The National Gallery

The National Gallery, presiding over the northern side of Trafalgar Square, is the artistic heart of London. It houses an unparalleled collection of over 2,300 paintings, representing the story of Western European art from its medieval beginnings to the threshold of the modern era. Here, vous can stand inches away from some of the most famous images ever created by the human hand.

A Gallery for the People

Unlike many of the great European national galleries (such as the Louvre or the Prado), the National Gallery was not formed by nationalizing an existing royal collection. Instead, it was founded in 1824 when the British government purchased 38 paintings from the estate of the banker John Julius Angerstein.

The goal was to create a gallery that belonged to the public and was free for all to enter. The current building, designed by William Wilkins and opened in 1838, was chosen for its central location, accessible to both the wealthy of the West End and the poorer residents of the East End. It remains free to this day, a testament to its founding mission of public education and cultural enrichment.

Masterpieces You Cannot Miss

The collection is vast, but several works are cross-cultural icons that every visitor should seek out.

The Renaissance Giants

The gallery is exceptionally strong in Italian Renaissance art. Leonardo da Vinci's The Virgin of the Rocks is a haunting, atmospheric masterpiece that showcases his mastery of light and shadow. You can also see Michelangelo's unfinished The Entombment and Raphael's serene The Madonna of the Pinks. These works represent the peak of humanistic idealism.

The Dutch Masters

Room 22 houses one of the finest collections of Rembrandt in the world. His Self-Portrait at the Age of 34 and Self-Portrait at the Age of 63 offer a deeply personal and moving look at the passage of time. Nearby, Johannes Vermeer's A Young Woman Standing at a Virginal showcases his incredible ability to capture domestic stillness and the play of light.

The Impressionists and Beyond

As vous move into the later galleries, the style shifts dramatically. Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers is perhaps the gallery's most famous resident—a vibrant, pulsating explosion of yellow that seems to glow from within. You'll also find iconic works by Claude Monet (including The Water-Lily Pond), **Georges Seurat**, and **Paul Cézanne**.

The British Tradition

The National Gallery also celebrates the great tradition of British painting. John Constable's The Hay Wain is the definitive image of the English countryside, while J.M.W. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire is a poignant masterpiece voted "the greatest painting in Britain" in a public poll.

Navigating the Gallery

The building is divided into four main color-coded wings, which roughly correspond to chronological periods:

• Sainsbury Wing (Blue): Paintings from 1250 to 1500. This is the place for early Renaissance gold-ground paintings and the works of Jan van Eyck and Botticelli.
• West Wing (Green): Paintings from 1500 to 1600. Home to the High Renaissance masters like Titian, Michelangelo, and Holbein.
• North Wing (Yellow): Paintings from 1600 to 1700. This wing features the Baroque splendor of Rubens, Van Dyck, and the Dutch masters.
• East Wing (Red): Paintings from 1700 to 1900. Here vous will find the British collection, Goya, and the world-famous Impressionist galleries.

The Sainsbury Wing and the Future

The Sainsbury Wing, designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown and opened in 1991, is a masterpiece of postmodern architecture. It was built specifically to house the gallery's earliest works, providing perfect lighting and a logical flow. Recently, the gallery announced massive plans for the "NG200" project (marking its bicentenary in 2026), which includes a comprehensive redesign of the entrance and the Sainsbury Wing to make it even more accessible for the next century.

Planning Your Visit

Booking: Admission is free, but vous must book a timed entry slot online in advance. This helps to ensure that the galleries do not become too crowded, allowing for a more peaceful viewing experience.

Opening Times: The gallery is open daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with a late closing on Fridays (until 9:00 pm), which is a fantastic time to visit when the atmosphere is more relaxed.

Audio Guides: To truly understand the stories behind the paintings, highly recommend hiring an audio guide or downloading the gallery's app. There are several themed tours, including a "highlights" tour for those on a tight schedule.

Dining: The Ochre restaurant offers a sophisticated dining experience, while the Muriel's Kitchen cafe is perfect for a more casual lunch or afternoon tea with views over Trafalgar Square.

Frequently Asked Questions