Reviews of National Portrait Gallery. (Museum) in London (London).
National Portrait Gallery
St. Martin's Pl, London WC2H 0HE, United Kingdom
Description
Information of National Portrait Gallery, Museum in London (London)
On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.
We don’t have any review or comment on this place.
Map
Open hours of National Portrait Gallery
Sunday
10am–6pm
Monday
10am–6pm
Tuesday
10am–6pm
Wednesday
10am–6pm
Thursday
10am–6pm
Friday
10am–9pm
Saturday
10am–6pm
Reviews of National Portrait Gallery
L. L.Always worth to stop by this amazing, peaceful and grandiose gallery!
Q. A. S.The National Portrait Gallery, is a lovely museum to stroll around for a few hours. They have a broad collection of art, beautiful things from all over the world. Personally, I really liked all the paintings with animals and flowers, which they have a lot. Besides the art, the historical building of the museum is really impressive as well. The staff was very helpful and of course it is always nice that the museums here are free to enter. I would definitely recommend the portrait gallery if you’re just in London for a few days.
k.I accidentally got into the museum and it was one of the best “mistakes” I have ever made during my visits to London. The art is extraordinary and tells fascinating stories to the visitors. I would highly recommend visiting
there especially to history lovers.
Y.One of the loveliest museums in London. Beautiful building - well lit. Disabled friendly. Good rest room facilities. A beautiful collection of artworks from the Tudor period. The museum displays well documented pictures with wide space to walk. It is quiet and warm. Features modern art collections and currently an exhibit/collection of post world war paintings. Definitely recommend a visit
B. M.I thoroughly enjoyed my time here on a warm, sunny, London afternoon. It was refreshing to enter into a free museum for a cheap traveler looking for culture. The outside of the museum, walking through Trafalgar Square, is an amazing experience on it's own. Inside the gallery, you will find so many amazing pieces of art. My favourite is the guy holding the piece of paper like he just got charged 2k to fix his car.
M. S.Awesome place well worth checking out! Suggested donation of £5. We spent almost two hours here exploring all of the various portraits. Lots of seats to rest on, and also lots of information for each painting.
T. K.Nice gallery. Lots and lots of different portraits. Some things are free to see, but for some you need to buy ticket. You need some time to see and go through all of them. Also there are students studying for art and trying to make some drawings.
A. J.Very beautiful and diverse array of portraits available on display. Thoroughly enjoyed my visit and was surprised by some of the more iconic portraits I found here. I particularly liked the monarchs rooms as well as the contemporary portraits including some of my favourite celebrities. Would recommend visiting this gallery as a must see when you're in London. I spent about an hour and a half here and saw all the portraits available but if I went again I would slow down my pace and take my time absorbing all the wonderful art available.
D. D. R.Nice change of pace to the National Gallery. All is a bit more condensed, but still very impressive collection of portraits. And of course, it is free. Probably best to go during the week to avoid big crowds. Staff seemed bored as usual in big central tourist attraction. You also can play the game who you would like to hook up with and take pictures of the portrait and then compare with your friends in the end :-)
A. D.The place to see The Art, to feel the atmosphere of the times long pass by, and of course the times modern. Portraits are overwhelming, the venue is just perfect, when I go there and browse the gallery I am out of time, just the images and sculptures of the moments in time and people immersed in them.
Of course the gift shop is standard, the bookshop is great, no mention of the coffee shop on top of it, but they should work on the prices there.
Overall amazing experience I am repeating it as often I can.
K. J.LOVED it !!! I have been following this museum for years on Instagram so glad I got to see it in the flesh. I was not disappointed. The museum is free and runs on donations. There is so much art (from the 17th century and beyond) it is truly overwhelming. The building itself is a work of art! It also located in Trafalgar Square. I was sad that I did not have enough time to visit this museum. They do have certain exhibits (like impressionist artists) that do change so check beforehand that do cost money to enter. But it was about 10 pounds per person. Trust me if you love art, you will not be disappointed :)
s.Imagine yourself in Tudor England having just been asked to paint a portrait of your monarch. A monarch who believes they have the face and figure of a Greek god, but who actually has the face and figure of a pickled goat’s head stapled to some bagpipes. You have a burnt stick, some dry mud, and an egg. If you’re up to date with the latest art technology, you may also have a bag of seeds. And if you get this wrong, it won’t be your painting that gets hung.
Fortunately some Tudor artists not only got it right, but their work has survived for 500 years and is now on display here, alongside many of Britain’s most famous faces. It’s impossible not to be impressed.
In some areas it does feel more like a catalogue of noteworthy chaps rather than a collection of art, but the best sections more than make up for that. I personally like the half-finished, not-very-good, only-one-we-could-find, type of portrait. It makes a refreshing change from some of the formally posed, hand on a book, portraits. The only portrait I have of myself was done in purple crayon on crumpled paper, and is basically a picture of two smiling potatoes and some twigs. I think I’m the potato on the left. Maybe it would help if there were one or two smiling potatoes amongst the Victorian Statesmen.
V. V.This place combines portraits within over 800 years period! I love English history, and it is such a pleasure to visit places like National Portrait Gallery where you can see original paintings of great monarchs (including amazing picture of Elizabeth II with her dog), famous women, beloved and beheaded wives, important historic scenes and events and admire the modern artists' works! You can spend hours in this place and get such a great inspiration! Do secure some time for this gallery when visiting London
R. C.Free entry and lots to see inside. Important to note that this is probably not a great place to bring young children, as they are likely to get bored quickly. However, there is a variety of styles on display including some more contemporary portraits. Nearby Trafalgar Square, the national gallery, and not far from the British Museum.
M. E.This museum is awesome. I love portrait paintings. I assembled paintings of Queen Victoria in chronological order. You can watch her age through oils instead of Kodak. Her ages are 21, 23, 37, 43, 56, and 78. The last painting is titled, "4 Generations." With her is her son (Edward VII), grandson (George V), and great grandson (Edward VIII).They all became kings.
H. M.A wonderful museum heralding portraits of Great Britain’s past and present. Kings, queens, prime ministers and cabinet members are well represented as well as special exhibit of nationally acclaimed portraits. Also there are several seasonal gallery areas worth visiting. I tried to show in my photos, a sampling of the wonderful portraits in this exquisite gallery. It is well worth a visit. Plan on at least 2 hours to really do the gallery justice. It is free.
D. T.Probably not as well known as the National Gallery, this is a fascinating free gallery in London with many interesting and probably expensive photographs on display.
They do exhibitions and I liked the Bobby Moore photographs as they gave an insight into his life outside of football.
I enjoyed my visit although, as it is free and in Central London, so did a lot of other people so it was very busy and maybe not always the best way to admire the photographs
R. J.One of my favourite places in London is the National portrait gallery.
You can always loose yourself finding new details on portraits you have seen before. There is truly something for everyone, from old masters to new contemporary portraits. Most of the museum is free barring the travelling exhibitions. Don't miss the cafe in the basement for good coffee and decent food.
C. S.We have been to the National Portrait Gallery before, but the latest visit was to see the Michael Jackson: On The Wall exhibition. Thoroughly enjoyable, we were there for around 2 hours. It wasn't packed with people which meant we could see and read everything clearly. We had a drink in the cafe too, which was reasonably priced.
J. C. S.If you are interested in art or photography (which can also be art) you definetly should visit this great gallery and museum. It is super inspiring. Went there already a few times. Great bookshop and coffee shop. Go there and spend a few hours looking at their amazing collection.
M. P.Highly recommend for an hour-2 hour visit. Lots to see, very impressive portraits that you'd swear were photographs and not hand drawn! Also the building itself is beautiful.
M.A beautiful gallery. Lots of really interesting art and great air conditioning on those hot London days! Free entry (donation suggested). Very easy to find and some fascinating pieces.
S. G.The exhibitions where to a high standard enjoyed my visit, good location and easy to travel to on a main road and the gallery was busy. The gift shop was well stock and full of customers I brought a few items the prices where a bargain.
m.The gallery contains a great walk through the history of the United Kingdom through some of her most important personalities. Much of the pew 20th century portraits are of kings, queens and various aristocrats. As we get closer to the present, there's much more diverse range of personalities. Many of the portraits have a description of the person or scene with gives the painting so much more context
I especially enjoyed the "womens exhibition" of the suffragettes.
Ultimately, the museum is a large collection of paintings of individuals and it can get rather tedious after a couple of hours. Still worth visiting though.
J. H.An amazing experience of seeing the most well-known people on their portraits. A lesson on the history, culture and art in one go. I definitely recommend.
V. R.Great place!
Lots of art to see of different styles, great that it's free entry with optional donations, as it means it's something that you can add to your day, to your lunch break and it doesn't cost lots.
A lovely way to add some culture, talk about time periods and spend some time!
S. R.Beautiful portraits and paintings. Contains some great information about historical figures. I found the layout a bit confusing and ending up walking in circles a couple of times. However I will definitely be back to see everything again.
R. B.Having it free makes it really worth it - you can pop in or out without feeling bad about how long you're there for. The paintings, though nothing unusual/very exciting, show how art and the way people are portrayed, evolve through time. Would definitely recommend.
A. B.Been many times, this time for Hockneys Drawings. Great space, well curated exhibition and carefully selected items in the shop. I never leave empty handed!
A. W.Loved Van Gogh, Turner, Degas, and Caravaggio. And nice people I met. Fantastic place I went there with my Mum too.
M. S.Love the National Portrait Gallery, as it contains illustrations and photography from various stages of history. Would definitely attend yearly and recommend this museum to those looking for British art free of charge.
K. B.This gallery has some great work on offer but it isn't very inclusive. If you are into seeing lots of self indulged, white and rich people portraits then this place will be heaven. Yes it has all the classic portraits that you studied about British history at school and one gallery dedicated to contemporary greats, as well as a temporary suffragette exhibition BUT it mostly showcases posh, white people. All painted in a similiar style. The curation and storytelling is very interesting though. I did really enjoy the contemporary and suffragette inspired works. There were different painting styles and diverse people on offer with fascinating stories but I wish the other exhibits held such variation and intrigue.
B.The National Portrait Gallery (free entrance) is the world's oldest of its kind. Originally opening in 1856, this is where you can see a who's who collection of historic Britons from the 15th century onward.
