National Gallery Museum

Major London gallery housing Western European paintings

Facing Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery houses Western European paintings from the 13th to 19th centuries - works by Van Gogh, Turner and Botticelli - with free entry and regular talks.

Main image
Address
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7747 2424
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
51.50872, -0.12841
Hours
Daily 10am-6pm; Fridays open later (check site for exact late‑opening times)
Admission
Free (permanent collection); special exhibitions may have a charge
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The National Gallery in London is one of the world’s major collections of Western European painting, located on Trafalgar Square and founded in 1824. It houses paintings from the late medieval period through the early 20th century.

The collection includes masterpieces by artists across the European tradition, covering Italian Renaissance, Northern Renaissance, Baroque, Dutch Golden Age and 19th-century schools. Key works by major artists are displayed across the main building and the modern Sainsbury Wing.

The gallery is widely visited for its high concentration of canonical works and its central location on Trafalgar Square. Public programmes include guided tours, lectures and family activities alongside rotating special exhibitions.

The National Gallery was established in 1824 when the government purchased a private collection to create a national public museum of painting; the current building on Trafalgar Square was completed in the 19th century and subsequently expanded. Over the 20th and 21st centuries the gallery added modern wings and conservation facilities to care for and display its holdings.

The museum sits on Trafalgar Square in central London, within the City of Westminster and a short walk from the River Thames and nearby West End neighbourhoods.

  • Foundation and collection size: Founded in 1824 with an initial purchase of a private picture collection, the gallery now holds around 2,300 paintings spanning the European tradition up to the early 20th century.
  • Admission and tickets: Admission to the permanent collection is free; special exhibitions may require a ticket and the gallery offers timed entry at peak times.

What to See#

  • Main building (Trafalgar Square): The main building on Trafalgar Square contains the historic core collection of Western European painting from the 13th to the 19th centuries and is arranged across a series of chronological galleries.
  • Sainsbury Wing: The Sainsbury Wing is a modern addition that houses early Renaissance and Italian works and provides an accessible, climate-controlled display environment for key paintings.