Imagine yourself in Tudor England having just been asked to paint a portrait of your monarch. A monarch who believes they have the face and figure of a Greek god, but who actually has the face and figure of a pickled goat’s head stapled to some bagpipes. You have a burnt stick, some dry mud, and an egg. If you’re up to date with the latest art technology, you may also have a bag of seeds. And if you get this wrong, it won’t be your painting that gets hung. Fortunately some Tudor artists not only got it right, but their work has survived for 500 years and is now on display here, alongside many of Britain’s most famous faces. It’s impossible not to be impressed. In some areas it does feel more like a catalogue of noteworthy chaps rather than a collection of art, but the best sections more than make up for that. I personally like the half-finished, not-very-good, only-one-we-could-find, type of portrait. It makes a refreshing change from some of the formally posed, hand on a book, portraits. The only portrait I have of myself was done in purple crayon on crumpled paper, and is basically a picture of two smiling potatoes and some twigs. I think I’m the potato on the left. Maybe it would help if there were one or two smiling potatoes amongst the Victorian Statesmen.

I came here just after the renovation, really worth a visit, it joined the tour where guides take you to key portraits in the area, worth it if you have the time. It’s accessible with a buggy, not all the lifts go to every floor, but it wasn’t hard to figure out how to get around via lift. One challenge was finding somewhere to breastfeed my baby, I went to the cafe but by the time I got there it was full for the main tables (only stool seating left), I went to the bar area in the basement which was open, but I was told given I was going going to buy and coffee that I couldn’t stay (that was a bit annoying given it was empty and I explained there cafe was full), the only option left to feed was the benches in the exhibition rooms (which would be fine it it was quite, but as it was around lunch time it was quite busy) or the benches at the entrance, I used the entrance benches which were comfortable and spacious but as it’s at the entrance it’s it’s cold as the door was often open. I did ask members of staff about a place to feed and they were the only really options, so worth being aware, perhaps worth getting to the cafe before midday!

I accidentally got into the museum and it was one of the best “mistakes” I have ever made during my visits to London. The art is extraordinary and tells fascinating stories to the visitors. I would highly recommend visiting there especially to history lovers.

A favourite London gallery

Looks fantastic since the refurbishment. Really worth going with new portraits and incredible decorative rooms. I went on Saturday late afternoon and it was enjoyable with less visitors. It’s free! Please go and visi

The National Portrait Gallery in London is an absolute must-visit for anyone exploring this vibrant city. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted by an incredible collection of portraits that offer a captivating journey through British history and culture. The gallery's diverse range of portraits, spanning centuries, showcases the faces of renowned figures, from kings and queens to artists, writers, and musicians. It's a window into the soul of Britain's past and present, a visual narrative that brings history to life. What truly sets the National Portrait Gallery apart is its ability to connect visitors with the people who have shaped the nation. It's not just about admiring masterful artwork, but also about feeling a personal connection to the subjects. Each portrait tells a story, and you can't help but be inspired by the resilience, creativity, and achievements of these individuals.

One of the loveliest museums in London. Beautiful building - well lit. Disabled friendly. Good rest room facilities. A beautiful collection of artworks from the Tudor period. The museum displays well documented pictures with wide space to walk. It is quiet and warm. Features modern art collections and currently an exhibit/collection of post world war paintings. Definitely recommend a visit

After being closed for sever years for refurbishment I went here today when it reopened. At least it was free because the paintings were almost all very boring, nothing outstanding. The photos? I've taken better. It's not enough to include "celebrities". The Tudor section was dull. A section on the ground floor was aimed at diversity. I want art not personal political agendas. All in all, tedious. I was in and out in 15 minutes.

(Translated by Google) No one is going to talk about Louis Tomlinson having a photo acaaa ?! (Original) Nadie va a hablar de que Louis Tomlinson tiene una foto acaaa?!

Definitely the most boring of the main big free galleries in London. Fairly nice building tho so it’s good to have a wonder around, especially as it closes at 21:00 most evenings, but a lot of the works are just lacking feeling and it now feels like a more interactive IG. The older works and the more history of photography is interesting but everything else is not.