The permanent collection is spaced out over two floors, occupying 32 rooms. What is recommended is to use the Map brochure (£1 donation) and follow the suggested chronological path through the gallery.
Can you start with the second floor rooms featuring portraits from the Tudor period (1485-1603AD) and work your way through The Stuarts (1603-1714AD) and Rebellion to Reform of the 18th and 19th centuries (1714-1790AD) and (1790-1837AD).
Then make your way to the first floor to see portraits from the Victorian age (1837-1901AD), Early and Late 20th century (1901-1959AD) and (1960-1990AD) and Contemporary and recent portraits (1990 to present).
The Map shows you were to find certain highlight portraits. However, its well worth spending a bit of time in each of the rooms getting to know important British figures who you might not be aware of, resting alongside the more famous Britons.
There is also an audio guide (£3) you can use if you want a more detailed account of the individuals and period history relating to many of the portraits.
Overall, we found the National Portrait Gallery to be a well-planned and comprehensive collection. While not everyone's cup of tea, this is an excellent portrait gallery, well worth your time if you have interest in British history or are simply looking for something interesting (and free) to do near Trafalgar Square.
Tip: If you have a more general interest in art, you might prefer the National Gallery next door instead. This is where you can see a wide range of European art masterpieces. It is also free to visit.
A. H.The National Portrait Gallery is an amazing treasure of the nation, which is highly recommended when in London, austere yet welcoming the NPG is well worth a visit.
S. H.One of those venues that is loved by the tourist, but forgotten by its own people.
Given as a gift to the people in the mid 1800s this venue is phenomenally spacious, with a little bit of something for everyone. From modern art to period art, looking back upon the tudors before and after, through victorians and beyond. Lots of highly recognised works of art sit within its walls.
Best of all it’s free, however voluntary donations are requested across the venue with a recommendation of £5 as the donation value.
M. S. (. B.I really enjoyed the special section they have for the 100 years of women's vote, rebel women. Invaluable information and portraits of important figures in history.
The gift shop is great too!
A. L.An absolute must visit site with Nelsons Column, the 3 Lions, water fountains and the national gallery all in one place. Magnificent for anyone who has not yet visited.
N. K.The National Portrait Gallery (NPG) is an art gallery in London housing a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. It was the first portrait gallery in the world when it opened in 1856. The gallery moved in 1896 to its current site at St Martin's Place, off Trafalgar Square, and adjoining the National Gallery. It has been expanded twice since.
O. R.Being a person who is very interested in historical eras and icons in them, this gallery never fails to disappoint. The art is so fascinating and well upkept, with art and new exhibitions being added fairly regularly. Staff are very welcoming and don't force donations out of you, which is comforting.
D.The BP Portrait Award in the National Portrait Gallery is the only exhibition that I try to attend on a yearly basis. The selection as a whole is normally very good; however, the winning painting doesn’t seem to be the best one (in my opinion but I am not an art-expert).
Anyway, putting the BP Portrait Award aside, the collection of the other portraits is very good and with a free admission, it should be a must to every person visiting or living in London.
A. S.One of the best galleries I have ever been in my life. Its spectacular and lots of portraits and statues to be witnessed. The staff is very friendly and looks after the gallery very nicely. And its free admission. I recommend this gallery to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge about portraits and arts. Thanks.
D. B.I could come here every day, sit in front of a masterpiece and never run out of inspiration. We've visited countless times and always found something new and to be proud of on behalf of the human race. My best advice is to take it easy. NPG is one place where completing a full loop in one go is probably too much to take in.
C. T.Visiting The National Portrait Gallery is always a special experience for me. I always visit alone, to roam at my own pace and give each work of art the attention it deserves. I'm always stunned by the artistry from this generation's most talented painters and sculptors, and the thought process they explored to execute what we see. Visits are constantly educational and entertaining for me, and visiting is at the top of my suggestions for things to do in London.
G. S.No gallery like it 👌 visit this almost twice a week when I'm living in London, and it never ceases to surprise, comfort, and interest me. The energy of the building is humble, warm, and respectful of the works around it. It's always well managed, with attendants scattered around the building accordingly, offering some comfort that you'll not find yourself amongst hoards of loud teens etc
The selection of portraits has remained extensive and broad, offering a wide variety for all tastes! Highly recommended this if and when you're in London!
C. K.Enjoyed my visit to the National Portrait Gallery. Admission is free and the collection is more than worth the price.
A. S.Great gallery. Free to visit, only have to pay for special displays. Could spend four hours here with a great cafe and gift shop.
M.I love it! I always come here when I visit London. Even if it is just for 30 minutes. It spans centuries of portraits. If you are lucky you come here when the BP Portrait Awards are showing to gain an overview of modern art and styles - impressive. The faces will linger in your mind.
Tip: don't forget to have high tea in the portrait gallery and don't forget to reserve in advance. The views over London combines with the dishes are superb - friendly French waiters included...
R. B.An art gallery in London housing a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. Entry to the museum is free. The place has great ambience and very friendly atmosphere. Convenient for patents to take their kids along. The building is also disabled friendly.
S. H.The portrait gallery doesn't get the same attention the National Gallery does, which is a shame. There are many wonderful paintings arranged chronologically, giving three viewer a glimpse of the people -or at least the ruling elite- of the the past. The Tudor and Stuart sections are particularly interesting.
D.Good overview of British history. Would have been great to get a booklet to tell us that we were seeing. And maybe a family tree like they have at the start of each room
R. J.Not the biggest gallery but it still has some incredible pieces on display. It can get very busy, especially on rainy days so plan in advance, ideally get there early to really be able to take it all in. Free entry.
D. L. I.Great place!
Fact: when you’ll visit this place you’ll get a free history lesson!
Also you’ll understand that in those times only rich people could afford to employ artists to paint their portraits.
Basically a museum of first selfies, but masterfully made and accomplished😎
Enjoy!
r. j. r.Behind the National Gallery, it's all about
portraits - painted and photographed.
Seeing so many faces may sound boring
but it's not - and it's free. A must for art
students.
C. O.Lovely portraits from round the world (especially the UK). Complimentary access to most of the exhibitions with a suggested donation.
H. H.We went to the National Gallery on a Sunday morning, no lines and easy to access. Free entry. Loved it!
E. R.Great place for rainy days, family, kids, inspiration: so many good things here and almost endless number of art pieces. And it's all free! Highly recommended.
S.This is such a gorgeous gallery of all the amazing portraits of people from Shakespeare to Ed Sheeran. It can get packed when there're groups but otherwise it's a great place if you want to look at what these great people in history look like and what famous painters have portrayed. I am no expert on portraits but I do recommend their gift shop and book shop they do know how to please visitors of all tastes...
B. C.Great gallery with free entry, and also a nice place for stay to see the street show. It's also a place you can see the Big Ben different view, really great for visitors and photographer!
L. S. T. I. #.One of the must see places when visiting London . Showing us that people in the UK are quit often at the edge of what is going on Internationally.
M. S.If you love portraiture art and photography this is the place for you. It's less busier to enter through the side doors and start your journey round the gallery this way.
N. H.Great place to study paintings by the great artists and of people. Their permanent and paid exhibitions are definitely worth a visit.
D. L.I didn't expect to have been as consumed here as I was. Six hours went by verrry quickly. I am a little methodical in my perusal, so time does go fast.
I would advise paying for the audio guide and start from the very beginning working your way from the Tudors to the 20th Century. The narrative is both illuminative and engaging with a number of laugh out loud moments ( at least I did😊)
Human nature is unchanging across the centuries in peace and war , love and hate.
The artworks are exquisite as are the subjects and historical snapshots. Do pay attention to subject, content and artists.
I was initially drawn by the exhibition of a significant body of Cézanne's works.
Beautiful.
Go early and enjoy.
T. P.Free entrance. The museum has a very special collection to be seen. You can see significiant scientists, writers, queens and kings portraits.
C. T.My first visit to this gallery didn't disappoint! Impressive building & such a pleasure to walk around admiring paintings & sculpture.
E. İ.Aybüke fans is here :) Build is in city center.Every details is amazing also entrance is free.
L. H.The place is magnificent!! Make sure you go to the right entrance, because I went through the big stairs and it turned out to be the exit of the gallery.
T. P.The National Portrait Gallery is closed until Spring 2023 for refurbishments. We got in just before. It's a treasure trove of British portraits, historical and contemporary.
D. J.This gallery is just what it says it is: a gallery of portraits and what a wonderful collection it is! Formal, informal, funny and just a bit weird all styles are represented. There is just so much to see, and because of that it is very easy to become overwhelmed. All pictures are well displayed and the rooms are sympathetically lit. Unless you are on a real mission I would suggest dipping in and out of this gallery, perhaps spend an hour or two at the most then come back another day to see more.
This visit there was the BP portrait exhibition showcasing more contemporary works and like the gallery itself it was free to enter. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours. However, I would say it's not really the place for young children.
P. S.Great museum near Trafalgar Square. Free admission but you are suggested to donate £5 which of course is optional. Well organized with older period on top floor and more recent further down. All are well presented with descriptive text in English. Not extremely large so you can pop in and just explore as much as you want.
D. W.Stunning and inspiring collection of portraits, ancient and modern. You can literally feel the history here. Portraits are both exceptional art, and records of lives long gone. Photography allowed. Theres a very cafe in the basement. Admission by donation. A WONDERFUL WAY TO SPEND A FEW BLISSFUL HOURS
M. M.Most of the exhibitions here are free and wonderful to see such a large collection of portraits. Many of these portraits date back hundreds of years and relate to the rich, famous and royalty, no paupers depicted here. Such people as Elizabeth Ist, Francis Drake, Nelson, Isambard Kingdom Brunel to name but a few. The pictures of the House of Commons and House of Lords with each person individually drawn is notable for the absence of any women, but this was the 1800's.
The exhibitions are organised into the specific periods of history e.g. The Stuarts, Tudors, Victorians, but there is also an exhibition of contemporary art.
D. A.Had a fab time listening to the artist Simon Frederick about their work. #blackisthenewblack exhibit the late night sessions open till 9pm on a Friday it was great!
W. Y.I visited the National Portrait Gallery because they had a Caravaggio exhibition. It was such a pleasant surprise to find out that exhibition aside, the Gallery had a very extensive, well curated and very very beautiful collection. I joined the free docent tour in the afternoon and was touched by the sheer passion she had with the paintings. Her explanations made the world of paintings come alive! I loved how there were cross relations between certain paintings. Easter eggs existed even in centuries past! Well worth a visit. Bravo!
