Yes - have visited several times - when they have their annual exhibition (I think June) which has hundreds of works exhibited - from well-known artists to amateurs who are more or less talented. There are always a few I'm interested in buying (of the latter) but they usually already have ared dot on them (sold).

March is the interesting time as it's when there's a selling exhibition where you DON'T know who the artist is until after purchase

http://dams.rca.ac.uk/res/sites/RCA_Secret/

NYtraveler, interesting. Does the Royal Academy have a permanent collection or are the exhibits all temporary?

I would also be interesting in a tour of the facility which, I believe, are offered on a regular basis.

There are a couple of minor (by London standards), free, permanent exhibitions (just the odd Michelangelo or other Old Master) at the RA, mostly in and around the Fine Rooms (http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/ra-magazine/winter-2011/academy-news-ra-collection,320,RAMA.html) There are usually also free temporary exhibitions in the display galleries, separate from whatever blockbuster's on or being prepared/wound down in the main galleries, and it's possible to ask to get access to some of the permanent collection not on display. Even if there's no current blockbuster, or you're not interested, the minor temporary shows, as well as the Fine Rooms, can be interesting, or unexpectedly quirky(the current 'Almost Real Art' is a hoot)

It's also (certainly if you live here) worth buying a Friends membership - not just to get into the blockbusters free and more easily, but because there are a number of events across the year either showcasing things connected with the exhibitions or just issues an organiser might thing members want to hear about/look at.

The other societies mainly, as far as most of us are concerned, offer public lectures/symposia, and you need to . google each of the societies individually. The public events aren't everyone's cup of tea, but they're generally of a very high standard, both as pieces of scholarship and in their BBC/Economist-style obsession with making complex and arcane subjects understandable to intelligent generalists.

Hi Alan Row,
That “selling exhibition where you DON'T know who the artist is until after purchase” sounds like fun, although I probably wouldn’t bid – but who knows? Thanks for the heads-up.

FlannerUK, I appreciate your insider’s info about Burlington House. Got a kick out of your apt description:

“The public events aren't everyone's cup of tea, but they're generally of a very high standard, both as pieces of scholarship and in their BBC/Economist-style obsession with making complex and arcane subjects understandable to intelligent generalists.”

LOL – been to many similar presentations in Boston & Cambridge. I have a pretty high tolerance for what others deem "dull and boring." I will stay tuned and maybe drop in to one of these lectures if time permits.

Are you familiar with CHATHAM HOUSE, Flanner? They offer some “reach” events also in matters of public policy.

Chatham House lectures are mostly restricted to members: membership starts at £100 a year.

The general winner in the "free accessible lectures on difficult subjects" stakes is usually held to be the Royal Institution (www.rigb.org), quite close to Burlington House, with an interesting science museum, organised tours and an especially famous course of Christmas lectures now coming up to their 200th anniversary as well as their year-round activities..

They're hotly pursued by the Royal Society (http://royalsociety.org), which has - like the RIGB and Burlington House societies - an exceptionally pretty building.

Other lectures at http://lecturelist.org/, though there's no really comprehensive list of these things.

I heard a lecture by the Marchioness of Salisbury on the gardens of Hatfield House at the Linnean Society. In my naivte, I had not realised that it would be overscribed and only got in because I told the doorman that I had come from Lincolnshire especially for the talk.

The Royal Academy has a very nice gift shop and restaurant, also stellar loos. In case you are interested, the Summer Exhibition marks the start of the London season.

I was going to hop on here to recommend the 'Bronze' exhibition at the Royal Academy (which I took my family to a few weeks ago) as it is one of the best curated temporary exhibitions I've ever seen.

Unfortunately I just checked the website and found out it finished yesterday...

I've always found the RA to be less crowded than the 'major' galleries and always worth a visit. I'm still not sure whether to be grateful or angry at having seen 'Sensation' and the mainstream launch of the whole YBA thing there back in '97.

I also second flanner's suggestion of getting a friends membership.

As an additional bonus, you can pop 'round the corner to Vigo Street and see a plaque commemorating where Allen Lane began publishing Penguin books.