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National Portrait Gallery

National Portrait Gallery

Art Gallery and Art Museum
Piccadilly, London
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9.2/10
1,812
ratings
  • Stars
  • Stars
    Has a stamp of approval from Michelin Travel & Lifestyle and Londonist
    • Michelin Travel & Lifestyle
    • Londonist
  • Tips
    Jose L.
    "... it's right behind the national gallery. Tons of paintings and sculptures from..."(9 Tips)
    Kathy M.
    "vintage photos from the masters and Vogue 100 years celebrations"(4 Tips)
    Josef S.
    "Taylor Wessing Portrait Photography Prize"(3 Tips)
    Ashley B.
    "Man Ray portraits exhibition is really good - he knew everyone!!"(3 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon167 Tips and reviews
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  • Gary H.heart icon on user image
    Gary HorOctober 14, 2016
    Adjacent to National Gallery, but this one specialises in portraits as the name suggests. Free admission, by the way.
  • Ayshea H.heart icon on user image
    Ayshea HNovember 1, 2016
    Been here 5+ times
    Worth checking out the annual taylor wessing photography prize and their permanent collection is interesting.
  • Randall & Aubin
    Randall & AubinMarch 14, 2013
    A host of activities available at this historical British Institution, including free art classes. And let's not forget the portraits themselves!
  • National Maritime M.
    The NPG’s collections feature 85 portraits of Nelson, including Gillray’s 1798 caricature depicting him clubbing a group of writhing crocodiles representing French warships. Find your maritime story. Read more
  • The New Yorker M.
    The New Yorker ManagerFebruary 1, 2013
    Read Janet Malcolm on the creation of Thomas Struth's monumental photograph of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, created in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee: Read more
  • Chris P.heart icon on user image
    Chris PhillipsOctober 31, 2015
    Fascinating place - one can learn so much about history from the people who shaped it.
  • Nigel H.
    Nigel HewsonDecember 20, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    The Portrait Gallery Restaurant has a great little bar for a decent cocktail and a great selection of gins!
  • Pedro P.heart icon on user image
    Pedro PignatariMay 29, 2018
    the best museum in town. free. stat at least 2.5h here
  • BB O.
    BB OneAugust 13, 2019
    The current Cindy Sherman Exhibit is well worth going to see!
  • Johanan O.heart icon on user image
    Johanan OttensooserDecember 31, 2015
    Really fun gallery with a great selection of temporary exhibitions
  • Josef S.heart icon on user image
    Josef SzottenDecember 28, 2014
    The Taylor Wessing Portrait Photography Prize is always a good choice. Lots of talent and beauty in these images.
  • Andy P.heart icon on user image
    Andy PApril 15, 2014
    A superb gallery - with a lovely, often quiet cafe and a great book shop.
  • Katya M.heart icon on user image
    Katya MatveevaOctober 23, 2014
    The gallery itself is very nice, but the restaurant on the third floor is awful! 30f for the set of miserable sweets for person? 25minutes of whiting for some more water?? Sights in window are great
  • Enzo M.
    Enzo MartinelliNovember 26, 2017
    Undisputedly the largest portrait collection in the world
  • Jonas vKheart icon on user image
    Jonas vKJune 22, 2015
    Really good place for Art. The app for audioguide doesn't work by the way
  • HaeAn S.heart icon on user image
    HaeAn SungMarch 24, 2015
    A lot of portraits! Enjoyed especially the Narrative portrait of Sir Unton and David Beckham's short film of his sleeping ☺️.
  • Chris R.heart icon on user image
    The exhibitions aren't the most ground breaking. Permanent collection is worth seeing.
  • Sarah T.heart icon on user image
    Sarah TaylorFebruary 16, 2015
    Great Grayson Perry at the moment. Get a coffee before going as navigating internally is a nightmare
  • Tom M.
    Tom MaxwellDecember 10, 2016
    Interesting the personal qualities valued over different centuries, and the physical positions portrait subjects took to emphasize them.
  • Victor C.
    Visit at Thursday and Friday till 21:00 (late night) and get a chance to have a drink and see a performance.
  • Miranda B.heart icon on user image
    Miranda BukantzMay 2, 2016
    The Vogue 100 exhibition is great!
  • Marie S.heart icon on user image
    Marie S.December 14, 2014
    Been here 10+ times
    Temporary exhibitions are a hit or miss. I recommend researching a bit before spending 15£ on a ticket. Permanent collection is free.