V. *.A stunning favourite of mine in London, so many of the greats...a must do in London
D. L.I love to visit all the National Portrait Galleries when in a new country. My kids are not usually so enthusiastic; however, they loved the Michael Jackson On the Wall exhibition. MJ is an inspiration for artists and fans. The permanent collection had paintings and sculptures of British history.
A.Depictions of the human form is always fascinating. The NPG displays mostly the famous in paintings and sculptures over 6 centuries. Connecting to people over the ages can take the better part of the day. A must go because it will be out of commission for 3 years.
S. C.One of the must see places in London to visit. On Trafalgar Square and free to get in. Your typical paintings but all portraits, lots of King’s and queens and historical portraits, as well as modern day portraits from Elton John to Judi drench, beetles etc, allow a couple of hours to walk around and very central and close to Covent garden.
O. O.Interesting gallery featuring portraits of people from different epochs. I enjoyed visiting it very much 😌.
H. O.This is a great place and after forgotten about as it lies literally in the shadow of the National Gallery at Trafalgar Square. We popped in for a short visit to see some of the photographic exhibition and modern lives exhibits which were excellent. Heard that it is now closing for 3 years for a major refurb - hope it will be worth the wait
M.A world class gallery. Totally worth seeing even just for the curation. One of the best galleries in London.
M. v. H.Was lookig for John Singer Sargent Portraits. Found them and more. Great WW1 collection. Awesome place. Free entree.
M. A.Went there to see the BP Portrait Award, one exhibition I visit every year and I felt sorry they moved it in a smaller room as it is always busy and very popular. Hope it goes back to the usual room next year!
M. B.Love this gallery and if you have kids pay attention to the kids section in the shop! Amazing g range of kids art books
P. C.Pre Raphaelite sisters exhibit is wonderful. So many connections. Models of famous portraits are revealed. Packed
L. B.Lots of portraits. The Michael Jackson portrait exhibit was cool. Not too busy of a place.
M. B.Free, as most London museums are, though donation is encouraged, and £5 is pretty good value for the wealth of art and food for the soul you find here. The images are from the Michael Jackson | On the Wall exhibition
C. A.The National Portrait Gallery is so well laid out with areas organised in chronological order, so you can literally stroll through the history of portraiture from the Tudors to present day. There are so many iconic paintings housed at the gallery, it's a real treat, and free too.
G. D.Love to pop into this gallery whenever I'm in the area. It's free and has loads to look at. The restaurant on the top floor is well worth a visit as well.
C. G.Currently the BP Portrait Award 2018 winners and commended artists are being exhibited. The level of ability is outstanding. Moreover it's free to go in! (A donation is suggested.) Other exhibitions are charged for eg there is currently a Michael Jackson exhibition which you have to pay to go in. There's a cafe, loos, and loads more to see. One of my favourite London museums.
B. H.Absolutely my favourite gallery in London - so much more intimate than others with a collection of portraits you could look at for hours. Long may it remain.
E. K.Always a well curated (paid) feature exhibition on, however the standard collection is just amazing! Brilliant little book shop too
J. R.A tremendous gallery to visit, particularly the current exhibition on the Pre-Raphaelite women. One caveat, it's very busy but that is to be expected. Lots to see in the gallery. Enjoy!
j.I had a spare hour to kill in London and decided to visit here alone. I had a big bag with me which I thought would be a problem. However, I was simply directed to a cloak room, which was free but they suggested a donation which is fair enough!
Really enjoyed my time in there. I felt like I rushed it a bit in the time I had, so there was a lot to see. I really enjoyed the 'Picturing Friendship' room, which had an amazing photograph of Benjamin Britten and another European composer (whose name I really can't remember, which is annoying). I also thought that getting into the post war collections became really interesting.
Would highly recommend!
S. B.I wandered in on a Friday night and it turned out to be one of my best art museum experiences ever
l. m.One of my favourite places to visit when in London,since it always hosts interesting exhibitions. Last time I went,there was a Marti Parr exhibition.
J. L.Better than I thought!
Beautiful place with nice works
And gallery book store & shop was very good as tate!
K. T.Fantastic museum. Highly recommend visiting during their late nights to avoid the crowds.
M. B.The staff here are so lovely, the gallery space is amazing... love seeing Cindy Sherman's work
D. F.Another London's gem! Some amazing art. Beautiful spaces too. Recommended...
O. D.A great space to go and look at some of the world's best paintings..for free. The have a great selection of religious art the architecture is mind blowing and it never over crowded.
T. W.Portraits of everyone from the ginger who lives in Dennington to Henry VIII. Anyone who's anyone is here and not a few specimens who are genuinely undeserving of hanging.
d. s.One of the best free museum galleries in Britain. It specialises in portraits and the early Tudor and Jacobean section is my favourite with fantastic original oils. Great research collection, shop and educational programmes. At the moment it is closed for refurbishing but is accessible online.
A. C.Such a great place. It's hard to put into words. Reviewing each portrait and trying to recall the history and the impact that they have.
S. M.These are proper pictures not like the trash you see in other galleries.
P. I. B.Always an interesting place to drop in - permanent exhibitions are a pure pleasure, along with some great side shows (although I always find the BP Portrait Awards disappointing, but don't let that put you off!)
S. M.A brilliant range of historic pieces. Incredible to see them all in person.
C. S.Great gallery for visitors and locals alike. Regularly shows interesting free exhibitions. Beautiful building
A. S. (. W.Amazing collection of art. Make sure to have afternoon tea since admission is free. Haha
S. U.Pretty much like any experience one expects from a portrait gallery although, like the magic of Michael Jackson, the new Michael Jackson portrait exhibition called Michael Jackson On The Wall is definitely magical and a wonder. I greatly recommend it, MJ fan or not. The Warhol portrait of Michael is a MUST SEE.
T. R. C.Amazing works of art on display, the more modern stuff draws a crowd, but the older paintings are phenomenal
G. J.Interesting place to visit for british history through portraiture. Free, expansive and worth a trip.
C. A. D.This sculpture of the Jamaican-born medical doctor Harold Moody (1882-1947) was initially cast in plaster in 1946 by his brother the artist Ronald Moody. The bronze was produced decades later in 1997 and is on permanent display in the early 20th century section of the National Portrait Gallery in London. Both brothers made significant contributions to British society and cultural life during the early 1900s and inter-war period. While it is wonderful to see representations of key historical figures from the Caribbean Diaspora in the UK's national art collections, more needs to be done to foreground these artworks in the galleries' printed and online promotional literature so that they can be easily found without simply stumbling on them by chance. A "Black British History" trail that could be downloaded from the NPG website to navigate through the different chronological and thematic sections would be a welcome addition to the teaching and learning resources.
P. D.It's air conditioned....not as busy as the national gallery next door.....and has some very interesting works of art....and a lovely coffee shop in the basement...
M. A.I went to the gallery with my siblings, it was a free visit, we enjoyed all the portraits it was very inserting and there was lots of lovely pieces, loved the shop and got lots of souvenirs and art books
F. *.National Gallery of Portraits, holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Beautiful building. Free for main exhibits. £18 for the temporary exhibitions. Was very busy but everyone was enjoying the calm and history of this cultural gem. The floors are grouped by period, the oldest portraits being in the highest floor. There is a gift shop. The Portrait cafe is very busy, we could not get a table. The price of a coffee is £2.70 so not too expensive.
C. p.went here with the kids and mother in law for my patners bday. it was lovley. he was given a free drink and a birthday plate with a lil cake on it. that was very nice of the staff. all staff was so welcoming. it has nice views of London. seated at the window or not
D. S.All was going well until we went into the cafe for an Orange Juice each. Then when we handed over 10 pounds as payment the docket was produced showing a 2 pound "donation" that we had not offered AND no other change was given. He just put our 10 pound note in the till and turned his back on us.
Talk about snobby ripoff attitude.
H. O.The most awesome collection of paintings from the rennaisance period and other times I have encountered.
H. L.Fascinating array of historical portraiture. There are so many interesting little known facts to be discovered here if you pay close attention to the details.
A. J. O.Impressive collection of portrait artworks. A beautiful and inspiring museum with wide space to walk and well lit. Disabled friendly. Good rest room facilities. Features old and modern art collections, so there's something for everyone and it's free. Definitely recommend a visit
M. A.Truly a wonderful & exciting place to visit. Whether you're an artist or not, everyone can absorb themselves in the superb works of art on display.
Don't hesitate, simply go and immerse yourself in the various exhibitions on show there. I promise, it will not disappoint and you'll be glad you've spent your time appreciating these remarkable and wonderful masterpieces.
E. M.Very busy for a Saturday but to be expected. Enjoyed seeing the Van Goghs, Monets and Canellettos!
M. P.An excellent place to visit. It's a fantastic way to 'meet' everyone who was anyone from the past five hundred years of English history. The audio tour is excellent, in fact it's so detailed I'd say it's best to split a visit over two days if you want to learn about every portrait. Entry is free and the audio guide is a few pounds only. Overall well worth a visit.
B. K.Great works of art on display. People were sitting there honing their skills.
A. B.One of the best places to view amazing artwork
N. C.Loved this museum. Great collection of portraits.
D. W.The history and the talent of portraits through the ages is on show within these walls
J. S.Lovely place to visit and if you want to take an easy day and do some relaxing sketching. 😊
d. d. l.Good selection of photos and paintings... But sometimes difficult to follow a logical order.
T. D.Great place with portraits of all the historical Brits you ever heard of.
N. P.Wonderful and inspiring collection. Great bookstore with an extensive selection of children's books.
S. J.Beautiful pieces of art! The building in itself gives the gallery a raw feel.
S. B.Absolutely brilliant gallery, great staff and services. I went for the Michael Jackson exhibition, there’s always at least 2-3 free exhibits to see.
a. w.Full of rich culture and various great artists
C. M.Had whale of a time at Martin Parr’s show. However, out of the exhibition, building interiors seemed tired.
L. C.Free museum, central London location. Superb spectrum of paintings to view. Lots of rooms to explore, friendly polite staff in each room.
I went on a Saturday which seemed very busy, in the lobby, toilets, shop and cafe.
