Gently teased at the Saatchi Gallery.

The Saatchi is my favourite modern art gallery in London

The Saatchi Gallery is one of London’s finest in my view and doesn’t always get the credit it deserves.  Its spacious rooms and high ceilings make it just about the perfect venue for contemporary art.

What’s more it’s free of charge to visit.  I recently saw an exhibition there on modern Indian art (wittily entitled “The Empire Strikes Back”) which had the usual Saatchi touches that sometimes leave you baffled.

But a visit there is always a stimulating experience.  It’s the sort of place where the art is interactive: your interpretation is bound to differ from the person with you, making for some interesting conversations afterwards!

It was founded by advertising guru Charles Saatchi in 1985.  It had a stint on the South Bank which might have been considered its natural home.

But I adore the Chelsea venue in its stunning, custom-designed building with 15 equally-proportioned display spaces.  The surroundings have an air of restrained tranquility, just a stone’s throw from the King’s Road.

I also like the fact that the mission of the gallery is to promote new and lesser-known artists, which lends a sense of discovery to every visit.

I highly recommend it!

The Draycott is a charming Edwardian townhouse a few minutes walk from the Saatchi Gallery

If you’re keen to visit the Saatchi you could do a lot worse than stay at the Draycott Hotel, currently in the top 10 London hotels on TripAdvisor.

Check the best rate for the Draycott Hotel from 30+ hotel booking sites

It’s a few minutes walk from the gallery and gets rave reviews from TripAdvisor users due to its quirky touches (like hot chocolate before bedtime!), old-fashioned hospitality and free WiFi.

There’s also a lovely garden at the Draycott – perfect for the summer.

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Photo credits: Saatchi Gallery, Draycott Hotel.

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