London Auction Houses

SOTHEBY’S. Before each auction, the items to be sold are displayed for viewing in the many interlocking galleries. Aristocratic Sotheby’s is a busy place; auctions occur within days of each other. (34-35 New Bond St. Bond St. ☎020 7293 5000; www.sothebys.com. Open for viewing M-F 9am-4:30pm, Sa and the occasional Su noon-5pm; call in advance for exact hours. Public viewings can close early for evening auctions. Wheelchair-accessible. Admission free. Catalogues from £10.)

GAGOSIAN GALLERY. A branch of the famed New York Gagosian, this gallery holds solo shows of famous artists like Willem de Kooning, Cy Twombly, Jeff Koons, Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Picasso. Sparse and spacious, the gallery space is completely visible from the street and contributes to an exciting stroll through Mayfair. It showcases contemporary and avant-garde art of every variety and material. Shows change monthly or every two months. (17-19 Davies St. Hyde Park or Marble Arch. ☎020 7493 3020; www.gagosian.com. Open Tu-Sa 10am-6pm. Free.)

TIMOTHY TAYLOR GALLERY. This gallery features exhibits based on individual artists or on common media or subjects. It recently brought in the largest collection of Andy Warhol’s early drawings ever shown in Britain. (21 Dering St. Oxford Circus or Bond Street. ☎020 7409 3344; www.timothytaylorgallery.com. Open M-F 10am-6pm, Sa 10am-1pm. Wheelchair-accessible. Free.)

ADAM GALLERY. Specializing in 20th-century contemporary British and international artists, Adam showcases the likes of Arp, Dubuffet, Delaunay, and Calder alongside contemporary greats on two floors. (24 Cork St. Bond St. or Green Park. ☎020 7439 6633; www.adamgallery.com. Open M-F 10am-6pm, Sa 11am-3pm. Free.)

MARLBOROUGH FINE ARTS. This spacious gallery presents a variety of contemporary artists, including anything from sketches to mixed media and Lucian Freud to Frank Auerbach. The gallery also focuses on introducing new artists. (6 Albermarle St. Green Park. ☎020 7629 5161; www.marlboroughfinearts.com. Open M-F 10am-5:30pm, Sa 10am-12:30pm. Wheelchair-accessible. Free.)

ROBERT SANDELSON. This small gallery, spread out over two floors, contains exhibits of big-time modern and contemporary artists like Damien Hirst, Tamara de Lempicka, Sam Francis, and Howard Hodgkin. (5A Cork St. Bond St. or Green Park. ☎020 7439 1001; www.robertsandelson.com. Open M-F 10am-6pm, Sa 11am-4pm. Free.)