The painted art, sculptures and also the architectural structure of the rooms is beautiful and well worth your time. Easily walking distance from Covent Garden.
Love English history, huge fan of the super sized paintings.
j. p.I would go there every time I have a spare 10 minutes in West End London, stare at a Portrait for a while makes me feel refreshed.
S. E. E.Very interesting place to learn some history and admire art of different artists all over the world. Nice gift and book shops. Kids can do some activities in handed activity book. Museum is free of charge, but there is recommended donation of £5.
L. C.The National Portrait Gallery provides a vast opportunity to explore the elements of the history of England via art. The size is quite deceptive as it is grand once you enter inside. The staff are friendly and helpful for what appears to be a tiring job. The different eras are labelled though with such a lot to cover it can still get a little confusing to navigate. There are some interactive elements, but more may be warranted. Particularly, for younger visitors. This perfect for a rainy day or to gain insight into British history. Well worth a visit.
A. V.The gallery has a lot of potential. Despite the fact that the Victorian portraits start blending into each other, the modern gallery is very interesting in the way it showcases different techniques of portraiture. I think the gallery would be more interesting if the portraits were less divided by their date, if it makes sense.
M. M.I went there in 2019 and I love it. By the way Francis Drake was an English corsair, but in Panama we consider him a pirate.
Filled with paintings and portraits of historical figures
B. A.I thought it was pretty cool. I didnt see the michael Jackson exhibit tho so that might've made it better for me. Overall tho cool with lots too see from yesteryear to today.
A. J.I think this is my favourite gallery so far in London. Just because they had a very detailed exhibition on Tudor dynasty which I’m always interested in. It is a small gallery and full of historical paintings and modern pictures, but it has a different vibe from those big museums. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re into British monarchy history, and portrait things of course, like photography. I even bought a book after it because I was so enjoyed.
M. K.A London must! The "picture of the day" talk is highly recommended (see website, I think 12.30 every day, free activity) as it brings one specific painting (on a rotating basis) very much to life and is highly informative and well-presented. Where better to bring history of kings and queens to life than at the national portrait gallery!? Absolutely amazing. Will definitely go again
F. A.This is THE place to go if you enjoy portraits and just want somewhere to sit for hours and enjoy them. I love just grabbing a chair and sit in front of my favourite paintings and just be there for hours thinking about it. No commission fee so you can go whenever you feel like it. Can’t recommend more.
C. B.Even my 7 year old loved it! Fold out chairs available or plenty of benches to sit on. Nice spacious rooms so doesn't feel claustrophobic or too crowded. Cafe was a bit overpriced though and food wasn't particularly suited to children in general. Better to just cross the road and have something to eat at one of the more family friendly restaurants about.
S. R.Great place to visit and it's free.
J. M.Must-see if you love British history!
L. L.Fantastic to see such an incredible art collection under such a vast roof of such a beautiful building. Learnt so much during our visit . We had not appreciated how long it would take to see the whole . We all enjoyed a delicious lunch in the restaurant , and bought some great gifts in the souvenir shop. An amazing experience .
L. A.First off I should point out I really know nothing about art so just a few other comments. Be prepared to queue in the height of summer and check-in any big bags to the cloakroom. Special exhibits/events are chargeable and often booked up. I have enjoyed "killing time" here in the past.
D. B.Loved the MJ exhibition, totally love the NPG too. Really nice staff and so much to see!
j.Lots of portraits of famous people of Britain. Very good documentation of the Victorian era through portraits.
J. H.Love this place. Just pick out a section and enjoy. Something for everyone
D. F.Really enjoyed the visit to National Portrait Gallery.
Not only was it free, however, it was nice to see that a campaign was sponsored by a billion dollar company such as British Petroleum.
I do hope that large corporations will follow in their footsteps and encourage people to take up art and showcase this art to members of the public for free.
Well done!!!
B. F.I love this museum.full of interest. I have been coming to have look for many years
Whenever I leave this lovely building I feel cherrful. And another advantage it is free of charge .I live in London and can access it any time.
Z. B.I had a great wander round ! Definitely worth a look ^.^° had to be dragged away...
K. H.Loved this gallery and I’m not much of an art person. Seeing all of the portraits of people that we’ve learned so much about is very cool. And knowing that many were painted while the subject was living is pretty amazing-as close to photos as we can get in the past. Free admission and they have a very reasonable gift shop compared to other attractions gift shops. We even came back her for last minute souvenir gifts.
D. A.I simply love this place! So grand and so beautiful!
M. P.Obe of London's best galkeries. Always worth a browse or seeing a special show
R. A.I haven't been here for a few years but it had the same atmosphere I remember and appreciate. It's peaceful but vividly alive with people at the same time.
Revisited the modern portraits exhibition and saw this year's BP exhibition too which moved me to tears.
Go see and reconnect with your sense of wonder - there are some exceedingly talented artists out there. This is just a snapshot of the talent in the world but it is a snapshot you should see.
S. P.What a wonderful place to wander through for an hour or two. The earliest painings on display are 500 years old - it's wonderful to see the skill and techniques that existed so long ago.
And at the modern end of the time spectrum - there are bang-up-to-the-minute displays in a range of media including photography.
It's free to get in and see the core collection. What other great art museums across Europe offer that? You'll pay a few pounds to get into any special exhibitions.
R. P.This was not in the list of places we intend to visit during our trip to London but was one of the memorable. The collection of paintings is just amazing. To better appreciate the paintings you need to have some knowledge about the British Monarchy and history. Entrance is FREE.
R. K. Y. I.Paintings over 400 years old on display and all for free. Amazing place. Only in London.
S. T. (.Went there today and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I was lucky enough to follow in a group with an historian who was both interesting and extremely knowledable. He made my visit most memorable. I visited on my own as it's something you need to see at your own pace.
C. W.A most enjoyable and educational experience viewing the portraits and other pictures, with the additional informational texts. There is ease of access provided by ramps, stairs and lift. A cloakroom is available for storage of larger personal items at a reasonable charge, while one visits the gallery. Entry is free but a donation is appreciated. The gallery is easy to negotiate and a map of it is available for £1.00. The pictures are well displayed with informational cards and attendants are around. It is very helpful to have this resource freely available and to see school groups utilising it.
L. A.This is a fabulous gallery, especially if one is a history lover. I came this last time to see the Elizabethan Treasures exhibition (marvellous; make sure you ask for a magnifying glass as you enter), but ended up spending the rest of the afternoon at the rest of the gallery's halls. It's a lovely Victorian building, with some amazing paintings and sculptures of inspiring leaders, villains, scoundrels, romantic, reformists, it's like taking a time machine through the history of Great Britain. My favourite part is the 3rd floor "Tudor section", which, besides heroes of the Elizabethan era and the Virgin Queen herself, sports the only known portrait of William Shakespeare painted during his lifetime, and some of the kings and pretenders he wrote in his plays about. A must for any lover of portraiture and history.
D. O.Fantastic place. Really enjoyed the portraits as they were so varied and interesting. Definitely something for every taste. Free entry but some exhibitions charge an entry fee.
Lockers downstairs for £1 are very useful for anyone travelling with bags etc.
E. M.Its free and the Art is great. What's not to like? A must see place. You will need at least 4 hours to enjoy the art. Could probably to a quick tour in 2 hours. So go there on a full stomach :) Lifts available.
J. J.Didn't think we'd enjoy this smaller museum but we were surprised. The focus is portraits, obviously, but what you learn is history more than anything. Such a cool history lesson via canvas. Small gallery, allot 90 minutes.
I.Fantastic collection that is impossible to explore fully on one visit - you would want to go back again to have a better look.
I was lucky enough to be present for the free lecture, hosted by the museum, about one of the paintings of Bonny Prince Charlie and it was captivating and informative. Will be going back for more when in London again.
M. B.This is a part of the nation's history captured in paintings and print. The gallery is well organised. We are lucky to have a place like this where it's free to enter. Generous people keep this vibrant pĺace going. Each donates according to their means. A must see for all.
P. S.If you love English history or just want to view some of the most beautiful works by the worlds best portrait artists then you must visit here. Famous faces abound and are set out in rooms and floors that take you through the ages. Entry is FREE though a donation is welcomed. Gallery closes around 6pm but has a late night Friday.
Only a stone's throw from Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery, which features 100s of paintings from landscapes to battles to religious art works and is also FREE to enter. Have an Art-Day and visit both!
C. D.Another on of London's free of charge museums and equally as important as any of them. Large and spacious building stuffed full of incredible paintings and busts of dignitaries, monarch and famous faces. Informative descriptions on all works so it's fun to read about the artist and why they chose the commission. Plus (chargeable) special events on throughout the year so there's always something new to see. Highly recommended.
D. F.Well presented paintings with a sensible amount of interesting information. Rooms varied in size and shape which also made it feel different. Also included photography and some sculpture. As I have some mobility problems it was great to have plenty of small benches with good views of the exhibits. Would have given 5 stars but for the very high prices in the café.
R. “. R.I really love this place as well as my daughter also. There are so many fun things to see historic portraits as well as medallions and other smaller things to view. Wouldn't miss it for anything even though it wasn't very busy I think it should have a lot more visitors. Phenomenal works are in there and it didn't take long to see and enjoy the awesome artwork on display
B. H.Recently the Martin Parr exhibition, it was really good and a great way to spend a couple of hours. Only downside is that I felt it was quite expensive for what it was.
L. G.Go, wander around, there's so much to see even without going in to the paid exhibitions and don't forget to give a donation if you enjoyed yourself. There's an interesting bookshop on the first floor, much better than the gift shop on the ground floor and if your hungry, the restaurant is very good with an interesting view of some London roofs and icons
H. P.For me this gallery was the best in London. There were a lot of interesting portraits, that makes me think about philosophical themes, such as my own life, myself etc. For me the best part was the portraits of modern era. It was incredible how they reflect themselves in their portraits.
S. J.Gallery holds popular exhibitions. Spend as little as an hour and art lovers will be happy. Cafe offers good range of snacks. Shop also sells interesting range of goods relating to their exhibitions. S Jones
A. C.The portrait gallery just like the national gallery next door is a wonderful place to visit and an amazing free activity to do in london. It offers a excellent examples of classical portraits as well as their contemporary counterparts demonstrating how the art of the portrait has changed over the centuries.
