Over het museum
The National Gallery was founded in 1824, when the British government bought 38 paintings from the collection of the banker John Julius Angerstein. The pictures were first shown in his former house on Pall Mall, and the new institution was meant to give the public free access to great art.
As the collection grew through purchases and gifts, a purpose-built home was commissioned on the north side of Trafalgar Square. The architect William Wilkins designed the neoclassical building, which opened in 1838 and has been extended many times since.
The Sainsbury Wing, designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, opened in 1991 to house the early Renaissance paintings. Today the gallery shows more than 1,000 paintings by artists such as Leonardo, Titian, Rembrandt, Velázquez, Turner, Constable and Van Gogh. Entry to the permanent collection remains free, and some temporary exhibitions are ticketed.
Hoogtepunten
- Paintings by Van Gogh, Monet and Cézanne
- Early Renaissance works in the Sainsbury Wing
- Works by Turner and Constable
- Dutch and Flemish masters including Rembrandt
- Free access to the permanent collection
Vaste collectie
- The collection – More than 1,000 paintings on show, from early Italian works to Turner and Van Gogh.
- Opgericht
- 1824
- Beheerder
- Trustees of the National Gallery
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
De toegang is gratis.
| Mensen met een beperking | –begeleider gratis · A free companion ticket can be booked with each access exhibition ticket. |
|---|
General admission is free and donations are welcome. A free timed ticket gives fast-track entry; walk-up entry is also possible. Some special exhibitions are charged and include general admission. Members enter exhibitions without charge.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk
- Lift
- Aangepast toilet
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
- Hulphonden welkom
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie
All entrances are step-free and there are lifts throughout the building. Wheelchairs and a rollator can be booked in advance or borrowed on arrival at the Sainsbury Wing and Getty entrances. Changing Places toilets (radar key from staff) are in the Sainsbury Wing and the Roden Centre for Creative Learning. Large print label guides, a visual story, audio descriptions and BSL descriptions are offered, and talks may be BSL-interpreted or live-captioned. One Blue Badge space on Orange Street can be booked 48 hours ahead; more bays are on St Martin's Street. Assistance animals, including emotional support animals, are welcome.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
- Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
- Kinderwagenvriendelijk
- Verschoonruimte
The Welcome Space in the Roden Centre for Creative Learning offers free self-guided activities for families at weekends and school holidays, with no booking needed. Free family tours, workshops and half-term sessions also run. Baby buggies are welcome, and baby changing and feeding facilities are available.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Charing Cross station · 200 m
Charing Cross station (rail and Underground) is about 200 metres away. Step-free Underground stations nearby are Tottenham Court Road (Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines) and Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle lines); Leicester Square is also close. Bus stops include St Martins Place (Stop K), Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross Station (Stops C, D, G) and Leicester Square Station (Stop L).
Met de auto
Parkeerplaats aanwezig
One Blue Badge space is on Orange Street and must be booked 48 hours ahead (+44 20 7747 2885). Five more bays are on St Martin's Street. Public car parks are in Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square.
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
The main entrance is the Sainsbury Wing, facing Trafalgar Square at the corner of Pall Mall and Whitcomb Street. The Roden Centre for Creative Learning entrance is on Orange Street. Bike stands are on Orange Street, St Martin's Street, St Martin's Place and Duncannon Street.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museumwinkel
- Garderobe
- Wifi
Free wifi ('National Gallery'). Restaurants Ochre Brasserie and Osteria Locatelli, plus Muriel's Kitchen, Bar Giorgio and the Espresso Bar. The cloakroom costs £3 per item (free for Members); wheeled luggage is not allowed.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
Ochre Brasserie offers a private dining room.
Je bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja |
|---|---|
| Audiotour | ja |
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Fotograferen | Personal, non-commercial photography is allowed unless a sign says otherwise. |
| Goed om te weten | Audio guides with curated routes are available. Free audio and BSL descriptions can also be found on the website or the Smartify app. Self-guided groups of more than seven can book a free visit, and private daytime tours can be booked. Sketching is welcome. Bags are searched at entry. |
