Discover London’s National Gallery: world-class art for free
If you’re looking for a memorable day out in London that doesn’t have to cost a fortune, there is one place that should be near the top of your list: the National Gallery. Sitting proudly in Trafalgar Square, this magnificent museum houses one of the greatest collections of Western European paintings in the world — and general admission is free.
Founded in 1824, the National Gallery has been part of London’s cultural life for more than two centuries. Its collection spans the thirteenth century to the early twentieth century, allowing visitors to travel through hundreds of years of European art simply by walking from room to room.
One of the great pleasures of visiting is discovering just how many famous paintings are here. The collection includes works by some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Rembrandt, J. M. W. Turner and Johannes Vermeer.
Van Gogh’s Sunflowers is one of the gallery’s best-known paintings. Even if you’ve seen reproductions countless times, standing in front of the original is a different experience.
One of the best things about the National Gallery is that you don’t need to be an art expert. You can spend hours studying individual paintings, join a guided tour, use one of the gallery’s resources to learn more, or simply wander through the rooms and see what catches your eye.
And because general admission is free, you don’t have to feel that you need to see everything in one visit. You can drop in for half an hour and look at a few favourite paintings, then return another day to explore a different section.
Where is the National Gallery?
It’s in Trafalgar Square in the heart of London, surrounded by famous landmarks. After your visit, you can easily continue on foot towards Covent Garden, Leicester Square, St James’s Park or the South Bank.
There are not so many pigeons now. But volunteers ask people to pick bits of string, as this is a common cause of foot injuries. Learn more on how to help London’s pigeons (including emergency help).