I love coming here (or rather used to love, it's been closed due to Covid) just to stroll around. The interiors are an art on its own, the atmosphere is just fantastic, not to mention the significance of paintings available. All combined is a unique experience that never gets old.

Always worth to stop by this amazing, peaceful and grandiose gallery!

The National Portrait Gallery, is a lovely museum to stroll around for a few hours. They have a broad collection of art, beautiful things from all over the world. Personally, I really liked all the paintings with animals and flowers, which they have a lot. Besides the art, the historical building of the museum is really impressive as well. The staff was very helpful and of course it is always nice that the museums here are free to enter. I would definitely recommend the portrait gallery if you’re just in London for a few days.

I've waited for 3 years to visit the Portait gallery and today I did. I was super impressed ! Nicely done! I spent 2 hours here and i could have probably stayed another 2. The staff at the door were great- funny and inviting. A must see!!!!!

Lovely place to go for a wander when in London There are enough areas of interest from The Tudors to the more modern. Had lunch in Larry's downstairs in the gallery. Typical London prices, but the club sandwich was delicious.

Beautiful collection of painted portraits of the Royal Family (starting when it became fashionable) along with statesmen and famous people. Well laid out. The had modern day photo portraits of British pop musicians but it seemed like an after thought. The photos were poorly arranged, most without any description of who it was , and nonsensical list of musicians. It is still very much worth it to see the painted portraits and learn the story of each one. Especially insightful if previously toured Windsor and The Tower of London.

It's so beautiful place specially for the people who have interest in the history, painting or drawing and sculpture. I enjoyed the visit by all angles.

If you are interested in art or photography (which can also be art) you definetly should visit this great gallery and museum. It is super inspiring. Went there already a few times. Great bookshop and coffee shop. Go there and spend a few hours looking at their amazing collection.

Awesome place well worth checking out! Suggested donation of £5. We spent almost two hours here exploring all of the various portraits. Lots of seats to rest on, and also lots of information for each painting.

I love this place and have been several times. Looking into the faces of those people we all know stories of is fascinating. Hidden treasures, incredible artwork, fascinating art - highly recommended. It is tucked behind the National Gallery but don’t neglect it, it’s well worth a visit. And if you see a display box with a cloth on it, lift the cloth - you may find something amazing underneath.

No gallery like it 👌 visit this almost twice a week when I'm living in London, and it never ceases to surprise, comfort, and interest me. The energy of the building is humble, warm, and respectful of the works around it. It's always well managed, with attendants scattered around the building accordingly, offering some comfort that you'll not find yourself amongst hoards of loud teens etc The selection of portraits has remained extensive and broad, offering a wide variety for all tastes! Highly recommended this if and when you're in London!

Beautiful collection of paintings from all over the world and through the ages. It is free entry, except to special exhibits. If you want to appreciate all the paintings it will take time and not just a quick visit. Since it is free you can go several times over a week or so and do a few rooms at a time.

I feel horrible putting 3 stars here since they just reopened but honestly they have a lot of work to do. So many people at this museum, they let in way too many people so what's the point of booking a time slot in advance like I did? I couldn't see a lot of the painting because of how crowded. Too many school children here at once (it was not just one school there were many). Really long wait for toilets and a few toilets had already been overflowing and it had only been identified for 1.5 hours. At this point I can't reccomended anyone go here unless it changes.

Upon entering the National Portrait ,Gallery I felt as if I were walking back into History there were many familiar faces. Faces I recognised as a child and faces I recognised when I became an adult. So many of these faces I'd seen a hundred times in the pages of a book. But here in sparkling 35k, in ultra definition, in the highest dynamic range possible. Beautiful at times, as I meandered through time and history. But tearful at the end as I said goodbye.

The National Portrait Gallery is closed until Spring 2023 for refurbishments. We got in just before. It's a treasure trove of British portraits, historical and contemporary.