K. R.Fabulous.
Free.
Wonderful photographs and paintings.
I. D.Good place to visit but not worth special trip for it
D. H.Exquisite and interesting. Portraits were my least interesting art subject, until I came here! The history that these paintings expose to you help explain people and their significance in the world we know today. From the very historical, to the contemporary, it presents a view of people in a way that is so unique and personal. Forget Instagram - visit this incredible gallery!
J. M.Interesting museum, we saw the exhibition about the Elizabethan Treasures and were glad to see such nice pieces. The exposition was really interesting and the staff was very kind. Indeed, we first thought it was the National Gallery but one of the members of the staff took time to explain to us what it was about before that we visited it.
D. B.Amazing art on display. Not too formal feel and didn't get the feeling that I was out of place (I am no art expert!) Information about artists/subjects was helpful. Gallery was set out in a logical manner and you can't help but get drawn in. We only intended to look at the Tudors and spent 2 hours there!
N. N.Loved coming here can’t wait to come back and see all those stunning portraits again
B. M.Very interesting art and a great chronical of history. We toured the whole place. Well, at least the free part.
z. b.This building is jam packed full of portraits spanning hundreds of years and of every type of person. You get to see those pictures of Kings, Queens, courtiers, Prime ministers etc which adorn every history book. And also of more ordinary folk. You can spend hours here and it's completely free.
N. D.Always a pleasure. Tudor Gallery is a personal favourite, but the whole place is vast and fascinating. It has an Imperialist and elitist air about much of the collection, but I suppose that reflects our history and culture. BP Award is an excellent annual attraction.
J. A.Some amazing works on display. The portraits are organised by period in time with detailed explanations. This gives the viewer a real sense of English history. Much better than just reading history from book. All this and it's free entry. I highly recommend a visit.
P. V.A wonderful gallery - probably the best in London. And it's free! How lucky we are to have this on our doorstep!
G.Beautiful gifts and great books!
A. G.It is huge! For an art lover who likes to delve into history of art across the world, it will be a treat to the eyes and being. You could spend a day or two browsing through the gallery‘s rich collection. For a general tourist, it will still take a couple of hours going around - there’s a lot to admire and enjoy.
S. D.One of the amazing things about capitol cities like Washington DC and London is the fantastic amount of free culture options for a day out to enjoy the town. After spending the morning at the Tate Britain, I spent an afternoon wandering the beautiful Portrait Gallery just off of Trafalgar Square. The Tudor exhibit incredible. Just seeing the real time works of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I takes your breath away. Definitely worth an afternoon!
K. W.This gallery has lots of really beautiful art, I could easily spend a day in here with the amazing atmosphere. I really liked the varied styles and time periods of the art, as well as being able to see some famous pieces in person. There are some great restaurants around, so it's ideal for longer visits.
M. P.Came to the Micheal Jackson Exhibition. Was brilliant. Had lunch in the Portrait Gallery Restaurant on floor 3 afterwards. I wasn't disappointed. The food was lovely, i ordered Salmon as a starter and Shepherds Pie as main. They came as a meal deal together. The views of London are simply stunning! This museum has around 195,000 portraits so would take hours to see them all if not days but is worth a visit just to see a handful and the beautiful rooms that house the paintings are equally stunning. The shop is great too. They sell posters and prints of your favourite paintings.
F. D.Excellent place to visit paintings, statues, photography. My favourite the portraits about famous and interesting people. Easily can spend a few hours here just wondering and soaking up the special vibe comes from this place. There is a little cafe if you wish to drink a cup of coffee.
B. D.It's a portrait museum, so if that's not your cup of tea... otherwise perfect to but a picture to names you might have read or heard about. Having read a lot about English history - and some famous paintings - I enjoyed to see them for myself. Bring enough time to switch between galleries to avoid crowds, eg school classes.
Only special exhibitions aren't for free. I saw "Elizabethan Treasures" and it was well done.
M. G.The gallery gets better each time I visit. I spent my time today on the top floor - Tudors & Stuarts and Georgians. Good clear labels although the Kitkat Club ones weren't all identified even though there was a special sheet all about them. However it was an attractive display. I love the painting of Charles II in which his expression is so familiar and modern, and the bust of Hogarth by Roubiliac is stunning. Just a pity that one or two visitors were doing that annoying thing of not looking at the exhibits, but just standing in front of the paintings to take selfies. I didn't remember the picture of John Donne as a young man, lurking in the shadows, but loved it, which is why I'm posting it
B. S.Our first visit. Impressive display of those people who have contributed to our society over a long period of time. Interesting and not always wonderful paintings. We were impressed by the information regarding the sitters in the portraits and the additional technical equipment to lock one into the time-limit of events in which those people played their part.
We'll be back.
P. W.Really nice gallery especially if you like history as you can see portraits of some of the people you've read about. The fact that it's free makes it even better. As an actor, if also recommend it as a place to go to research a character, although saying that, most of the eighteenth and nineteenth century portraits just look like Alec Guinness... As do the portraits of the men The cafe is also good
U. E.An excellent museum to visit. Each portrait sends you back in time. I really like the commentary behind each of these portraits. There is a mixture of both modern and old art here. Be sure to visit the National Portrait Gallery. Also, as with all public museums in London, it is free.
S. B.We didn't have enough time to get all the way round. In fact we only did part of the first floor, but we really enjoyed looking at the variety of portraits on display. There were historical faces, royalty, pop stars, important people in history. It was quite busy, yet you had time and space to move around. Definitly worth a visit, make sure you give it more time than we did. I would visit again.
E.Love that this place was free. The Tudors section was fab, and everything else is really interesting to browse. It was very quiet and calm when I went so that added to the nice atmosphere. There's a cute small bookshop, and another small souvenirs shop with suffragettes, Shakespeare, the Queen and other stuff. It's a great place to go to if you're walking by!
D. M.The national portrait gallery is one of the best galleries in the world in my opinion. For a start it has one of the grandest buildings in one of the nicest parts if London but mostly because of the sheer quality of the art on display. It can take you anywhere from an hour to a day to walk around and dooing it either way is enjoyable.
C. C.I loved it. There are the usual things always on display, but there are also items that are changed out with new things from the vast archives they have, plus special exhibits and tours. Just wonderful and dynamic. Highly recommended any time you are in the area. And one of the best things and something the government gets right - it's free admission to everyone. Highly Recommended.
K. A.Love this gallery. Beautiful building, great exhibitions, good book shop & very nice cafe. If I did have any criticism it'd be that I'd like the contemporary exhibition to be a lot bigger.
P. K.Often overlooked, hidden in the shadow of the National Gallery. Even though the National Portrait Gallery doesn't have all the glamour or the prominent entrance from Trafalgar Square it is well worth the visit. Portraits of monarchs, merchants, scientists and lots of others show just how much preparation is necessary for something just as simple as a portrait. With the clear progression through time, one can easily follow how the British high society has been evolving and what details are given prominence in each era.
I would totally recommend a visit and would even suggest the National Portrait Gallery over the National Gallery if you only have time for one of them.
J. L.I like this gallery. An excellent choice of paintings old and new with some photo displays thrown in. About 8 photos of Bobby Moore in one section. Lovely painting of Lady Diana Spencer when engaged but not yet married to Prince Charles. One of William and Harry not so good of William, better of Harry. Great painting of Elton John, small but perfect. Well worth a visit.
I. M.Amazing collection of portraits here.
K. S.We are so lucky that we have all these free museums and galleries in London. There is something for everyone from ancient portraits to more contemporary people. I took my son there some years ago when he wanted to study photography and said he was inspired by it.
V. M.A good history lesson through portraits of the Kings and Queens of England. other more modern ones too. It is a little dated but just read it is closing for renovation. The food in the cafe in the basement was simple, but tasty at a reasonable price.
J. L. J. Y.There are so many historical portrait in this gallery that I can't believe everything I saw in the movie is just right in front of me. There is also a cafe and a book store in where people can explore and hang around while need a break for the gallery. The best things here it's we visiting this portrait gallery are free and they encourage us to learn about the history of England.
D. S.I found this to be a highly enjoyable visual and intellectual experience, especially when juxtaposed with my earlier experience at the National Gallery. The Portrait Gallery has done a phenomenal job of arranging the displays to present the visitor with a chronological and thematic narrative which flows nicely through the museum. It was so interesting to see the portraits of historical figures I'd studied or who had shaped the world in which we live; the added que cards provided useful information that made many more paintings sensible.
R. U.The National Gallery.If you are art lover then spending time here should be for you. It has some stunning art work. It's free entry and some special galleries are paid if you are interested in the artist but that's optional.Do you need a guide in real life, interested in discounts ,travel, tickets, eating 2for1 offers hire me..
P. G.Nothing to dislike. I visited for the Michael Jackson exhibition. Well, not exactly a fan but very diverse exhibits and a bit flickery. The gallery is always worth a visit, so do go. If Michael Jackson is not your thing there are just loads of things to see.
Very good tea lounge with a civilised ambiance.
Highly recommended.
Y. Z.The fact that the entirety of this museum, excluding the special exhibits, is free. You can find famous paintings, including that of Charles Darwin and William Shakespeare, here. Cloakrooms, portable stools and audio guides are available. Not recommended to people who are not interested in art.
W. L.One of my favorite museums in London! Love the spacious gallery and tastefully curated galleries. This museum is a must visit for all, no matter if you're a museum lover or not. The paintings speak to you and you'll be amazed by the huge collection of arts throughout the different centuries.
F. P.Always lovely to travel in time and history thru wonderful portraits.
j. b.Free to enter but please leave a donation to pay for upkeep. Over 3 floors with different exhibits eg Tudor, modern etc. A lot to take in so if you're like me you pick your faves. Cafe and obligatory shop
N. S.The museum is well-done and some of the artwork is fantastic. For example, seek out the portrait of William Shakespeare which is the oldest portrait in the museum's collection. This museum has many, many (and even more many) portraits.
The museum is delightfully free of charge.
I'm rating it just four stars because they constantly advertise for tourists to come to the National Portrait Gallery, to see portraits of everyone they know. The cold cruel fact is that most foreign tourists will have no earthly idea who most of the portraits are. If you're from the U.K. or a student of their history, you'll know many (but still not even most) of the people depicted. This paragraph comments only on the fact that the advertisements show a few well-known people and promise even more, when in actual fact you are likely to know ONLY the people whose portraits are in the advertisements.
