National Gallery (London)

What is it? The National Gallery is the home to a classical collection of art owned by the British public. It was founded in 1824 with an initial collection of 24 paintings. The collection now contains over 2300 works of art and those on display are housed in a magnificent building whose interior floorspace is equilivent to approximately 6 football pitches. Where is it? The National Gallery is located in Trafalgar Square, and its grand façade makes it easy to find. The nearest tube stops are Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo lines), Leicester Square (Northern and Picadilly lines) and Embankment (Northern, Bakerloo, District ...  Read the complete review

You couldn't get a better location overlooking trafalgar sqaure and like many galleries in London this one is free (except for exhibitions). I absolutely love it, it's massive for one thing so you have a huge selection-personally Yesterday we went to see the 'Brilliant Women' art exhibition at the NPG. It is a small two-room collection of paintings and first edition books of (mostly) women who featured in the group of people at the end of the 18th Century known as 'The Bluestockings' - female (and some male) artists, poets, writers and intellectuals who would meet in each other's houses - most notably at Elizabeth Montagu's mansions in London. The NPG are ...  Read the complete review

This summer I decided that a visit to The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square was long overdue. A few minutes walk from Charing Cross tube, the able bodied can climb the front steps of the Portico Enterance of the National Gallery and get good views of Trafalgar Square and Big Ben. Alternatively you can enter by the low level Getty Entrance nearby or the Sainsbury Wing entrance more to the left . I personally prefer to wander around a gallery of my own free will but you can get a variety of audio tours (highlights or themed tours, or choose whichever commentary you wish to listen to from over 1000 paintings) or free guided tours. A voluntary donation is ...  Read the complete review

The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square in London is the UK’s national collection of pre 1900 European art, making a set with the Tate Britain (Pre 1900 UK art) and the Tate Modern (Post 1900 art). During the summer months a free Art Bus links the three galleries, making things even easier for the cultural traveler. Even in this huge building, dominating one side of the square, they can only exhibit a fraction of their holdings at any one time, so have a changing lineup of special exhibitions. The main collection is free to view, as are some of the exhibitions, others, including the current Vermeer exhibition, are charged for. Vermeer is £6 for adults ...  Read the complete review

Art used to leave me cold. I didn't know a thing about it, beyond the fact that Dali was the one with the dripping clocks, who every student in the world seemed to have on their bedroom wall, and that it was probably Rembrandt who painted the man in the gold hat. My parents had that one in their dining room, and I had to sit and look at his ruddy face and his ruddy hat every meal time for about 12 years, till they changed it for – guess what – a Dali. As I got older, Art started to intimidate me. I realised that as a reasonably intelligent person, I was meant to understand it, and know a bit more than the fact that the best way to spot a closet ...  Read the complete review