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National Portrait Gallery
Art Gallery and Art Museum
Piccadilly, London
The folks at Michelin Travel & Lifestyle and Time Out London like this place. Would you agree?
"vintage photos from the masters and Vogue 100 years celebrations"(4 Tips)
"Man Ray portraits exhibition is really good - he knew everyone!!"(3 Tips)
"Permanent collection is worth seeing."(4 Tips)
"The restaurant on top has one of the best views in London."(11 Tips)
167 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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My favourite museum in London. If you like portraits, it's definitely a must visit!
Tom MaxwellDecember 10, 2016Interesting the personal qualities valued over different centuries, and the physical positions portrait subjects took to emphasize them.
Did you know that the National Portrait Gallery runs an amazing outreach programme with community groups in London. Take a look at their website to find out more.
Gary HorOctober 14, 2016Adjacent to National Gallery, but this one specialises in portraits as the name suggests. Free admission, by the way.
The New Yorker ManagerFebruary 1, 2013Read Janet Malcolm on the creation of Thomas Struth's monumental photograph of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, created in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee: Read more
prima filiNovember 12, 2017It’s great for practicing your portrait sketching skills. Staff won’t make a fuss about you drawing.
BritannicaAugust 3, 2011The gallery was founded by an act of Parliament in 1856 and was housed at a number of locations until its present home. One of the most famous portraits is the Younger of Henry VIII by Hans Holbein
miztinAugust 18, 2014A brilliant gallery in the heart of London. Lovely collection is worth the visit.
Johanan OttensooserDecember 31, 2015Really fun gallery with a great selection of temporary exhibitions
Randall & AubinMarch 14, 2013A host of activities available at this historical British Institution, including free art classes. And let's not forget the portraits themselves!
Chris PhillipsOctober 31, 2015Fascinating place - one can learn so much about history from the people who shaped it.
BLOUIN ARTINFOAugust 22, 2011The Gallery was founded in 1856 as the first in the world - quite independent from collections of royal, family or business portraits. Read more
Hanna KayJanuary 14, 2016It's free and even if you don't like the paintings you can get a history lesson.
Chris R (thechristophe)May 14, 2018The exhibitions aren't the most ground breaking. Permanent collection is worth seeing.
National Maritime MuseumJuly 11, 2011The NPG’s collections feature 85 portraits of Nelson, including Gillray’s 1798 caricature depicting him clubbing a group of writhing crocodiles representing French warships. Find your maritime story. Read more
ChrisJanuary 3, 2017My favorite portrait: Lord Nelson. It's interesting to put faces to all the names in the history book
- Natasha 'Tashster' BrassingtonFebruary 25, 2011Be sure to try to get someone to do one of you before you leave; state that you feel it's an insult you aren't on the walls and watch the reaction!
- K BJune 24, 2023Just reopened after a revamp
Y KimJanuary 24, 2015You might think a gallery filled with portraits must be boring but actually it is not. One of the must-see galleries/museums for sure.
KellyApril 24, 2014The gallery actually closes ten minutes before the posted time. Arrange your visit accordingly.
Nico MacdonaldOctober 17, 2010The cafe/restaurant at the top has a great view but if it's busy try the cafe in the crypt of St Martin-in-the fields, opposite.
London24May 9, 2012The National Portrait Gallery has been visited by numerous heads of state. Another interesting visitor was a tiger cub from the national zoo, who was named after then Gallery Director, Marvin Sadik.
Stephanie FosterNovember 28, 2015In the shop- some of the prettiest Christmas tree decorations - historical figures
Mar RodriguezAugust 2, 2010Must see the Tudors Portrait Gallery. Fantastic views from the restaurant over many of London's most emblematic buildings. Lunch a bit expensive for what you get, service not so good.
Kasia KoczułapSeptember 27, 2016Impressive collection of portraits. Kate is here nowy, so I wait for the royal children.
Purple FrogMay 21, 2011Find the small but perfectly formed portrait of the great Ronnie Corbett in Room 41a and the iconic Blur album cover by Julian Opie in Room 35. Read more
MirandaFebruary 13, 2010Open til 9pm on Thurs and Fridays. It's mostly free. Only bother with the ground floor exhibits. Get up close and personal to Sir Paul Maxime Nurse in Room 35. Fabulous view from top floor bar.
HaeAn SungMarch 24, 2015A lot of portraits! Enjoyed especially the Narrative portrait of Sir Unton and David Beckham's short film of his sleeping ☺️.
Jess BurvillApril 6, 2012Go to the gallery lates to avoid tourist hordes, and of course dont leave without stopping for a cocktail at the bar updstairs first
Tom DepypereJanuary 13, 2013On the top floor there is a restaurant with a magnificent view. Just magnificent. Why not have dinner there?
Sarah TaylorFebruary 16, 2015Great Grayson Perry at the moment. Get a coffee before going as navigating internally is a nightmare
Cass ArtAugust 16, 2012Vote for your favourite portrait at the BP Portrait exhibition and be in with the chance of winning a Cass Art Artists' oil box set
Alan MortonOctober 27, 2017I always find myself feeling out of place here for some reason - little unwelcoming :/- Thursday night is Late Shift. Music, a bar and a great atmosphere
Harald B.August 20, 2014Representative cross section of portrait painting of every century of every style
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Open until 9:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Wed, Sat–Sun
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Thu–Fri
- 10:00 AM–9:00 PM
+44 20 7306 0055
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"Really really crazy place. But I like and recommend it!"
St. Staneva - 8.9
"One of the few galleries in London that charge for entry. The exhibition space is incredible, amazing brutalist/modernist architecture. Worth a visit."
Joshua Maw - 9.0
"Fantastic atmosphere, great lighting coming from the garden and the front, so plenty of natural light to be enjoyed!"
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