There aren’t a whole lot of free things to do in London.
But – unlike almost any other major city – London’s art galleries are exactly that… and The National Gallery’s a stalwart which Londoners often overlook.
Founded in 1824 after the British government bought a tidy collection of 38 pictures from banker John Julius, it now boasts London’s largest collection of European art, dating all the way back to the mid 13th century.
The building was originally erected in Trafalgar Square so that it could be reached easily by foot (presumably no one was walking from a one bed maisonette in zone 6). Having been added to as recently as 1985 when the Sainsbury Wing was commissioned, the gallery now stands at a colossal 46,369 square metres and houses 2300 paintings, so getting bored isn’t going to be a problem (assuming you like art).
© National Gallery, London
The artworks are split into four different colour coded sections, depending on time period – ranging from Raphael and Leonardo in one room, to Turner and Van Gogh in another. So start in 1200 and time travel right through to the 20th century, or, if you’re short on time (or patience), head straight for your favoured style, time frame or artist.
In addition to this, there are a number of exhibitions which change on a quarterly basis. Coming up next is Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350 (8th March – 22nd June, £20+), which dives into the rich artistic world of the Italian city as artisans began to collaborate and painters broke away from traditional techniques to introduce emotion and movement to their work. Sounds bonkers, but it was genuinely revolutionary at the time.
So whether you stay at the National Gallery for an hour, or a day…
…you’re bound to get your money’s worth.
NOTE: The National Gallery is open daily from 10am-6pm (9pm on Fridays). For more information, and to book tickets to their temporary exhibitions, visit the National Gallery website.
National Gallery | Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross, WC2N 5DN
Feeling peckish? Head to one of these fine Covent Garden restaurants afterwards