Too big to be explored for one day. For the first time visitors I would recommend splitting visit at least for two times. Tudors deserves a long time for reading notes and interesting facts next to each portrait. The modern wing requires more knowledge from visitors on who is the person on portrait. But Google always can help 😉

I thoroughly enjoyed my time here on a warm, sunny, London afternoon. It was refreshing to enter into a free museum for a cheap traveler looking for culture. The outside of the museum, walking through Trafalgar Square, is an amazing experience on it's own. Inside the gallery, you will find so many amazing pieces of art. My favourite is the guy holding the piece of paper like he just got charged 2k to fix his car.

The gallery only just opened after years of renovation. It is nicely laid out with good lift service making it mobility friendly. There is a lot more modern art than there was before the renovation. Fantastic Tudor paintings expertly restored. There are quite a few sculptures (Busts) all very well explained. The gallery is free for all to enter although there are several paid exhibitions. Not a great place to bring children unless you know they won't be bored.

Free to get in, a lovely gallery of paintings both old and modern. I preferred the top floor with the old paintings. There’s a cafe and a shop. Only issue is some of the staff don’t know a lot about what they are talking about when it comes to the art and history. I’d go again, just for the top floor though. Lovely gallery for all tastes

I heard about this gallery a very very long time ago and finally this time I get to see it is right next to the National Gallery what is it it’s bigger than I saw. They don’t only have photographs or statues but robust paintings of celebrities Sarah our history in any field but also some artworks made by independent artists the British historical figures and celebrities but also introduce you to some unknown but successful and honorable people who contributed to the country even the entire world I feel like this place is very educational for tourists. The Tudor Gallery has a tour guide, but I didn’t join. It always seemed like it was very professional my favorite is the British actors and actresses gallery, the photographs of very well selected, and my other favorite is the authors' paintings, which are the most famous, want to sing multiple times online, but not in real life.

A neat gallery that has a more nuanced feel to it compared to other galleries. It's a decent gallery that has the added benefit of looking at art from the modern day as well and some of them are real eye-openers. There is the occasional exhibition for a limited time that cover many themes and subjects so do have a look at the website to see the gallery's schedule throughout the year - you may just find something that interests you. Entry is free and you'll find plenty to see here, which should pass the time nicely. My personal favourite was the portrait of Diana.

One of my favourite museum in London! Magnificent architecture and Great inspiration with these iconic paintings and portraits that represent England and shape the culture of this Nation. Suitable for someone who works in image, fashion, creative and history.

One and a half hours later and two more floors to visit and this is the free entry areas. Gave up on going to see the Hockney portraits, will go another time. Well worth a visit, maybe check in advance for the timings of the free guided tours. U are 5 mins fom China town if u fancy having a meal after...

The National Portrait Gallery is an amazing treasure of the nation, which is highly recommended when in London, austere yet welcoming the NPG is well worth a visit.

Nice gallery. Lots and lots of different portraits. Some things are free to see, but for some you need to buy ticket. You need some time to see and go through all of them. Also there are students studying for art and trying to make some drawings.

Was looking forward to go, I use to love going there... unfortunately didn't enjoye it this time... Very disorganised. At he main entrance after they checked our bags the security guards were nice and friendly, but once we went in... One security guard told us to go up the stairs,then another guard came and told us to go so other way... Then the toilets were overflowing... Hope it will get back to normal...

Great history showcased through great arts! Recommend for a quick visit! Check their shop as well!

Amazing space if you are an art lover. You can see art through history in a beautiful building. The entry process is smooth and there is a fantastic coffee house in it too. Don't miss out on a chance to see Vincent's sunflowers up close and personal.

Great experience. My first visit to this gallery, especially to see the Hockney exhibition before it ended. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The Hockney exhibition was very busy but understandably it was the final few days of the exhibition, the work was still viewable despite the crowds, a great show so lovely to see so much of his work. A wonderful permanent collection to view whilst I waited for my allotted time to view the Hockney exhibition.

The National Portrait Gallery is the perfect place to take the fam for an afternoon of culture and history. The art is beautiful, the exhibitions are well-curated, and the kids had a blast exploring. The gift shop is also top-notch! Highly recommend for all ages.

Not the biggest gallery. But because it focuses on one aspect of art one of the most interesting. As well as loads of pictures of old white people the new displays are starting to look at modern themes and examining the experience of immigrants into the UK. And I'm all in favour of that.