Definitely go to the National Gallery just around the corner. If you've seen most of the National Gallery and you find yourself saying "I wish I could look at more paintings", then you'll want to go to the National Portrait Gallery also.
C. T.There are some excellent exhibitions here, which we've been to over the years. We were here to see the Pre-Raphaelite Sisters exhibition, which was great and very eye-opening. It can be difficult to see the text on the wall, sometimes, due to people standing in the way and it felt as though some of the staff didn't actually want to be there. There are free exhibitions here, as well, though.
A. B.A British museum at its best. You could come here regularly and always find new stuff to explore. Best to decide on a couple of things and just stick to them. Temporary exhibitions are expensive but usually very imaginatively done. Good choices inside the museum for refreshments and meals. If you are thinking of going regularly then think about becoming a member; there are lots of benefits.
m. m.Nice exhibits, very nice staff. The canteen is maybe a little overcrowded.
J.Not great for young children, though there is an art traill; I used to enjoy contemporary portraits here a lot but the range of these pieces is now very limited to two rooms. Otherwise plenty tonsee across many floors and staff were very helpful
A. F.A bit old too school but they have a fantastic range in their collection which they tend to update on a regular basis. Some of the newer acquisitions are stunning and show that it was not just the higher class who got their portraits done but a myriad of people from very different backgrounds. A good visual history lesson and a stunningly refurbished building my only concern is that the curatorial decisions could do with a more modern touch.
V. H.I seem to remember there being more 20th century art last time I visited (several years ago), it seems a shame to have so much Tudor and Victorian art but so little from later on. Granted, we didn't pay to go into the separate exhibition areas, but then we didn't last time either. That said, it always interesting to compare how portrait painting has changed over the years. Did the Tudors really all look the same as each other?
M. R.The David Hockney exhibition of his portraiture is popular but was not overcrowded. The developing relationships between Hockney and his subjects are illustrated well. The gallery is accessible and free, although there is a charge for special exhibitions such as this.
P. J.Absolutely amazing place for a day out, even if you're not extremely interested in art. There are many portarits spanning across many time periods and descriptions of the portraits are interesting. If you are interested in art there is probably something there that will leave you feeling inspired and with a new perspective on art. There are maps available for about £1 in many different languages such as Russian, French and many others as well as two gift shops with art books, post cards, art supplies and much more.
M. C.This museum is so under-rated! I had never heard of it before I went to see the BP Portrait Award exhibition. It was amazing!
It's not too big, and free. A very nice place to spend an hour or two.
S. A.Beautiful museum which is free and in the central of London. However, not something extraordinary to see. If you’re visiting the national gallery next door then do come inside. We didn’t feel too excited in here, but it’s one of the few places which isn’t packed by tourists. So from a honest view, it wasn’t that exciting. But if you have time on your hands do go!
V. G.Love this Gallery. I never have enough of it.
A. G.I love The National Portrait Gallery. Portraits are fascinating and it houses both the historical and the contemporary with some fantastic exhibitions. I became a member last year, and indulged in the Audrey Hepburn and Vogue 100 exhibition more than once. The perks with membership are fantastic with previews, private viewings and other special events. well worth a visit at least once!!
L. B.It was so hot my friend and I looked for a cool venue close to where we needed to be later. The National Portrait Gallery fitted the bill perfectly; there was a refreshing chill within. We viewed a couple of the galleries before having a very nice lunch - good food at a reasonable price in pleasant cafe downstairs.
v. w.It's really worth visiting! Opened my eye sights
A. S.My favourite museum in London! They have a fabulous permanent collection and their special exhibitions are always outstanding. Centrally located in Trafalgar Square, it is very easy to find. The permanent exhibitions are free, and it would be a good idea to book in advance for the temporary ones as it can get very busy. There are lockers and a cloakroom if you have things with you that you don't want to carry around, plus a gift shop, bookshop & restaurant. The staff are knowledgeable & friendly and often there are great audio guides, podcasts or leaflets to tell you more about the exhibits. Can't recommend this place enough!
J. E.Upon entering the National Portrait ,Gallery I felt as if I were walking back into History there were many familiar faces. Faces I recognised as a child and faces I recognised when I became an adult. So many of these faces I'd seen a hundred times in the pages of a book. But here in sparkling 35k, in ultra definition, in the highest dynamic range possible. Beautiful at times, as I meandered through time and history. But tearful at the end as I said goodbye.
K. A.Love I only visited because I was meeting some friends and they were running very late. I stepped and and lost myself in the art. I enjoyed it so much that I ended up being late meeting my friends!
There are a number of floors representing different eras plus a cafe for refreshments.
Only downside is that they need a clear guide to walk otherwise you end up missing rooms.
E. L.I can highly recommend the drawing classes they offer and the free portrait talks. It's a lovely place to wander around, and encounter sime amazing artworks. I was unexpectedly blown away by the Tudor and Elizabethan works. The cafe downstairs has a sky light under which you can chill - it makes a nice escape from the hectic streets in that part of town.
K. A.Intriguing collection of art. Always something new to see. I was there for the art class which was amazing. It was a hot day and they sold drinks drinks at the entrance. It will be good to make it clear that drinks could not be taken. Other than than a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
E. W.An amazing gallery! Free entry. It's right next to the National Gallery, and you'll want to take your time to really appreciate both. If you can get one, I'd highly recommend a guided tour. Great history showcased through great art!
S. B.Massive display of historic and contemporary portraiture. Too much to take in during one visit. Probably best to select an area of interest and visit that/those galleries.
This museum often runs specialist exhibitions for limited periods of time so worth checking the program for special events.
Disability access provided with lift. Good cafe in basement with reasonable prices and excellent restaurant on the top floor qith modern European restaurant with lovely food, views over the roof tops and at reasonable prices.
Free entry to museum but some specialist exhibitions attract an entry fee.
Why have I only given this place 4 stars. Hmmm. Difficult question to answer. I'm not entirely sure. I think it's about the feel of the place. It feels quite formal and traditional even though a lot of the exhibits are contemporary. I think it could do with becoming a little more modern and interactive with a wider appeal.
J. P.Brilliant gallery, old and new portraits of the famous, the Royals (over 5 centuries)and the celebrities. A bit hit and miss if you want to catch a particular portrait, so best to check. Free entry, bags are checked, voluntary donations welcome. £2 voluntary donation per item to store larger bags.
S. D.The place to see the originals of all those iconic images that shape our perceptions of so many historical figures. A wonderful collection. Of particular interest (to me) are all the Tudor portraits and the Victorian and early 20th century collections. A fantastic day out.
J. O.I really loved the exhibition by Martin Parr on Only Human. I think that his photographs really tell a deep story on life in general. The national gallery itself has a number of free viewing spaces where lots of art work can be seen for free. The adult price for exhibition viewings is £18, and concessions is £16.50.
J. S.Another fantastic building filled with portraits modern and old, busts, statues. Pay for certain exhibitions. Nice café good shop. Good to allow yourself time to peruse it's many rooms. Also a good place to meet friends.
Next to the National Gallery, in close proximity to theatre land, St Martin's in the Field church, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square.
Nearest stations are Leicester Square, Charing Cross, St James's Park.
J. T.I've been there before but nice place to go when having a spare time. I had few hours gap till next meeting and I popped into the museum. Fascinating paintings history behind them. Some familiar faces and some not very but it was educational.
C.One of my favourite galleries in London. I visit with my family several times a year and there is always something exciting to see. Today we revisited the Tudors - simply beautiful & incrediblly detailed paintings. We also enjoyed the Creative Connections Nottingham photographs for their warm social realism.
A stunning space which we will go back to time and time again.
T. H. L.A place you can come back and forth to explore famous portrait paintings
R. W.Love the NPG. always seems a little bit overshadowed by its neighbour but it's a different kind of animal. Visitors tend to flock to the temporary exhibitions on the ground floor and the kings and queens on the top floor but seem to skip a lot of the other rooms. One of the most fascinating features is that the paintings are there because of the subject rather than the artist, and there's always a brief explanation of why the subject is there.
M. P.Enjoyed the BP portrait of the year exhibition, it was very warm and very busy, not sure that there is air con?
The shop has some great gifts, just a shame that they don't do postcards of all the featured entries.
Whilst security and bag checks are understandable, depending on what entrance you use, you could end up having your bag searched twice in under 5 minutes in order to access the main space.
K. H.Such a special place with so many portraits to enjoy.
A. O.my favourite gallery of my trip to europe!!! absolutely amazing if you enjoy painting yourself- you can truly appreciate how masterful all of the works are.
the artworks in the gallery are divided into eras and you can walk through in chronological order. i loved the information given before entering each art era as it was easy for anyone to understand, and allowed everyone to draw meaning from the context of the artworks.
the BP portrait award exhibition was absolutely incredible. unfortunately i only got time to visit the free exhibitions however i wish i could have gone to cindy sherman.
R. J. W.This is a wonderful gallery with the originals of portraits you have seen on the covers of biographies, on documentaries or staring out of the pages of history texts for your entire life. The Brontes, Byron, Shakespeare, Robert Burns and many other paintings you will have seen a thousand times are powerful in person.
Even at a decent pace you will need two hours to get around and see everything. It is set over three floors covering different periods. It is best to start at the top with the earliest works and work down. When getting to the 20th century i was surprised most by what is missing; no Beatles or even Lennon, no Bowie, only one or two movie or film stars. A great many artists that no average person knows or cares about. It is a national portrait gallery not a national gallery of self portraits after all.
The ludicrous snobbery of shunning John Lennon for Germaine Greer aside this is wonderful gallery. It will never be as popular as other galleries as they clearly have the attitude art is for the few and not the many in assembling their collect.
My only real negative is I found the staff rude an ill informed. Asking for directions to Byron got me several looks of distaste from pretentious looking staff and little help. At one point I tried to take a picture of a portrait and a miserable looking women literally ran over an wagged her finger at me. So I responded "the Tate Modern are fine with photography without flash and have friendly staff, perhaps that is why that gallery is popular".
So despite being very uninviting and ignoring popular culture when choosing displays it is worth it just to see the great period pieces.
