Description

Essentials about the National Portrait Gallery in brief

If you’re interested in portraits and British history, you can’t avoid a visit to the National Portrait Gallery. The art museum is the largest portrait gallery in the world and features depictions of historically important and famous British people, from kings/queens to musicians and movie stars. The National Portrait Gallery is not limited to paintings, but also houses sculptures, caricatures, drawings, photographs and videos of the personalities.

The collection of the National Portrait Gallery

The portraits are selected on the basis of the importance of the person portrayed and not the artist who created the work. Since 1969, portraits of living personalities have also been permitted. If you want to know what William Shakespeare actually looked like, you can get the answer at the National Portrait Gallery. Because the first painting that the museum received when it was founded – and probably the most famous to this day – is the so-called Chandos portrait of Shakespeare. According to a survey, it is the most likely candidate for a genuine portrait among all the surviving paintings of the poet and playwright.

Since 1896, the gallery has been located in its current building just behind the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. In addition to the historic portraits, the museum also displays a collection of contemporary works as well as special exhibitions on individual artists. And if all this art makes you hungry or thirsty, you should definitely visit the Gallery’s rooftop restaurant, from where you can enjoy a spectacular view of central London.

Website

npg.org.uk

Opening hours

Admission fees

Free.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Northern and Piccadilly line: Stop Leicester Square

Bakerloo and Northern line: Stop Charing Cross

Bakerloo, Circle, District and Northern line: Stop Embankment

Bus lines 24, 29, 176, N5, N20, N29, N41 and N279: St Martin’s Place

Bus lines 12, 88, 159, 453, N3, N18, N97, N109 and N136: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop A)

Bus lines 6, 9, 139, N9, N15, N113 and N550: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop B)

Bus lines 24, 29, 176, N5, N20, N29, N41 and N279: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop C)

Bus lines 24, N5 and N20: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop D)

Bus lines 15, 91, N11, N15, N91 and N550: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop F)

Bus lines 139, 176, N21, N89 and N199: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop G)

Bus lines 87, 91, 748, N11, N87, N91 and N155: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop K)

Bus lines 6, 9, N9, N18 and N97: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop S)

Bus lines 12, 88, 139, 159, 453, N3, N15, N109, N113 and N136: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop T)

Bus lines 91, N91 and N97: Stop Trafalgar Square (Stop X)

By car:

The nearest parking garages are Q-Park Leicester Square and Q-Park Trafalgar.