National Gallery

The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square holds the nation's collection of Western European paintings from the 13th century to the early 20th century. Founded in 1824, it now displays more than two thousand works, and general admission is free. The collection is compact enough to be manageable yet deep enough to trace the whole story of European painting, from altarpieces of the early Renaissance through Dutch interiors and Spanish court portraits to the Impressionists.

Highlights include Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait, Leonardo da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks, Holbein's The Ambassadors, Velázquez's Rokeby Venus, Turner's The Fighting Temeraire, Constable's The Hay Wain and Van Gogh's Sunflowers. A sensible approach is to choose one or two periods and focus on them, or to follow the free audio guide, which covers more than 50 of the most popular paintings. Paid exhibitions run alongside the free collection; at the time of writing Renoir and Love is on until 31 January 2027.

The gallery suits art lovers, students and first-time visitors who want to see famous paintings without paying an entry fee. It is also a good choice for a short visit, as an hour is enough to see a handful of masterpieces. Families are welcome, buggies are allowed, and sketching and personal photography are permitted. You cannot eat your own food in the café and restaurant spaces, but there are several places to buy food and drink inside.

The gallery opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and until 21:00 on Fridays, which is a pleasant time to visit. You can walk up without a ticket, but booking a free timed ticket online gives fast-track entry. The main free entrance is through the Sainsbury Wing, facing Trafalgar Square at the corner of Pall Mall. Bags are inspected and doors have walk-through metal detectors, wheeled luggage and cabin bags are not allowed, and the cloakroom takes only smaller items for a fee. Changing Places toilets are on the ground floor of the Sainsbury Wing.

Charing Cross station, for both Underground and mainline trains, is a few minutes' walk away, and Leicester Square and Embankment are also close. The National Portrait Gallery is directly behind, St Martin-in-the-Fields stands on the east side of the square, and Covent Garden, the Mall and St James's Park are all within a short walk.