National Gallery London
You will definitely want to visit the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery during your vacation in London
Founded in 1824, the National Gallery in London features a great collection of over 2300 Western European paintings which date as far back as the middle of the 13th century.
The National Gallery began with a collection of paintings purchased by the British government from the estate of art patron John Julius Angerstein. At that time the collection was located in his former townhouse on Pall Mall. The collection outgrew this location and was moved to the current location at Trafalgar Square in 1838. Over the years several wings have been added to the gallery to keep up with the growing collection.
Adjoining the National Gallery is the National Portrait Gallery where visitors can view portraits of famous and historically significant people of Great Britain. This gallery opened in 1856 and was relocated to it's present location at Trafalgar Square in 1896. Over the years the gallery has had two expansions. The Portrait Gallery also features the Portrait Restaurant offering Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with views of the surrounding area.
The permanent collections of art in both Galleries belong to the people of the United Kingdom and therefore admission is free with the exception of any special rotating exhibits.
The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery are open daily from 10 am to 6 pm and until 9 pm on Friday (Thursday and Friday for the Portrait Gallery) except on December 24-26th.
For more information about the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery as well as exhibitions and hours visit their official website links below.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: NoNational Gallery London Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK
Phone: 020 7747 2885
Official Website: National Gallery London
National Gallery London Reviews
Rated out of 5
A selection of classics in a beautiful building that's definitely a must visit while in London. Only saw a fraction of what was available but was definitely wowed. Now that some rooms have been reopened after restoration, the wait to enter can be quite long if you haven't nabbed a ticket.
Luca Huelle - a week ago
This a totally worth visiting museum. The halls are all well taken care of and full of exhibitions. I visited the museum an a Sunday which was free of charge but if you plan to do so on the same day you should expect at least 30 minutes of standing in the line outside. Also at that day the hall where Van Gogh’s art is exhibited wasn’t accessible to the crowd. I would suggest that the museum is worth visiting more on a weekday where it’s much less crowded.
Dimi Kar - a week ago
So grateful to see the remarkable paintings all at one place. I love this gallery. It was the most enjoyable place for me visited during my stay. Can’t believe it’s running at free entrance. I definitely would like to revisit.
Recommend to reserve the time slot ahead of your visit. I had to wait for an hour to enter during yearend holiday.
Tomoto Red - a month ago
An amazing place to view some magnificent pieces of art, a lot of works for very important artists, well displayed.
Personally I’d come to see van Gogh painting but I’ve really impressed for the other works of other artists that they had
Very crowded by the weekend, get your online tickets in advantage.
Abraham Camacho - 2 weeks ago
“The National Gallery in London is a fantastic place to explore art. I loved how the galleries were divided by time periods, making it easy to appreciate different artistic eras. Plus, it’s free to visit!”
Korean Traveller - a week ago
Directions
| Tube Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Northern and Piccadilly Lines | Leicester Square | 3 Minutes |
| Bakerloo Line | Charing Cross | 4 Minutes |
| District and Circle Lines | Embankment | 8 Minutes |
How to get to National Gallery London by Tube
From Leicester Square Station walk south along Charing Cross Road.
From Charing Cross Station take the Trafalgar Square Exit.
From Embankment Station head northwest along Villiers Street then left on Strand and slight right on Duncannon Street.
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Photo Gallery
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Inside the National Portrait Gallery of London cc licensed photo by David Holt -
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Photo Credit: Francisco Anzola - cc license via Flickr
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