Official National Gallery highlights 1-hour guided tour

The world’s greatest painting gallery. All of the great masters are here, represented most often by a stone cold masterpiece—Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus, Titian’s Poesie, Veronese’s Darius Before Alexander, Parmigianino’s Vision of St Jerome, del Piombo’s Lazarus… it just goes on and on and on, in the best possible way. Equally as impressive as the paintings is the ease in which everyone waltzes in and out of the museum, which is always free. The relaxed, casual, open and friendly atmosphere sets it apart from most other museums—it feels like you’re wandering about a giant living room filled with centuries of exquisite art. The recent rehang of the paintings is a smashing success, and the newly refurbished Sainsbury Wing now offers more space and updated facilities. An unparalleled immersive experience in the river of European painting. Unmissable.

My visit to the National Gallery was on 15/11/2025 (Monday), after lunch with the intention of spending maybe a couple of hours. Boy was I wrong, I spent +4 hours and it wasn't enough to see everything! At some point I'll have to come back to view the 19th-20th collection. And did I mention it's FREE ENTRY? But of course donations are always welcome. Some tips to maximise your time there: • Pay for the rental museum guide headset, it's worth it's weight in gold. This way you won't miss all the historical information and interesting side stories about the paintings. This will also help you decide your route, because you can choose to see the paintings chronologically or based on style. • Because of the museum audio guide, I decided these are my favourites paintings so far: St Catherine of Alexandria by Rafael (1507), St Ursula by French painter Claude Gellée (1604/5), Venus and Mars (1485). • Don't forget to pay attention to the architecture if the weather is good, and do spend enough time to appreciate the different parts of the building interiors: - Start with the main centrepiece of classical architecture represented by the William Wilkins building (1838). - Then there's the grand museum expansion by Edward Barry in the form of Greek cross plan interpreted in the Neo-Renaissance style (1872-1876). - There are also Victorian era and Beaux Arts rooms/galleries. - Finally there's a 20thC extension in late modernist architectural style, including the Sainsbury Wing by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown.

Beautiful gallery showcasing some of the world’s most famous artists and paintings. A must see if you’re in London. Free entry. You’ll need 2-3hours minimum to see everything. Would recommend membership of supporters club which saves time and money- gets you in free to paid exhibitions and free coat check in. No need to book if you’re a member. Also access to supports lounge for quick drink or lunch. Chef in house is Locanda Locatelli so expect Italian menu.

The National Gallery is brilliant — an amazing collection and it’s completely free, which makes it even better. The range of art is seriously impressive, and it’s the kind of place you can wander around at your own pace and keep discovering something new. You could easily spend hours and hours in there without getting bored. Absolutely worth a visit.

The National Gallery is one of the most impressive museums in London and an absolute must for anyone who appreciates art, history or culture. The collection is incredible, with world-famous masterpieces that you’ve seen in books and online, but experiencing them in person is on a completely different level. Seeing works like Van Gogh, Monet and so many iconic paintings up close makes the visit feel truly special. The museum is well organized, easy to navigate and free to enter, which makes it even better. It’s important that you book your ticket online in advance, because it’s one of the most famous and touristic museums in the city. It’s a perfect place to spend a few hours exploring, slowing down and really taking in the art, especially if you enjoy meaningful experiences while traveling. Loved it so much and couldn’t recommend more. 10/10 experience, for sure!