On Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery holds one of the finest collections of European painting in the world – and entry is free. Founded in 1824, it covers seven centuries of art, from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century.
Masterpieces not to miss
- Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, one of his famous series.
- Turner’s The Fighting Temeraire and Constable’s The Hay Wain, icons of British painting.
- Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus and Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks.
- Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait, with its famous convex mirror.
How to visit
The gallery is huge: pick a period or a handful of paintings, or follow one of the suggested routes in the free floor plan. The Sainsbury Wing, home to the early Renaissance paintings, has a new, welcoming entrance on the square.
Tips
- Entry is free; some temporary exhibitions need a ticket.
- Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest rooms.
- Step outside to Trafalgar Square for Nelson’s Column and the view down Whitehall to Big Ben.
