Gorgeous building, great exhibitions which are not stuffy at all and really fun educational stuff for kids too. A must for London visitors and residents alike. Favourite exhibition has to be the Quentin Blake “Tell me a picture” one from a few years ago - an alphabetical selection of 26 paintings with no explanatory labels beside them, but instead, beautiful illustrations in Blake’s unique style…genius!

I haven’t been here in years…..since i was at school. Eeek!
I thoroughly enjoyed this gallery and was just walking around with my mouth open at the fine detail of some of the paintings. I can’t remember much else but i seem to remember it was smaller than i thought it would be? Maybe i just felt something with this amazing work should’ve been bigger…......
It was an interesting day and i recommend for all the art lover out there.

Excellent art museum, with an outstanding location. (Who can beat being directly on Trafalgar Square?!) The collection is fantastic, and wide-ranging: something for everyone. One thing I didn’t expect is how beautiful the building is on the inside. The interior decoration is fantastic.

I slightly prefer Tate Britain overall, but the National Gallery is a “don’t miss”.

Be warned: it gets very crowded at weekends, enough to lessen my enjoyment of the visit. Pop in on a weekday if possible, or get there early on Saturday or Sunday. (Open late on Wednesdays, too.)

Plus, it’s free!

This is a must see ,i had to be dragged out,i was simply mesmerised by the whole experience.The gallery situated at the top of Trafalgar Square ,houses probably the greatest collection of art in the world(at least one of them).I went primarily to see the work of rennaissance painters, such as Caravaggio(FOR MY MONEY THE GREATEST PAINTER WHO EVER LIVED),Sandro Bottecelli,Raphael,Titian ,Da Vinci ,Michael Angelo etc,having only seen their works in books and prints.However the building (one you truly could get lost in)houses thousands of works of art, through hundreds of years by all the big hitters.This is a dont miss even if you think it’s not not your type of thing give it a try you wont regret it.Oh and by the way its free to enter bargain!!

Yeah, absolutely (agreeing with all the enthusiasts).

Wonderful place - full of so many paintings familiar from art books - but here they are in front of you - live, now, and actual size! Marvel at the ones you thought would be bigger (Van Gogh? Canaletto?) - and those that floor you with their size (Seurat, Monet, Van Dyck..)

Wonderfully located, just above Trafalgar Square - with the Portrait Gallery just around the corner - and free! And isn’t that great in itself, these days? (Contrast with St Paul’s which I fancied dropping into recently - and stopped at the turnstile [what’s that doing in a place of worship?], appalled at the huge entry charge.)

Great place, great paintings - and, art fans, don’t forget to take a look at Tate Modern also: utterly inspiring - and that’s just the building!

The National Gallery’s collection of Western European paintings from the 13th to the 19th century is one of the richest and most comprehensive in the world.

The collection belongs to the nation and it serves a wide and diverse range of visitors from the UK and overseas. The Gallery’s role is to engage the public in the experience of this great collection. It is open to all, 361 days of the year, free of charge.

Amazing place to see for yourself the incredible range of human skill and imagination in creating images. Being able to trace the development and uses art and ceativity have been put to over the centuries is totally fascinating. Don’t miss the portrait Gallery -Wedgie is a stunner!!

This place is even better since the pedestrian zone was improved in trafalgar square. I tend to arrange to meet people next to the cardinal richelieu. he was a bit of a swine, practically governed europe, and was rotting round his bottom so he stank. I remember him best from a monty python cartoon scooting about on a bike.
The Rembrandts are the best, there’s something magical about them, even though they’re practically monotone. Perhaps that’s what makes them so nice, the lack of colour lets the emotion come through.
I had a bit of teenage weakness for the impressionists, and they still appeal, but I think as you get older you want something a bit less pretty, and the renoirs in particular are guily of looking a bit chocolate box/stepford wives, with all those buxom women looking the same with big puppy dog eyes. And all his flake white crippled him in the end.
The galleries themselves are fantastically well decorated, the one in manchester used to be even better until some idiot decided to whitewall everything.
Best to go when there are no kids around so you can sit on a seat and focus on something. Goya for preference, or Rembrandt.

Go to The National just to see the immense painting by Paul DELAROCHE -The Execution of Lady Jane Grey. It is worth the trip for this amazing painting.

a must for all the nations treasures are on display for all to see, it gives you a visual snapshot of moments in history and time

I honestly don’t think I could have had a more boring three hours unless I’d decided to read Chantelles’ autobiography backwards…

This place is full of history, the building is amazing… but it is just not engaging.. I wish i’d enjoyed it but maybe i’m just not cultured enough.

I went here whilst on a school trip to London with my primary school! Although I obviously cannot remember everything, I do remember there being some very cool things here! Most certainly in the shop! Also, some very cool paintings!!

A feast for the eyes and soul

Relaxing way of Art education. Every kind of artist from every year. Beautiful building. Used to have a cafe too so you could spend all day there. If not take your sandwiches outside and sit in Trafalgar Square and listen to the Bell ringers dinner time practice from the church around the corner and just watch the world go by before starting again to take in the many beautiful works of art in the afternoon.

