Institute of Contemporary Arts

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  • Address
    Nash House, The Mall, Westminster, SW1Y 5AH
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  • Phone
    7930 3647
  • Website
  • Transport
    underground rail: Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus

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Lonely Planet review

Housed in a traditional building along the Mall, the ICA is as untraditional as it gets. This is where Picasso and Henry Moore had their first UK shows, and ever since then the institute has sat comfortably on the cutting and controversial edge of the British arts world, with an excellent range of experimental/progressive/radical/obscure films, music and club nights, photography, art, theatre, music, lectures, multimedia works and book readings.

Sure, you may see an exhibition here and come out none the wiser - we often do - and the place has been known to award an around £260 prestigious sculpture prize for what was essentially a wonky shed, but the institute's programme is generally fantastic. Plus there's the licensed ICA Bar & Restaurant (;to most nights). The complex also includes an excellent bookshop, gallery, cinema and theatre.

The Duke of York Column, up the steps beside the ICA into Waterloo Pl, commemorates a son of George III. It was erected in 1834, but never quite caught the public imagination like Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Sq, although it's only 6m shorter.