With the advent of smart phones and social media, we are sometimes overwhelmed by an avalanche of photos. Pictures of our friends’ children, snapshots of cats making grumpy faces and even portraits of meals in posh restaurants clog our Twitter and Facebook feeds.

The photographs displayed in the Photographers’ Gallery shows that having a camera on your phone does not automatically make you a talented photographer; there’s more to the art of photography than pointing and clicking. The constantly changing exhibitions challenge visitors to contemplate what makes great photos – is it technical skill with high-level equipment? Is it the delicate balance of light and shadow? Or is it a bond with the sitter of the photograph?

An hour in the gallery (plus a coffee in the modern cafe on the ground floor) makes for a peaceful break from the shopping masses of Oxford Street. Who knows, it might even make your photos of fancy restaurant meals or grumpy cats even more artistic?

The Gallery has recently introduced a small fee for a day pass. However if you arrive before noon, you can enjoy the exhibitions for free!