Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA)

Westminster

The ICA is where London goes when it wants art that asks something of you. The programme leans contemporary, with a strong streak of performance. Often the work happens in the room rather than behind a wall, so you share the space with it. Expect a crowd that reads the work closely and talks about it afterwards. Students, practitioners, and people who simply like being near new ideas tend to turn up. The mood is curious rather than loud. Pick by medium more than by name. If you want to see a body move through a space, look for performance. If you want to sit with an idea, look at what the exhibitions are pushing. Go in without a plan and you will still leave with something to think about.