R. B.Beautiful way to spend an afternoon, especially when the Archibald prize is being exhibited. Also worth just wandering around if not too crowded as entry is in any case free like most museums and galleries in London - one of the few things that is!
S. K.I really enjoyed my visit here, well laid out showing portraits of all British superstars over the centuries. However little too much bias towards royalty and upper classes, I'd love to see some more works relating to working class life as well.
M. S. -. T. B. B.It is always a special experience to stand in front of the famous and the remarkable images at the National Portrait Gallery... the feeling is like no other... and if you can pop upstairs to the restaurant, it is not cheap, but it is a treat you deserve!
D. P.This gallery offers a wide range of historically significant portraits from a wide range of historical periods. I came here for exam revision and was not disappointed. The wheelchair access does seem to be lacking and there are restrictions on flash photography to preserve the paintings. The toilet facilities are what lets this place down- they are perfectly clean and are maintained at regular intervals, but there are only three cubicles in the male washroom ( I assume there are more in the female one but I didn't have anyone on hand to check for me). As a result of this, there can be lengthy queues which may cause some discomfort.
The café/restaurant is of premium quality and is advertised as a place to eat even for people who aren't visiting the gallery, so you won't need to search for another place to eat if you're hungry.
K. D.I attend yearly for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Photographer of the Year award. I couldn't recommend it more, the talent on show is phenomenal. The National Portrait Gallery is a lovely venue and appropriate for this show. Nice to stroll around the rest when I have seen what I went for.
P. C.We visit regularly and always enjoy seeing some fantastic works of art. There is just one thing - try to go on a bright or sunny day, otherwise the lighting is rather poor which makes the building seem gloomy.
H. I.I really enjoyed my trip to the National Portrait Gallery and would definitely go again because of the variety of different portraits, each with unique stories behind them. The quality of art was phenomenal with so much detail and colour. The galleries were really well laid out with different sections, such as the 18th Century and the Victorian era. I found the portraits in the 20th Century the most interesting.
M. P.One of my favourite galleries in London. Each time I'm there, I discover something different. There's quite a collection of Turner paintings and a bit of each epoch. It's good to have 2 hrs to walk through the history of art. Don't miss the room 4, where The Ambassadors by Holbain are on display. There will be surprise.
A. C.Huge Gallery with lots of art pieces. Would definitely recommend if you are a big fan of portraits.
B. M.Completely wowed by this place. Was my first time. Was a special evening and can't wait to return. The Taylor Wessing room was super cool. Winning photos were just the best - collection overall was pretty neat too!
J. M.You could spend all day here, the permanent collections are wonderful, it gets very busy at times, but there are quieter parts too which have beautiful pieces to view. Room 1 is showing some Bermejo works from 15 century Spain, recommend.
L. P.My favourite Art Gallery, other than my own. Just in time to see the BP Award winners - stunning selection of painterly portraits, inspiring. Visited twice in the three days I stayed. Highly recommended!
R. H.Walked in and wished I'd had more time there. That said really loved the many portraits of a vast amount of well known and not so well known people, particularly enjoyed the modern images. Will return for a longer visit
C. H.I've been here a few times over the years, and come to see Tudor and Elizabethan portraits in particular, which never disappoint. There are a lot of portraits to see however, and if your history is not up to scratch you might end up getting bored! It is a beautifully presented place though, and it's always been reasonably quiet and easy to navigate on the occasions I've been.
L. K.The audio tour is excellent, in fact it's so detailed I'd say it's best to split a visit over two days if you want to learn about every portrait.
Z. D.I planned to hit this gallery in the morning, have lunch and then move on to another. As it turned out, my mother and I accidentally spent 7 1/2 hours here and it felt like 2! There was so much to see and each piece with a little bit of useful information. I'd recommend it to anyone - but don't assume that you will have the afternoon free!!
G. M.Great collection - portraits of all the big names from British history from the medieval era to today. Worth wandering round in chronological order to give a sense of how portraiture has evolved over the years. You'll recognise many portraits from books and documentaries. Free entry.
V. K.One of the best gallery in London. Audio guide along with the pamphlet helps a lot. There are some good paintings from wide range of artists
L. C. (.So I have visited this gallery a few times (it never changes). The top floor consists of all the same type of old portraits, the further down you go from the third floor the more contemporary the pieces become. My favourite piece can be seen on your way up the escalator, I would recommend going in (it's free) just to see the 2nd floor which is accessible from the left and right stairwells upon entering the main door (before you see the escalator).
G. S.I frequently pop into this gallery for an hour or two. There is always something new to see and enjoy. I always try to attend the annual portrait awards (I believe they are still sponsored by BP). Quite apart from the incredible collection there is a charming cafe in the basement. Enjoy.
A. S.Always love going here. Always something different to see and it is good to see familiar things too. I don’t know about you but I always seem to find a detail that I haven’t seen before. Was quite busy when we were in. Good to see the portraits of the writers and poets.
m. m.The NPG is one of my favourite places to visit in london. - great for popping in, wandering around and seeing some of the most iconic portraits in the world. I'd recommend becoming a member which gives numerous benefits and quickly pays for itself.
M. E.The first place I go to visit whenever I am in London. They exhibit some amazing artists' work and this year was no exception. I saw two amazing exhibits which included work entered for the annual BP Portraiture competition and also sketches made by Rembrandt and Leonardo. What an amazing day!!!
K. T.We went during construction and it was hard to navigate. The gallery contains some absolute treasures that you've no doubt seen in print before - but you must absolutely go to truly understand why they're great works of art.
T. B.As always, a captivating gallery. Filled with portraits of humanity, seen through the eyes of painters, photographers and sculptors. Ever changing, always something fresh and engaging to see. Lovely staff and a great cafe downstairs.
X. L.I have lived in this city since many years, I am proper local and I will never be sick of visiting all over again galleries like this one. When you visit the National Gallery do not forget to stop here to! Last time I have visit again it was this week. The permanent exhibition and the current Cezanne one are worthy. I would not say the same fort the current photographic one. If it would be free why not, but pay for it compared with other truly impressive was not worthy, even if all the photographers exposed are talented.
H. A.Indeed..they have a fruitful collection of worldwide famous artists.... Plan your stay in London more than 2 weeks if you want to enjoy art collections and culture.... Enjoy museums, food, Bars and one of the culture richest towns in Europe...
M. T.Always love visiting here. Regular exhibits are great and special exhibitions often even better. The competition exhibitions can be particularly impressive perhaps sometimes they are surprisingly amazing. But from the general exhibits ;- one not to miss is Emmeline pankhurst
R. S.An excellent gallery right in the centre of London. A great range of portraits from classic through to modern and it’s absolutely worth visiting during the summer when the year’s Portrait Award winners are displayed.
M. B.Amazing place to visit when in London. The gallery holds great portrait collections. Highly recommended for all ages and great learning place for kids and young on art and culture.
T. Z.Absolutely amazing, great exhibition especially in the summer.
G. A.I came to visit the BP portrait award and was disappointed to find it in a different location than usual. This space wasn't entirely suited to the exhibition, some pieces were on corners meaning you could end up accidentally blocking visitors from one painting by simply looking at another, completely by accident. It was all a bit cramped and for that reason I'd rate the visit 5 stars. The art itself was gorgeous, though
D. E.Remember all those paintings for Monarchs you saw in all your history textbooks in school? Henry VIII, Elizabeth I etc.? It never occurred to me that those paintings still existed. Well they do and guess what? A significant number of them are still here. I'll need to return here and devote a whole day to just this place. Definitely worth visiting.
J. K.Great free gallery (although a £5 donation is recommended). For limited time exhibitions - such as Picasso's portrait exhibition I visited - you are charged a fee, but these curated exhibitions are worth the price if it's to see an artist you're fond of.
T. H.Great gallery in central London. The huge permanent collection has thousands of famous paintings and the special exhibitions are often great. Check out the BP portrait competition when it is in to see the best in contemporary portraiture. The cafe is nice if over priced... don't miss the portrait of Catherine Middleton it is horrendous!
P. C.An institution that always makes me happy to visit. A mixture of its world class free permanent collection, smaller free tempoary exhibitions and larger paid for ones. There is a good sized cloak room and friendly knowledgeable staff.
C. H.Amazing museum! Gorgeous collection. Most of it is free to access except for the traveling/temporary exhibit.
J. A.Some amazing works on display. The portraits are organised by period in time with detailed explanations. This gives the viewer a real sense of English history. Much better than just reading history from book. All this and it's free entry. I highly recommend a visit.
K. H.Loved this gallery and I’m not much of an art person. Seeing all of the portraits of people that we’ve learned so much about is very cool. And knowing that many were painted while the subject was living is pretty amazing-as close to photos …
A. F.A bit old too school but they have a fantastic range in their collection which they tend to update on a regular basis. Some of the newer acquisitions are stunning and show that it was not just the higher class who got their portraits done …
K. A.Love this gallery. Beautiful building, great exhibitions, good book shop & very nice cafe. If I did have any criticism it'd be that I'd like the contemporary exhibition to be a lot bigger.
A. B.A British museum at its best. You could come here regularly and always find new stuff to explore. Best to decide on a couple of things and just stick to them. Temporary exhibitions are expensive but usually very imaginatively done. Good …
S. C.This was a great place to visit and walk around. Well laid out and you could spend a whole day there walking around and enjoying the art. Highly recommend.
J. O.I really loved the exhibition by Martin Parr on Only Human. I think that his photographs really tell a deep story on life in general. The national gallery itself has a number of free viewing spaces where lots of art work can be seen for free. The adult price for exhibition viewings is £18, and concessions is £16.50.
R. W.Love the NPG. always seems a little bit overshadowed by its neighbour but it's a different kind of animal. Visitors tend to flock to the temporary exhibitions on the ground floor and the kings and queens on the top floor but seem to skip a …
L. T.Great photography exhibition. Always nice to pop in for 30 minutes. Lovely rooftop restaurant too
D. L.Generally speaking we found the older portraits less interesting than the younger generation of paintings. We felt that a broader mix of paintings throughout history would be more engaging for modern tastes. A huge selection of Tudor paintings seems overkill.
