You know that weird little alleyway off Oxford Street, set down some steps between the big Boots and JD Sports?
Probably not.
But it’s now quite an interesting little nook, thanks to a new project by The Photographers’ Gallery (which you can access from said alleyway, and is well worth a visit).
The Soho Photography Quarter is all part of new regeneration plans by Westminster City Council, who are dropping a cool £150m to do up some of the neighbourhood’s under-appreciated areas. Turns out, building a massive, fake hill didn’t work. Here, however, the alleyway’s been opened up, making it lighter, more inviting (with new seating areas and a little greenery), and more interesting – because Ramillies Street is now an open-air gallery.
Christian Thompson
Through giant prints, banners and dynamic projections, The Photographers’ Gallery brings some of its most arresting works to the walls of the gallery itself. Meaning you don’t need to make a concerted decision to go to an exhibition (and pay the entry fee) – you can swing by on a lunch break, or slip away from the crowds on Oxford Street, to soak up a little al fresco art. And if you see something that particularly resonates, you can head into the gallery to discover an accompanying programme of podcasts, AR installations, artist talks, and even outdoor film screenings.
Sounds like a reel treat.
Soho Photography Quarter | Ramillies Street, W1
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