The National Gallery

The collection

Founded in 1824, the gallery moved into its William Wilkins building on Trafalgar Square in 1838. The collection tells the story of European painting, with famous works including Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait, Velázquez's Rokeby Venus, Constable's The Hay Wain and Van Gogh's Sunflowers. The Sainsbury Wing, designed by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown and completed in 1991, holds early Renaissance pictures.

Planning a visit

The permanent collection is free, with donations welcome. Major exhibitions are ticketed and worth booking ahead, while smaller displays are often free. Friday lates are a quieter way to see the big rooms. The gallery's own must-see list is a good starting point if you have only an hour, and there are restaurants, bars and cafés inside, including Ochre. The building is large, so pick a few rooms rather than trying to see everything: the Sainsbury Wing for early Renaissance work, or the later galleries for Impressionism and Van Gogh. Weekday mornings are calmer than weekend afternoons.

Around Trafalgar Square

Step out onto Trafalgar Square for Nelson's Column and the fountains. Covent Garden, Leicester Square and the Strand are all within a few minutes' walk, and St Martin-in-the-Fields stands on the square's north-east corner. The Chandos and the Admiralty are close by for a drink afterwards.

Highlights

• Free entry to the permanent collection
• Over 2,300 paintings from the 13th century to 1900
• Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Constable's The Hay Wain
• Friday late openings

Good to know

• Major exhibitions are ticketed and best booked ahead.
• BSL and Stagetext events and family activities run throughout the year.

Frequently asked questions