Autumn is just around the corner and as the sun slowly slips away, what better way to spend the shorter days than by exploring London’s vibrant exhibitions?

Some of the capital’s biggest galleries will be hosting retrospectives on big name artists, including William Blake, Bridget Riley and Lucian Freud.

These are some of the biggest shows landing in the capital over the coming months.

William Blake, Tate Britain, from 11 September

It’s fair to say that William Blake was a man of many talents. Not only was he an accomplished poet, but his painting and printmaking helped cement his position as a leading artistic figure of the Romantic Age. His commitment to politics, innovative visions and technical craft – which seem all the more relevant in today’s society – will be explored in this immersive exhibition. Launching at Tate Britain in early autumn, the show will recreate the small domestic room where Blake showcased his art in 1809, and will feature another space where his works will be digitally enlarged and projected onto the gallery’s wall. The retrospective will be the largest show of Blake’s work for almost two decades, bringing together 300 original watercolours, paintings and prints.

Antony Gormley, Royal Academy, from 21 September

If you’re not familiar with sculptor Antony Gormley, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with his artworks – most famously, the Angel of the North. Gormley will follow the likes of Ai Weiwei and Anselm Kiefer as he takes over the Royal Academy’s main galleries, pushing its architecture to the limit. Exhibition-goers will find a series of experiential installations, all designed to engage viewers in an awareness of their own body.

Rembrandt’s Light, Dulwich Picture Gallery, from 4 October