Walk through the Royal Academy

When you visit the Royal Academy through the 6 Burlington Gardens entrance, you're greeted by the Wohl Entrance Hall.

6 Burlington Gardens was designed by Sir James Pennethorne, and originally served as the headquarters of the University of London. Since then, it's been used as the headquarters of The National Antarctic Expedition, and the Civil Service Commission, and has been home to the British Museum's Museum of Mankind.

The Royal Academy acquired the building in 2001 and began showing temporary exhibitions in the elegant gallery spaces before transforming the building to celebrate 250 years of the RA in 2018.

In here are iconic posters from 250 years of exhibitions at the RA, as well as the Poster Bar serving drinks and light refreshments.

The Clore Learning Studio hosts workshops with school groups, families, and other art-makers in the RA's community.

This is The McAulay Gallery, home to free displays by contemporary artists. Here you can see 2019's iteration of Premiums, a yearly show of new work by artists halfway through their postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy Schools.

In 2019, the cove at the top of the stairs housed untitled: stack by Phyllida Barlow RA, which was on display as part of cul-de-sac, her solo exhibition at the Royal Academy.

Let's take a look upstairs (with a quick stop to admire the staircase, of course)...

Here you can see another sculpture by Phyllida Barlow RA, titled untitled: smallholder. It was on display as part of her solo show at the RA in 2019.

Through the archway on the left are the Gabrielle Jungels-Winkler Galleries, which host major exhibitions with a focus on living artists and architects. See what's on at the moment.

Through the archway on the right is the Collection Gallery, where you can see highlights from the Royal Academy's historic Collection, free of charge. You’ll find works by Michelangelo, Constable and Gainsborough, and many other treasures – including a spectacular 16th-century copy of The Last Supper.