National Gallery London

Map & Directions
Photos & Video

You will definitely want to visit the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery during your vacation in London

Entrance to the National Gallery at dusk cc licensed photo by ** Maurice **

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: No

COVID-19 Advisory

Many indoor and even some outdoor tourist attractions are temporarily closed due to the Global COVID-19 pandemic. If the hours of operation are shown below, they may not reflect these closures. Please verify hours with any attraction before visiting.

We believe the measures being taken are absolutely neccessary to preserve lives and we pray for everyone and their families as the world works together to get through this crisis.

Closed Now

Regular Hours:

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

Category: Art Museums

Address: Trafalgar Square
London WC2N 5DN
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 20077472885

Reviews

Yelp Rating:
4.5 out of 5 4.5 Star Rating
Based on 462 Reviews.

See all reviews on Yelp

Absolutely a must-see while in London. It's literally right behind Trafalgar Square. It's FREE for admission for everyone - suggested donations inside.... Read More

Jason D. Mar-18-2020

I would highly suggest finding a bike tour that takes you to all the main spots. It's a great way to see the sights, get a workout in and do it with a local... Read More

Emi K. Jan-20-2020

This is an amazing place to soak up some art, however, since the entrance is free, it can get rather crowded. After all, people can just come in and out.... Read More