  • Jamesheart icon on user image
    JamesNovember 3, 2015
    Wonderfully atmospheric gallery in the heart of bustling London
  • K B.
    K BJune 24, 2023
    Just reopened after a revamp https://amp.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jun/21/doors-tracey-emin-national-portrait-gallerys-41m-rebirth
  • Mike H.heart icon on user image
    Mike HJuly 24, 2019
    A good breakfast with a fabulous view!
  • Miranda
    MirandaFebruary 13, 2010
    Open til 9pm on Thurs and Fridays. It's mostly free. Only bother with the ground floor exhibits. Get up close and personal to Sir Paul Maxime Nurse in Room 35. Fabulous view from top floor bar.
  • Purple Frog
    Purple FrogMay 21, 2011
    Find the small but perfectly formed portrait of the great Ronnie Corbett in Room 41a and the iconic Blur album cover by Julian Opie in Room 35. Read more
  • Chrisheart icon on user image
    ChrisJanuary 3, 2017
    My favorite portrait: Lord Nelson. It's interesting to put faces to all the names in the history book
  • Londonist
    LondonistMay 2, 2010
    All good stuff, but our favourite section is the first-floor gallery by the escalator (Room 32). Remarkable 20th Century portraiture from the likes of Sutherland, Spear and Freud. Read more
  • Tom D.
    Tom DepypereJanuary 13, 2013
    On the top floor there is a restaurant with a magnificent view. Just magnificent. Why not have dinner there?
  • Hanna K.heart icon on user image
    Hanna KayJanuary 14, 2016
    It's free and even if you don't like the paintings you can get a history lesson.
  • Stephanie F.heart icon on user image
    Stephanie FosterNovember 28, 2015
    In the shop- some of the prettiest Christmas tree decorations - historical figures
  • prima f.heart icon on user image
    prima filiNovember 12, 2017
    It’s great for practicing your portrait sketching skills. Staff won’t make a fuss about you drawing.
  • Kasia K.heart icon on user image
    Kasia KoczułapSeptember 27, 2016
    Impressive collection of portraits. Kate is here nowy, so I wait for the royal children.
  • Bheart icon on user image
    BApril 6, 2016
    Come here to admire an array of portraits of great people
  • BLOUIN ARTINFO
    BLOUIN ARTINFOAugust 22, 2011
    The Gallery was founded in 1856 as the first in the world - quite independent from collections of royal, family or business portraits. Read more
  • Harald B.
    Harald B.August 20, 2014
    Representative cross section of portrait painting of every century of every style
  • Jess B.
    Jess BurvillApril 6, 2012
    Go to the gallery lates to avoid tourist hordes, and of course dont leave without stopping for a cocktail at the bar updstairs first
  • Khan A.heart icon on user image
    Khan AhmedApril 22, 2017
    Beautiful collection of paintings.. Must visit
  • David B.heart icon on user image
    David BarrieJuly 9, 2015
    The bar / restaurant has a great view over London
  • HISTORY UK
    HISTORY UKFebruary 15, 2011
    One of the gallery’s most famous pictures is the Chandos portrait, which is said to be of William Shakespeare by his friend Richard Burbage. But some dispute its provenance.
  • Y K.heart icon on user image
    Y KimJanuary 24, 2015
    You might think a gallery filled with portraits must be boring but actually it is not. One of the must-see galleries/museums for sure.
  • Kelly
    KellyApril 24, 2014
    The gallery actually closes ten minutes before the posted time. Arrange your visit accordingly.
  • Sherie S.heart icon on user image
    Sherie SwerdlowApril 6, 2014
    It's not just old stuffy portraits. Lots of younger, cool, hip portraits as well.
  • Jess P.heart icon on user image
    Jess ParkerJuly 5, 2015
    Head here on a Friday night to practice your drawing skills!
  • Salvo F.
    Salvo FasoneJanuary 16, 2013
    always great exhibitions. it's a must if you're around.
  • Nico M.
    Nico MacdonaldOctober 17, 2010
    The cafe/restaurant at the top has a great view but if it's busy try the cafe in the crypt of St Martin-in-the fields, opposite.
  • Kay T.
    Kay TAugust 22, 2013
    Phenomenal. History alive as ever. A must visit!
  • Cass Art
    Cass ArtAugust 16, 2012
    Vote for your favourite portrait at the BP Portrait exhibition and be in with the chance of winning a Cass Art Artists' oil box set
  • Natasha 'Tashster' B.
    Be sure to try to get someone to do one of you before you leave; state that you feel it's an insult you aren't on the walls and watch the reaction!
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