Free Entry to Britain's Portrait Collection
The National Portrait Gallery is one of London's great free museums, housing a vast collection of portraits depicting the men and women who have shaped British history, culture and society. Entry to the permanent galleries is completely free, and visitors can walk through centuries of portraiture without booking or paying anything at all.
The gallery underwent a major three-year renovation that was completed in 2023. The transformation redesigned the public spaces, improved accessibility throughout the building and created a new main entrance on Ross Place. The result is a brighter, more welcoming gallery with better flow between rooms and improved lighting for the artworks.
What the Free Collection Includes
The permanent galleries take visitors on a chronological journey through British history, starting with the Tudors on the top floor and working down to contemporary figures on the ground level. Along the way, you will encounter monarchs, scientists, writers, artists, politicians and cultural figures spanning more than five centuries.
Some of the gallery's most famous works are part of the free collection. The Chandos portrait of Shakespeare, the earliest and most plausible likeness of the playwright, is one of the gallery's founding works. The Ditchley portrait of Elizabeth I, showing her standing on a map of England, is one of the most iconic images of the Tudor age. Self-portraits by Van Dyck and Joshua Reynolds sit alongside photographs of modern figures and newly commissioned works of contemporary Britons.
The 2023 Transformation
The renovation project was the most significant change to the building since it opened in 1896. New galleries were created, including a dedicated space for photography and a gallery for the BP Portrait Award (now the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize). The ground floor was opened up to create a more inviting entrance sequence, and a new learning centre was added for educational programmes.
The rehang of the collection took a fresh approach to how portraits are displayed. Rather than simply arranging works by date, the new galleries create connections between historical and contemporary figures, encouraging visitors to think about portraiture in new ways. Digital displays and interactive elements have been woven into the experience without overwhelming the artworks themselves.
Special Exhibitions
While the permanent collection is free, the gallery does stage ticketed special exhibitions throughout the year. These focused shows typically explore a single artist, theme or period in greater depth than the permanent galleries allow. Past exhibitions have covered subjects from Tudors to pop stars, and the quality is generally very high.
A Quieter Alternative
The National Portrait Gallery sits just behind the National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, but it tends to draw smaller crowds. This makes it a particularly pleasant museum to visit, as you can often spend time with major works without competing for space. Weekday mornings offer the most peaceful experience, though even weekends are manageable compared to some of London's busier attractions. For help planning your schedule, see our guide on how long you need at the National Portrait Gallery.
