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The National Gallery's portico on the north side of Trafalgar Square

No. 10 Top 100 Most Visited Art Museums 2025 · 4,147,544 visitors in 2025

National Gallery

London, United Kingdom · City guide: London

Western European painting from Giotto to Van Gogh on Trafalgar Square, free to visit.

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Photo: mattbuck, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

The National Gallery is No. 10 in The Art Newspaper's survey of the world's most visited art museums, with 4,147,544 visitors in 2025, up 29% on 2024. Founded in 1824, it moved in 1838 into William Wilkins's building on the north side of Trafalgar Square.

Its collection of more than 2,300 paintings covers Western European art from the 13th century to the early 20th century. For the gallery's 200th anniversary, the Sainsbury Wing, opened in 1991, was refurbished and reopened in May 2025 with a new entrance. Admission is free.

The National Gallery and Trafalgar Square lit up at night
The National Gallery and Trafalgar Square lit up at night. Photo: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Best time to visit

Weekday mornings are the quietest. Check the official website for hours and any late openings.

Highlights & collections

  • 1

    Sunflowers

    One of Vincent van Gogh's famous paintings of sunflowers in a vase, painted in Arles in 1888.

  • 2

    The Arnolfini Portrait

    Jan van Eyck's portrait of a couple, painted in 1434, with its famous convex mirror.

  • 3

    The Ambassadors

    Hans Holbein the Younger's double portrait with a distorted skull across the floor.

  • 4

    The Fighting Temeraire and The Hay Wain

    Two of the best-loved British paintings, by J. M. W. Turner and John Constable.

  • 5

    The Rokeby Venus

    Diego Velázquez's only surviving female nude.

  • 6

    Leonardo da Vinci

    The Virgin of the Rocks and the Burlington House Cartoon, a large chalk drawing.

Getting there

The gallery is on Trafalgar Square. The nearest stations are Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines, and mainline trains), Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines) and Embankment. Many buses stop at Trafalgar Square.

Visiting tips

Tickets & hours
Free admission to the collection; booking a free timed ticket online is recommended at busy times. Some exhibitions charge. Check the official website for hours.
Time needed
Two to three hours for the highlights.
Currency
Pound sterling (GBP). Cards are accepted almost everywhere.
Security
Bags are checked at the entrance. Large bags and suitcases are not allowed.
Visa & entry
Many visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada, Australia and EU countries, now need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling. Check gov.uk for the current rules.

Official information: The National Gallery (official website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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