From Museums magazine comes a selection of can’t-miss exhibitions from the UK capital. If you’re heading for the mainland, look at our Top Ten Europe for your best bets there. Back in the States, be sure to read Top Ten USA, Top Five Philadelphia, and Top Five Boston for a noteworthy selection of shows.

1. The unique style of internationally acclaimed architect Richard Meier will be on view at the Louise T Blouin Institute from October 12 through December 30. “Richard Meier: Art and Architecture” highlights the wide range of projects and mediums he has been involved with, including architecture, sculpture, collage, and ceramics. The exhibition is a significant showcase for the youngest-ever recipient of the Pritzker Prize—architecture’s highest distinction.

2. China’s First Emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, did not plan to enter the afterlife as a commoner. His grand burial included an army of thousands of life-size terra-cotta warriors that were meant to serve and defend him. The British Museum exhibits a number of these figures, from Xi’an, China, in “The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army.” Uncover one of the most striking archaeological discoveries of the 20th century through April 6, 2008.

3. Francesco di Giorgio and Domenico Beccafumi are known as two of the best Sienese artists of the later 15th and early 16th centuries. “Renaissance Siena: Art for a City” features over one hundred works—including paintings, sculptures, drawings, manuscripts, and ceramics—by this duo, as well as a considerable number of their peers. At the National Gallery, October 24 through January 13, 2008.

4. Offering a window onto the lives of artists from the past 250 years, “At Home: Portraits of Artists in the Royal Academy Collection” gathers portrayals of studio life and self-portraits. Ranging from the formal (George Frederic Watts’s giant portrait of Lord Leighton) to the intimate (C. R. Leslie’s tiny depiction of his friend John Constable), the works shed light on the often-overlooked domestic lives of artists. At the Royal Academy of Arts, through November 25.

5. French-born artist Louise Bourgeois has frequently been at the cutting edge of contemporary art. It’s no surprise that the Tate Modern is mounting a substantial retrospective of her work, giving us a chance to enjoy her singular vision in depth. “Louise Bourgeois” runs from October 10 through January 20, 2008.

"Top Five London" comes to ARTINFO from the fall 2007 issue of Museums magazine.