It is open again after three years - and it is glorious. A smart new entrance punched through where there used to be a window on the north side of the building and a reimagined and rehung collection. It felt as though there’s a greater emphasis placed now on the history of women’s rights and suffrage and on the effects of Empire, rather than it’s supposed glories, and less emphasis on generals, dukes and imperialists. It’s a wonderfully informative place to visit and you grasp history in an entirely novel way, through a selection of individuals, many of whom are overlooked in traditional history. And Larry’s speakeasy-style cocktail bar restaurant, in the basement, is worth the visit for its photographs and cool decor alone.

The recently reopened Portrait Gallery has good and bad points. The good points are it shows off the beautiful Victorian building to better effect than before. They've also tried to modernise the whole layout, with mixed results, but mostly good. The bad points include a confusing entrance hall. I wasn't sure where I was supposed to go. The escalator to the top floor is hidden behind the enquiry desk. There's also a bottleneck at the entrance to the Tudor paintings, a popular zone. But in general it's not a bad modernisation, it certainly looks more modern. Although I probably preferred it as it was.

This place combines portraits within over 800 years period! I love English history, and it is such a pleasure to visit places like National Portrait Gallery where you can see original paintings of great monarchs (including amazing picture of Elizabeth II with her dog), famous women, beloved and beheaded wives, important historic scenes and events and admire the modern artists' works! You can spend hours in this place and get such a great inspiration! Do secure some time for this gallery when visiting London

One of my favourite places to visit in London. Can get annoyingly crowded but the paintings are wonderful and worth beating through the tourists just to spend a couple of hours in the company of such wonderful art.

Always enjoyed this small gallery that houses a collection of portraits of historically important and famous British people. Can't wait for it to re-open this month so I can revisit in the future.

I visited the gallery with my 10 month old in a pram. I always enjoyed visiting the gallery before it closed and wanted to visit again whilst on parental leave. The collections are interesting and the galleries and nicely curated; however, as a parent I was really disappointed with the accessibility and facilities. I appreciate it is an old building but after renovations I would expect much better. There is only one small set of toilets in the building down in the lower level, to access level 1 you have to use one lift that was temperamental whilst the newer lifts were rather small and didn’t serve all floors so was confusing and frustrating to navigate. I felt alot of my time was either waiting for a lift or trying to battle my way through narrow exhibits. A nice gallery to visit but if you have a young child or accessible needs I would go to other museums that are better catered to these needs

I went there in 2019 and I love it. By the way Francis Drake was an English corsair, but in Panama we consider him a pirate. Filled with paintings and portraits of historical figures

Exquisite pieces of art from British history right next to Trafalgar Square. Very easy to get to in the tube.

Essential for art and photography lovers. My favourite was their first portrait - a priceless one of Shakespeare himself! Unfortunately no souvenirs of this Shakespeare painting. We spent about three hours here, so a very good day out, especially as it's free entry.

A popular gallery with an incredible range of portraits. Many formal portraits of kings, queens and nobility sit alongside photos, paintings and sketches of modern day leaders, sports stars , politicians and celebrities. I particularly enjoyed a collection of portraits of the Windrush generation.

A MUST see for many reasons: ✅ Free and in heart of centre ✅ They update their portraits eg Ed Sheeran is there 🍰 🫖 A fab cafe with great cakes and locals order their cake with tea, so I followed suit 👓 Some very fashionable people visit, great to people watch 🌟

Simply stunning!

It’s always a pleasure visiting the national art gallery. Some absolutely beautiful works of art and admissions is free!

(Translated by Google) A place that tells English and world history. Mandatory stop in London. One of the best museums I have been to in the world. (Original) Um lugar que conta a história inglesa e mundial. Parada obrigatória em Londres. Um dos melhores museus que já estive no mundo.

Elizabeth Payton portrait paintings exhibition - was one of its kind. Incredable experience to see all those works in one place and time.

Free and wonderful, how could we ask for more?

I love this museum.full of interest. I have been coming to have look for many years Whenever I leave this lovely building I feel cherrful. And another advantage it is free of charge .I live in London and can access it any time.