Favourite painting WG Grace
T. B.It's not the National's poor brother (or sister) but can be an absolute delightful guide to English History -especially highlighting the Royals
L. t.Excellent collection. Very well curated, one really feels as though they connect with the art and the individuals depicted. The modern Britain section also fascinating, especially with Johnny Ive
N. W.From entrance onwards it's a wonderful experience. Now living for nearly 10-years as an expat, this was one of the places I wanted to remind myself makes London such a world-class city. I used to head into the National Gallery sometimes at lunch when I worked in London, or in a spare moment on the way to the tube and trains, and it was good to remind myself why this remains a highlight of the UK's cultural ability to place museums and art at the centre of a city.
A. S.One of London's great (and free) art galleries. There's usually a brilliant photography exhibition going on, as well as portraits from throughout British history. Handily it's open until 9pm on Thursday and Friday if you want to skip the school trip crowds.
B. T.Awesome paintings. Spring for the audio guide. It made a world of difference in us enjoying the time. We used our own wired ear buds so to of us could listen at the same time.
R.A free gallery in central London (bar any donations you wish to make or if you wish to visit the guest exhibition). Amazing art pieces, well curated, in a beautiful building. If it's your sort of thing you can be walking around for hours!
C. G.Hadn't been for years but my partner expressed desire to go and we really enjoyed it. Best bit was meeting football legend Bobby Moore's daughter as she was checking the exhibition of photographs of her famous dad!
B.The Tudor gallery is very interesting with paintings of Elizabeth I and her coutiers. Also contemporary portraits including Ed Sheeran so something for everyone. Excellent visit.
V. C.Good place to go on Friday as it's open till 8pm. At present it has a Michael Jackson exhibition and music as well as a portrait awards exhibition. Also fun to walk around the portrait drawing class - free to take part.
C. G.An amazing gallery with a beautiful collection. Try to get there early or late and you won't be bothered by (the rest of the) tourists as much.
The crew is very friendly, very helpful. From wardrobe all the way to guards, everyone is friendly and here to assist you in any way.
L. V.It's a wonderful place to visit and I hope they will open when their website states they will in a few years time. Educational fascinating and some dated styles are similar to the present time.
c. c.Great range of portraits spanning across history. The main gallary is free. Today we visited the temporary paid exhibition of Cezanne which was very informative. Step free access available but not as easy as some other venues.
P. H.This gallery explores and shows portraiture from about 1500 to the present time. There are free exhibitions from the permanent collection and special exhibitions that may, not always, have an entry charge. Most portraits are painted; there are also photographs and sculpture. The collections can be explored through digital records to find, for example, named sitters, artist and also less obvious themes such as family trees - look at the Gallery's website.
Sometimes special exhibition works spill over into the permanent collection galleries to illustrate connections of inspiration or age. This works well in the current special exhibition of the work of Elizabeth Peyton, beautiful and powerful portraits in free exhibition.
The main current special exhibition is Pre-Raphealite Sisters (until 26 January, 2020) that shows information about the sitters for the Pre-Raphaelite painters who were themselves accomplished in many ways. Fascinating.
G. P.After having visited the National Portrait Gallery, I've come to realise that I've been missing out by not doing things like this more often. This was an extremely enjoyable experience and I can't emphasise enough the amount of appreciation for art and history that I came out of it with.
S. J.The previous decor has gone temporarily. Gone are the vast array of portraits of all and sundry. Small individual exhibits are now in place. It has lost its charm and old style familiarity. Perhaps this is the way things are generally going. The Bobby Moore photographs however were wonderful. Some candid and unposed pictures of a period of innocence now gone, and of a genuine human being and.sportsman.
S. M.Well worth a visit. Huge range of contemporary & classic portraits. Free entry - suggested donation £5. Lovely cafe in basement and cloakroom with baggage storage.
j. j.I was getting kinda bored looking at pics of peoples faces. however as you delve deeper, some of the more famous ones, eg Faraday, and the story they print on the wall for you is quite interesting. Great quality work, great building but it can get a bit too much.
R. W.Always an interesting place to visit. Free unless you want to go to one of the special exhibitions for which there is a charge. For first time visitors, visiting the free galleries will be a delightful experience. - and free!
S. S.One of my favourite Fine Art Museums in London, of course focussed on portraiture through the ages with excellent temporary exhibitions. As with most British Museums it is free, so always full of students sketching and tourists gazing at the wonders within. It has a lively bustling atmosphere and I have spent a lot of time here.
B. S.I never get tired of this museum. I usually spend just under 2 hours, but if you're doing any of the audio guides (there are several to choose from, it costs and you'll have to give ID for them to hold while you have an audioset checked out) plan on closer to 3 hours.
C. M.They house a collection of various famous people. Awesome place, recommend for everyone to visit while visiting London.
C. W.Awesome gallery, always puts on great shows.
S. A. K.i went to this gallery a number of years ago with school. I would have described my interest in paintings as a 10 year old heading there as nil. however i could not fail to be blown away by the range of fantastic paintings and on a return trip since i have come to adore the history behind all these, which was originally lost on me.
L. H.A world class gallery of portraits spanning the last 1000 years. Every picture tells a story and you could easily spend a day here. There is something for everyone ... from photographic portraits, modern paintings (such as Freud's self portrait) to famous paintings of Kings and Queens, politicians, literary greats (I love the Brontë room ... and the only portrait of Jane Austen is also housed here), rock stars, composers, actors and actresses (from Ellen Terry to Judi Dench). If you want to put a face to historical figures you have heard about, look no further. And the gallery is free.
A. Y.Informative and exciting exhibitions with plenty of portraits to see! I unfortunately didn't feel well so I had to leave, but I thoroughly enjoyed my short visit and will be sure to check it out in more detail later :) made history exciting for me!👍👍
C. H.A place where history and art converge in a way unique to the genre of portraiture. It's interesting to think about how the subjects are portrayed and what criteria for inclusion the museum uses. Where else can you see multiple portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and a portrait of Ed Shereen? It's also fun to play the what-historical-figures-can-I-recognize game.
G. J.How could it not be five stars? One of the great galleries, covering the nations and the centuries. Astonishing coverage and wandering around, it is great to see the real thing, rather than a copy. It is also free to get in, but remember to put something in the box so it can keep the wonderful treasure alive. Currently (July 18) includes the BP Portrait competition. Worth going for that alone. Good café and shop too.
g.First ever gallery I visited in London in 1973! I'll never forget entering a small, darkly-lit side room, squinting and thinking..' and what might be in here, in such a small room?..' and then was confronted by this somewhat large framed cartoon: I blinked and squinted..lo and behold.. Madonna and Child, Leonardo da Vinci..took my breath away!!
The rest, as they say..is history. I have been coming here ever since and have been a member now for several years. Surely one of the best galleries in the world.
Avoid the restaurants/cafes; poor service and customer care..outrageous prices. Lots of refreshment places nearby. Go for the Art..not the refreshment!
E. T.Come on Friday evening and join in a drawing session on 2nd floor. They provide all the things u need. Quite an interesting thing to do on Friday evening. The collection is vast but I always feel like it's inferior compare to its cousin next door because it only has portraits. Sometimes it feels like a public display of wealth than anything else. I'm sure that's just me. The whole place is good, I'm sure u won't be disappointed.
J. M.Went to the pre-raphaelite sisters exhibition. They and their men all produced similar art (you can tell that I was not taken with the exhibition) in a complicated social circle. Although revolutionary for Victorian England, I was left wondering what it was all about.
T. C.Free entrance and good to study portrait. You can see works from the best to the "worst" periods of paintings as such almost every famous artist in art history.
T. D.These stars are for the restaurant, didn't look round the gallery. Had Sunday lunch; food was very good, service excellent and the view amazing. Not cheap but not expensive either, well worth a visit.
s. b.Pre raphaelite sisters exhibition is excellent showing how the muse were so much more and the sisters did it for themselves. Of course a visit to the gallery cannot be taken without a visit upstairs to meet all of those names we know so well.
J. M.Price of food and drinks let it down. By reducing prices you will sell more or have a space where people can eat their own. Gallery was excellent a lot of people but could be due to heavy rain
C. v. d. S.One of London's finest museums. Make sure you book your tickets in advance and don't underestimate the value of an audio guide if an artist or exhibition is new to you. Helpful staff and clean toilets.
P. M.Often visited starting with the excellent basement cafe and morning coffee and cake offer. Paid exhibitions always good though thought Great Victorian photographers could have been more wide ranging.
E. M. R.We had a fantastic time here, doing the Families trail, investigating some of the people in lesser known portraits! We did some lovely drawing - each inventing a fruit! - and got to see some of the incredible artworks on display here!
A. W.Beautiful place with amazing exhibitions
E. S.My friends and I went particularly to see the Gainsborough Family Portraits exhibition but there is so much here, including a cafe and shop. Well worth a visit for adults and older children in particular.
A. C.Fantastic gallery, such an enormous collection of portraits, and so many differing styles. Modern portaits as well as historical ones. Particularly enjoyed the Cindy Sherman exhibition which opened today. Lovely calm feel to the gallery, not overcrowded. Just a shame it closes at 6pm, would have been good to have been able to spend more of the evening here.
K. S.A great collection of the finest and most wonderful portraits in this world. I would highly recommend viewing HRH the Prince of Wales and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall's portraits.
Also if you are in to the other Elizabethan period portraits, the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I is on display. You can sit down on a chair and really marvel at the beauty!
M. Z.We had our last day London there.
S. P.In some ways more engaging than many other famous London galleries, although not in the sense of living in our modern "celebrity culture". Visited twice, was never sure if there were any moving exhibitions.
Of course this would not be the first gallery to recommend due to its narrowed subject matter but worth a trip.
A. C. C.Nice place to see portraits on a rainy day. The building is nice too.
J. W.An excellent collection of works, well laid out in chronological order, allowing one to see the development and change in style over the centuries. A very entertaining diversion for an hour or two, and worth regularly revisiting with the changing exhibitions.
T. “. H.This is a wonderful place to visit but my only point is that there is far too much to see. So I suggest you choose two or three galleries of prime importance and visit them in depth. Then leave and maybe come back later or even the next day. Otherwise one portrait begins to blend in with the next. But this is not a negative. This place is extraordinary and well worth a visit. And it is FREE!!
J. E.Stunning museum. Beautifully kept and laid out with awesome content.
C. K.Great free place to visit if you're staying in London - and open until 6:00 so a little later than the usual museums!
Not massive but worth visiting, give yourself an hour or so.
Contact
Photos
