Visit the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square

While most of Europe's great museums have built up their collections by nationalising an existing lot of royal or princely art, this is not the case with London's National Gallery. It was created in 1824 when the UK government purchased 38 paintings from the heirs of John Julius Angerstein, an insurance broker and patron of the arts.

The museum was then shaped by its first directors and by private donations, which today account for around two-thirds of the works. This is one of the reasons why the National Gallery's collection is still smaller than that of its European counterparts, with just 2,300 objects in its possession (compared with almost 500,000 for the Louvre).

Despite its small collection, the National Gallery in London has nothing to envy the world's greatest museums, as its works are encyclopaedic in scope, rich in diversity of provenance and period. The main collection, which covers almost 700 years of art history from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century, is free to visit.

Here you can admire some of the world's finest paintings, including works by the British painters Turner and Gainsborough, as well as the great French painters Paul Cézanne, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet and Auguste Renoir. There are also paintings from all over the world, including Gustav Klimt, Michelangelo, Raphael, Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh, Diego Velázquez and Leonardo da Vinci.

If, unfortunately, you are unable to visit the National Gallery in person to admire its superb collection, you can also visit the museum in virtual reality. You can study the works of art and the unique architecture of this London landmark directly from your computer or phone.

But if you do get the chance to go there, don't hesitate for a second - there's no substitute for a real visit. It will also give you a taste of the effervescent atmosphere that reigns in Trafalgar Square. Known primarily as a place for social interaction and freedom of expression, it is very dear to the hearts of the British people.

The National Gallery in London is one of the most famous museums in the world, so don't miss it on your trip to England! Allow half a day's visit to have time to have a good look around, so it's perfect to occupy a rainy day (which is quite common in the region).

🚌 How do I get to Trafalgar Square?

London's nerve centre, Trafalgar Square is well served by public transport:

• Charing Cross station: Northern (black) and Bakerloo (brown) lines.
• Leicester Square station: Northern and Piccadilly lines (dark blue)
• Embankment station: Bakerloo, Circle (red), District (green) and Northern lines
• Piccadilly Circus station: Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines

Buses 3, 6, 12, 23, 88, 139, 159, 453, N3, N109, N113 and N136 also stop at Trafalgar Square.

👉 Hop-on hop-off buses also pass through Trafalgar Square.

⏰ National Gallery opening times

The National Gallery in London is open every day from 10am to 9pm. However, the museum is closed from 24 to 26 December and on 1 January.

👛 Prices of the National Gallery

Access to the collections of the National Gallery in London is completely free! To avoid queuing and save time, you can book your ticket online on the National Gallery's official website.