(Translated by Google) Ta tremendous. I had to do a job on a painting, hence the very ugly painting but the tremendous site (Original) Ta tremendo . Tuve que hacer un trabjo sobre un cuadro de ahí el cuadro muy feo ero el sitio tremendo

Gorgeous European art

The perfect place for a Sunday stroll around

A decent portrait museum!

Wonderful exhibits!

(Translated by Google) A place worth visiting, the paintings are too realistic like photos. (Original) 非常值得一去的地方，画得太逼真像照片一样。

Always a pleasure. Tudor Gallery is a personal favourite, but the whole place is vast and fascinating. It has an Imperialist and elitist air about much of the collection, but I suppose that reflects our history and culture. BP Award is an excellent annual attraction.

Many great collections

I enjoyed taking a walk through history as I moved through the museum.

(Translated by Google) Unmissable stop! Worth an offer at the entrance. 1 hour is enough to visit it quickly. (Original) Tappa imperdibile! Merita un'offerta all'ingresso. Basta 1 ora per visitarla rapidamente.

An impressive display of art. Would visit again.

(Translated by Google) Free museum, you can leave a donation, it has several rooms, there is an audio guide. (Original) Museo gratuito , se puede dejar un donación , tiene varias salas , hay audio guía.

A great selection of historical portraits

(Translated by Google) There are many portraits that Japanese people don't understand, but the quality of the paintings is so high that they are fine. (Original) 日本人にはわからない肖像も多いけど、絵のクオリティが高いので結構みられます。

One of the best places to view amazing artwork

A world class gallery. Totally worth seeing even just for the curation. One of the best galleries in London.

It's a wonderful place to visit and I hope they will open when their website states they will in a few years time. Educational fascinating and some dated styles are similar to the present time.

A stunning favourite of mine in London, so many of the greats...a must do in London

An amazing experience of seeing the most well-known people on their portraits. A lesson on the history, culture and art in one go. I definitely recommend.

Really beautiful paintings!Must go to place

(Translated by Google) If you only like the atmosphere of the museum and don't know the artwork, it's less crowded than the National Gallery, and the scale is good. (Original) 미술관 분위기만 좋아하고 작품을 모르면 내셔널갤러리보다 덜 붐비고 규모도 적당해서 좋음

Excellent venue. Whilst the queue initially appeared to be quite big, it didn't take too long to get into the venue. Once inside, you're able to go around at your own pace.

😍

Rude, aggressive security personnel

Amazing museum! Gorgeous collection. Most of it is free to access except for the traveling/temporary exhibit.

(Translated by Google) Wonderful. (Original) Meravigliosa.

(Translated by Google) Museum exclusively dedicated to portraits. It might seem boring but you can see the evolution of how they have been made throughout history. (Original) Museo exclusivamente dedicado a los retratos. Podría parecer aburrido pero se puede ver la evolución de cómo se han ido confeccionando a lo largo de la historia.

Welcoming museum with engaging contemporary exhibits

Nice gallery

This is a wonderful gallery with the originals of portraits you have seen on the covers of biographies, on documentaries or staring out of the pages of history texts for your entire life. The Brontes, Byron, Shakespeare, Robert Burns and many other paintings you will have seen a thousand times are powerful in person. Even at a decent pace you will need two hours to get around and see everything. It is set over three floors covering different periods. It is best to start at the top with the earliest works and work down. When getting to the 20th century i was surprised most by what is missing; no Beatles or even Lennon, no Bowie, only one or two movie or film stars. A great many artists that no average person knows or cares about. It is a national portrait gallery not a national gallery of self portraits after all. The ludicrous snobbery of shunning John Lennon for Germaine Greer aside this is wonderful gallery. It will never be as popular as other galleries as they clearly have the attitude art is for the few and not the many in assembling their collect. My only real negative is I found the staff rude an ill informed. Asking for directions to Byron got me several looks of distaste from pretentious looking staff and little help. At one point I tried to take a picture of a portrait and a miserable looking women literally ran over an wagged her finger at me. So I responded "the Tate Modern are fine with photography without flash and have friendly staff, perhaps that is why that gallery is popular". So despite being very uninviting and ignoring popular culture when choosing displays it is worth it just to see the great period pieces.