest news & special offers from Photo London directly to your inbox.

Book your ticket now on our Tickets Page.

Opening Times

Wednesday 15 May: 13:00–21:00. No re-entry.

Thursday 16 May: 13:00–20:00. No re-entry.

Friday 17 May: 13:00–20:00. No re-entry.

Saturday 18 May: 12:00–20:00. No re-entry.

Sunday 19 May: 12:00–18:00. No re-entry.

Security

Security checks will be made at the entrance to the fair. All visitors to Photo London are required to present their ticket before entering the Fair, but once inside they will be able to move freely between the halls without having to present their ticket again.

Can I keep my bag with me?

For the safety of the artwork exhibited at Photo London, large bags and backpacks are not allowed inside the fair.

The following are not allowed and must be checked into the Photo London cloakroom.

• Backpacks of any size
• Bags/cases on wheels
• Bags larger than an A3 tote bag
• Multiple bags per person

Is there a cloakroom?

Yes, Photo London has a cloakroom.

Can I bring a camera with me?

Cameras with telephoto lenses and/or tripods are not allowed inside Photo London. Cameras without a telephoto lens or tripod can be brought into Photo London.

Camera passes are for press only, not the public and this will be communicated directly with accredited press.

Eating & Drinking

Photo London has places to eat and drink within the fair at Somerset House.

Public Transport

By London Underground
Nearest stations:

• Temple (Circle & District lines; 250 metres, 5-minute walk)
• Covent Garden (Piccadilly line; 650m, 8min)
• Charing Cross (Bakerloo & Northern lines; 700m, 10min)
• Embankment (Circle & District lines; 700m, 10min)

By rail
Nearest stations:

• Charing Cross (700m, 10min)
• Blackfriars (1km, 13min)
• Waterloo (1km, 13min)

By bus
Buses 1, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 26, 59, 68, 76, 87, 91, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 243, 341, 521, RV1 and X68 all pass along the Strand and/or Aldwych, stopping within 100-200 metres of Somerset House.

By river
River Bus Services RB1, RB2 and RB6 all stop at Embankment Pier, roughly 600 metres from Somerset House.

By bicycle
There are bike stands on the Strand, Aldwych and Victoria Embankment, close to Somerset House. Please note that there is no bike parking in The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court or within Somerset House itself, and all bikes attached to our buildings or railings will be removed
There are several Santander Cycles docking stations near Somerset House.

By car
There’s no car parking at Somerset House, and very little on-street parking nearby. The closest car park is on Parker Street, WC2B 5NT. Somerset House’s Accessibility page contains details of accessible parking for Blue Badge-holders.
Somerset House sits within the Congestion Charge zone.

By coach
There’s a coach-parking bay on Victoria Embankment.

Book your stay in London

Photo London is delighted to provide their exhibitors, guests and visitors with a selection of the most elegant and prestigious hotels, all of which are conveniently located in the heart of the city and a short distance from Somerset House. Plan your visit here.