National Gallery
One of the world's finest collections of Western European painting, from the 13th to the 20th century
One of the world's finest collections of Western European painting, from the 13th to the 20th century
Standing on the north side of Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery holds over 2,300 paintings spanning seven centuries of Western European art — from medieval altarpieces to Impressionist masterworks, all on permanent display.
Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Constable's The Hay Wain, Turner's The Fighting Temeraire and Van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait are just a handful of the instantly recognisable works hanging here. With late Friday-evening openings and a constant rotation of temporary exhibitions, there is always something new alongside the permanent collection.
The National Gallery opened on 10 May 1824 in a townhouse at 100 Pall Mall, displaying a modest founding collection of 38 paintings. By the 1830s the collection had outgrown its home, and William Wilkins designed the purpose-built gallery on Trafalgar Square, which opened in 1838.
The building has been extended several times since. The most significant addition is the Sainsbury Wing, opened in 1991 to house the collection's earliest works from 1250 to 1500. A major renovation of the Sainsbury Wing was completed in 2025 by architects Purcell and Selldorf, opening up the ground floor and improving accessibility throughout.
The gallery arranges its paintings broadly by date. The Sainsbury Wing covers the early Renaissance — look for works by Botticelli, Leonardo and Raphael. The West Wing takes you through the High Renaissance and Baroque with Titian, Caravaggio and Velazquez. The North Wing spans the 17th century, including Rembrandt and Vermeer.
The East Wing holds the collection's most popular rooms, covering 1700 to 1930. This is where you will find the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists — Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and Van Gogh — alongside the great British painters Turner and Constable. Room 43, housing Van Gogh's Sunflowers, is almost always the busiest in the building.
The gallery runs a programme of ticketed temporary exhibitions alongside the permanent collection. These typically focus on a single artist or theme and draw on loans from major institutions worldwide. Recent shows have covered everyone from Caravaggio to Lucian Freud. Exhibitions tend to run for three to four months and popular shows sell out, so book early for weekend visits.
Friday Lates extend opening to 9pm and often include talks, live music and special curator-led tours. Daily guided tours of the permanent collection depart from the Sainsbury Wing foyer. The gallery also runs family trails and holiday workshops aimed at children aged 5 to 11.
Under 12s free for all exhibitions when accompanied by an adult
Begin with the oldest paintings and work forward chronologically. It gives the collection a natural narrative and the Sainsbury Wing is usually quieter first thing.
The gallery stays open until 9pm on Fridays with far fewer visitors than daytime — a good time to see the most popular rooms without crowds.
The main Portico entrance on Trafalgar Square often has a queue at peak times. The Getty Entrance on the east side is usually faster and has step-free access.
Grab one from the information desk inside the main entrance. The gallery is easier to navigate than most museums, but the floorplan helps you find specific paintings quickly.
Short talks on a single painting run most weekdays at 1pm and are an excellent way to see a masterwork through an expert's eyes — no booking needed.
London Travel Writer · 12+ years covering UK attractions and tourism
Last reviewed: March 5, 2026
