About
The National Gallery houses one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world. Founded in 1824 with just 38 pictures, the collection has grown to over 2,300 works dating from the mid-13th century to 1900, representing seven centuries of Western European art.
Located in the iconic neoclassical building dominating Trafalgar Square, the gallery offers an unparalleled survey of European painting from Giotto to Cézanne.
The collection includes masterpieces from every major European school: Italian Renaissance works by Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael; Northern Renaissance treasures by Jan van Eyck and Hans Holbein; Dutch Golden Age paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Dyck; Spanish masters Velázquez and Goya; French Impressionists Monet, Renoir, and Degas; and Post-Impressionists Van Gogh and Cézanne.
With over 5 million visitors annually, free admission, and a prime central location, the National Gallery provides one of the world's most democratic and comprehensive art experiences.
Categories:
Annual Visitors (2019)
5,908,254
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
Quietest: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
Busiest: Saturday, Sunday
💡 Weekday mornings or Friday evenings for extended hours and different atmosphere
💡 Visitor Tips
- The gallery is arranged chronologically - start in the Sainsbury Wing with medieval and Renaissance works, then move through the West, North, and East Wings
- Friday evenings until 21:00 offer a special atmosphere with fewer crowds - perfect for seeing Sunflowers and other highlights
- Free guided tours at 11:30 and 14:30 daily provide expert insights - no booking required
- The Sainsbury Wing entrance (from Trafalgar Square on the west side) is usually less crowded than the main entrance
- Don't try to see everything in one visit - pick 2-3 rooms or themes to focus on
- The National Café offers affordable meals and overlooks Trafalgar Square - no gallery ticket needed
- Wednesday mornings are typically the quietest time of the week
- Use the 'Your Paintings' website to plan your visit and find specific works
Highlights
The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck (1434)
One of the most complex and analyzed paintings in Western art. This Northern Renaissance masterpiece shows Giovanni Arnolfini and his wife in exquisite detail, every element rich with symbolism. Van Eyck's revolutionary oil painting technique captures textures of fabric, fur, and light with unprecedented realism.
The convex mirror in the background reflects the scene and possibly the artist himself, while the inscription 'Jan van Eyck was here 1434' adds mystery to this enigmatic wedding portrait.
Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh (1888)
One of the most iconic and instantly recognizable paintings in the world. Van Gogh painted this radiant still life in Arles as part of a series to decorate the room of his friend Paul Gauguin. The vibrant yellows and thick impasto technique express the artist's emotional intensity and innovative use of color. This version is one of only two still in public hands, making it exceptionally precious.
The Fighting Temeraire by J.M.W. Turner (1839)
Voted Britain's favourite painting in a 2005 BBC poll. This poignant masterpiece depicts the HMS Temeraire, a veteran warship of Trafalgar, being towed to her last berth to be broken up. Turner's sublime handling of light transforms the scene into a meditation on glory, decline, and the passing of the age of sail.
The ghostly white ship contrasts with the fiery sunset and dark tug, creating one of the most moving images in British art.
The Virgin of the Rocks by Leonardo da Vinci (c.1491-1508)
One of fewer than 20 paintings by Leonardo in existence. This mysterious and beautiful altarpiece shows the Virgin Mary, infant Christ, infant John the Baptist, and an angel in a rocky grotto. Leonardo's innovative composition uses pyramidal structure and sfumato (soft, smoky shading) to create depth and atmosphere.
The enigmatic gestures and gazes between the figures have inspired centuries of interpretation.
Collections
The National Gallery holds approximately 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900, representing nearly every European school. Collection strengths include: Italian Renaissance works (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael); Northern Renaissance masterpieces (Van Eyck, Dürer, Holbein); Dutch and Flemish Golden Age paintings (Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Dyck, Rubens); Spanish masters (Velázquez, Goya, El Greco); French paintings including Poussin and the Impressionists (Monet, Renoir, Degas); Post-Impressionists (Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin); and British art (Hogarth, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Turner, Constable).
Unlike many European galleries, the collection was formed entirely through purchase and gifts, not royal or aristocratic collections.
Paintings 1200-1500
Italian, Netherlandish, French, German and Spanish paintings including works by Van Eyck, Leonardo, and Botticelli
📍 Sainsbury Wing
Paintings 1500-1600
High Renaissance and Mannerist works including Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Holbein, and Bronzino
📍 West Wing
Paintings 1600-1700
Baroque masterpieces including Caravaggio, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Velázquez, and Poussin
📍 North Wing
Paintings 1700-1900
18th and 19th century works including Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, Ingres, Delacroix, Impressionists and Post-Impressionists
📍 East Wing
Themes
Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.
Nearby Museums (5 within 6 miles)
National Portrait Gallery
London — ~1 min walk (0.0 mi)
Household Cavalry Museum
London — ~6 min walk (0.3 mi)