Our Team’s Experience With Art History Magazines

As a team of art historians and writers, we’ve subscribed to, critiqued, and poured over countless art history magazines to find the ones truly worth your time and money. Between us, we have decades of experience navigating the often-siloed worlds of academia and public engagement. This deep dive isn’t based on a quick browse; it’s the culmination of years of professional and personal reading, giving us a unique perspective on which publications genuinely enrich your understanding of art.

Why We Started Reading Art History Magazines

Our journey began in university libraries, surrounded by dense academic journals. While invaluable for research, these publications often lacked the visual appeal and accessible narrative we craved for regular reading. We found ourselves searching for a middle ground—publications that respected scholarly rigour but were designed to be enjoyed over a weekend coffee. This led us to seek out established titles like Apollo and The Burlington Magazine, which promised that blend of authority and accessibility.

The Gap Between Academic Journals and Casual Reading

Academic journals are essential for cutting-edge research but are often impenetrable to non-specialists and can be light on high-quality imagery. Conversely, many mainstream art magazines focus heavily on the contemporary market or celebrity artists. We needed a curated source that bridged the gap, offering deep dives into art movements, historical contexts, and techniques without requiring a PhD to decipher.

Setting Our Criteria for a ‘Best’ Art History Magazine

Before we began testing, we established what we were looking for. For us, the ‘best’ magazines had to meet several key criteria:

• Editorial Authority: Articles needed to be written or reviewed by credible experts.
• Visual Quality: Reproduction of artworks had to be high-resolution and accurately coloured.
• Critical Depth: Content should offer analysis, not just description or celebration.
• UK Relevance: While covering global art, we valued insight into local exhibitions, collections, and art historical debates.
• Tangible Value: The cost needed to be justified by the physical quality, depth of content, and additional perks.

Putting Top Contenders to the Test

We committed to a rigorous, months-long review process, subscribing to and purchasing multiple issues of both mainstream and niche titles readily available to UK readers. We compared everything from the weight of the paper to the freshness of the perspectives.

The Mainstream Heavyweights: Apollo & The Burlington Magazine

These two are titans in the field. Apollo Magazine, founded in London in 1925, offers a beautifully produced, global view of art history and the art market. Its strength lies in its breadth, covering antiquities to contemporary works. The Burlington Magazine, a cornerstone of art historical publishing with its headquarters in London, leans more scholarly. It’s peer-reviewed, incredibly detailed, and is often the first place new academic discoveries are published. For pure, rigorous art history, The Burlington is unparalleled, though its tone is more formal.

Niche and Society Publications: RA Magazine & More

This is where you often find exceptional value and focus. A standout is the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London publishes the highly-regarded ‘RA Magazine’. Sent to RA friends, it’s also available by subscription. It perfectly balances previews of RA exhibitions with independent, critically-engaged features on wider art history. Other society magazines, like those from the National Gallery or the V&A, offer similar deep dives tied to their world-class collections, often at a lower price point than the commercial heavyweights.

Breaking Down Art History Magazine Prices & Value

Let’s talk frankly about cost. A subscription is an investment, and prices vary wildly. We assessed whether the content consistently justified the spend.

Subscription vs. Newsstand Costs

You can easily pay £8-£12 for a single issue of a premium magazine like Apollo on the newsstand. An annual subscription typically offers a 20-40% saving, which adds up if you read every issue. Niche society magazines often have a lower cover price or are included as part of a membership, which can be outstanding value if you also enjoy exhibition entry discounts.

The Hidden Value of Digital Archives and Member Perks

This is a major differentiator. Many subscriptions now include full access to digital archives—decades of past issues searchable online. For research or casual browsing, this is a phenomenal resource. Similarly, membership-based magazines like RA Magazine come with tangible perks like free or discounted exhibition entry, which can offset the annual fee significantly, making the magazine itself feel like a bonus.

What The Reviews Often Get Wrong

Reading common online reviews, we noticed several recurring points that, from our professional standpoint, miss the mark.

Overemphasis on Glossy Photography

Many reviews praise a magazine for being “glossy” and “beautiful,” which is fine, but it’s the baseline. We judge photographic reproduction on accuracy and editorial purpose. Is the colour true? Can you see the brushwork? A beautiful picture with a shallow caption is less valuable than a well-reproduced artwork paired with insightful analysis that changes how you see it.

The Importance of Critical, Not Just Celebratory, Writing

Too many art publications function as extended press releases. The best art history magazine should contain writing that questions, contextualises, and critiques. It should explore an artwork’s problematic history or a curator’s controversial thesis, not just applaud it. We value magazines that trust their readers with complex, sometimes challenging, perspectives.

Where to Buy Art History Magazines in the UK

Sourcing these magazines is part of the hunt. Here’s our practical guide based on countless trips across London and beyond.

High Street & Museum Shops

For the latest issues, WHSmith is a common high-street retailer for mainstream art and culture magazines across the UK, though their range can be limited. For a more curated selection, nothing beats museum shops. Major UK museum shops, like those at the Tate Modern and The National Gallery, are excellent sources for art periodicals. They often carry their own publications plus a thoughtful selection of others like Apollo and The Burlington.

The Ease (and Pitfalls) of Online Subscriptions

Subscribing directly through a publisher’s website is the most reliable way to guarantee delivery and often secures the best rate. However, always check if the price includes digital archive access and whether it’s a rolling contract. Third-party subscription platforms can be cheaper initially but sometimes make cancellation difficult. For back issues, publishers’ own online shops or specialist magazine sites are your best bet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which art history magazine is best for beginners?

We often recommend starting with a society magazine like RA Magazine or Art Quarterly (from the Art Fund). They are written accessibly, tied to actual exhibitions you can visit, and often have a lower financial barrier to entry. They provide a perfect gateway into more scholarly titles.

Is a digital-only subscription worth it?

This depends on your reading habits. Digital is fantastic for searchability and saving space, and it’s usually cheaper. However, you lose the tactile experience of a high-quality print publication, which for many is integral to the enjoyment of art. If you primarily read on a tablet, the image quality can be excellent.

How do I choose between Apollo and The Burlington Magazine?

Think of Apollo as a broad survey—excellent for staying informed on global art history, the market, and museum news. The Burlington is a deep dive—it’s the journal of record for new academic research. If you want one magazine to cover a wide range engagingly, choose Apollo. If your primary interest is in rigorous, peer-reviewed art historical scholarship, choose The Burlington.

Can I find good art history magazines in local newsagents?

While larger WHSmiths or city-centre newsagents in cultural hubs might stock Apollo, most independent newsagents have a limited selection focused on mainstream hobbies. For reliability, we suggest museum shops, large bookstores, or setting up a subscription.

Are older issues of these magazines valuable?

As reading and reference material, absolutely—their content remains relevant. Monetarily, unless it’s a very significant first edition (like the inaugural issue of Apollo from 1925), they are not typically high-value collectibles. Their worth is in the enduring quality of the articles and archives.

Ultimately, our experience proves that the best art history magazine is the one that consistently sparks your curiosity and deepens your appreciation, making the investment worthwhile. Whether it’s the scholarly heft of The Burlington, the elegant sweep of Apollo, or the focused insight of an institution’s publication, the right subscription becomes a regular invitation to look closer and understand more deeply.