Founded in 1856 as the world’s first portrait gallery, London’s National Portrait Gallery sits on St Martin’s Place just off Trafalgar Square, behind the National Gallery. It tells British history through faces: monarchs, poets, scientists, activists and celebrities, painted, sculpted and photographed across five centuries.
The gallery reopened in 2023 after a major redevelopment by Jamie Fobert Architects. The work added a new north-facing entrance on Ross Place, with bronze doors by Tracey Emin carrying 45 images of women. Inside, the chronological route runs from the Tudors to today. Highlights include the Chandos portrait of Shakespeare (the gallery’s first acquisition), the Ditchley portrait of Elizabeth I, Holbein’s cartoon of Henry VIII and Branwell Brontë’s painting of his sisters. Contemporary photography and commissioned portraits bring the story up to the present.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The permanent collection is free to visit. Major exhibitions charge admission, and booking a timed slot is wise at weekends and during school holidays (Musa). The Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026 runs until 7 October. Tim Walker’s Fairyland: Love and Legends opens on 9 October 2026 and runs until 7 February 2027 (NPG).
For the quietest rooms, arrive at opening on a weekday morning. Late openings on Friday evenings are also calmer, but check current hours before you go. Allow at least two hours to see the whole collection. Leicester Square and Charing Cross stations are a few minutes’ walk away. You can pair your visit with the National Gallery or St Martin-in-the-Fields next door.