This is my favorite place in London! Located next to the beautiful Trafalgar square, the neo-classical building is vary alluring, inviting the passing by to walk in and enjoy the best Renaissance paintings collection London has to offer.
It has no entry fee yet inside you can find all the greatest painters, from Raphael and Titian to Da Vinci and Botticelli, you can move from room to room and drink in all that beauty or take one room at a time, sit on an inviting bench and just look deeper, get to know the great masters of the past as they are there waiting to know you…

Since the entrence is for free do the gallery a favor and stop at the gift shop on your way out, the postcard of your favorit painting will cost you less then a pound but it will go a long way in helping the art in London to stay free of charge for all of us.

An institutional inspiration, timeless.

I am ashamed to say it, but I was largely unaware of the National Gallery (where it was, what was in it) until I read ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and went in to see the London based version of the Virgin of the Rocks (AKA Madonna of the Rocks).

I went in and looked for VotR, found it, was amazed and captivated by it - and then realised what other amazing arts there are in the National Gallery.

You could spend hours and hours here and not get bored, and still not see and appreciate all there is to offer here. I still go, quite often, on my lunch breaks, and every day I see something new that takes my breath away.

History of England and hisory in itself.

A great variety of different types of art work. Surprisingly you’ll find it more interesting than you though and probbaly spend way longer in there than you thought. If you can have a look at the Mary Seacole painting as part of the black history display - amazing!

This place is a great place to go to get out of the rain. If you have a few hours get yourself round there and see what all the fuss is about!

Great!

very good it openen my mind to art it felt that some of the paintings told a very speacil story

The gallery has some exciting paintings with architecture used in most of them. Some of the sites with the walls of this phenomenal place hold cherished pieces of national work created and saved for this place especially.my review is to go and check it out as soon as possible.

The National Gallery (TNG) is one of the best art museums in the world.
I have been to Tretyakovsky and Luvr and I like TNG not less than the others but one thing I think they need to advertise themselves more among the british people rather than turists.

The National Gallery is stunningly beautiful. Both in its’ building and collection.
Easy to reach by Charing Cross or Leicester Sq tube, and easy to find location - Trafalgar Square, can’t get that wrong!
Good collection of artworks, most of the master painters are represented here, albeit some only having one or two pieces on display.
Great to visit if you want to see pieces by Michelangelo; Da Vinci; Raphael; Cezanne; Renoir; Picasso; Manet; Monet; Vermeer; Rembrandt etc etc, but if you are an art major or looking for specifics, you may be disappointed. After coming from New York, I was a little suprised. That said they have lovely pieces and many rooms, and a HUGE collection of British works for those interested.
Also love the fact that this gallery (like most others in London) is free, and a perfect quiet haven to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for quiet reflection.

It should be one of the first places you visit in London.

I found The National Gallery pretty average not many exhibits and what not but overall still worth seeing

a fine interesting and educational place to visit

This is a great place to spend a sunday afternoon absorbing some culture into your soul. Most locals avoid it like the plague because of the vast number of tourists who visit the place but it has some excellent exhibitions and a very nice dining room that serves English afternoon tea - a much loved english tradition. We brits love to round out an afternoon of browsing with scones topped with cream and jam; a toasted tea cake or two accompanied by a nice cuppa of Darjeeling or Ear Grey tea. Its all very refeened!

I bet you that 8 out of 10 Britons you ask will berely know where exactly it is and less so what is actually in:) My boyfriend was not an exception. However he was amazed (after I took him) that in London actually hangs few Van Goghs, Monets and Manets as well as Rembrants and that the building is so big that you can spend whole day in it and on top of it the entrance is free.
More impressive is, for me, only Louvre which costs fortune to go to. National gallery is a gem, often overlooked!!
Built on Trafalgar Square it is very easy to travel to, whenever I am meeting someone towards Covent Garden I always say 'lets meet infront of the national Gallery' because that way I know that if one of us is running late the other one can just have aquick peak and be nice and cosy inside. Also brilliant date place, if you want to look intelectually aware at no costs.

The National Gallery is one of the reasons I love London so much: where else in the world can you just enter such a gorgeous majestic building, in the centre of the city, sit in front of Van Gogh's Sunflowers and let your mind relax during your break from work... for free? I recommend it specially in the early mornings, when the bulding is still empty and you can actually contemplate art in silence, without all the tourists running around taking pics with their mobiles.

First of all I must thank each and every one of you who have chosen to take my National Gallery Survival Tour. Many opt not to and find themselves sandwiched between Leonardo Da Vinci and North Italy with no way out. To those unfortunate soles, my sympathies, but for now on with the tour...

From High Street Kensington, I suggest you take the underground as appose to the bus. This writer took the bus and was trapped in its double-decker red prison for approximately 40 minutes while decongested traffic dispersed with similar speed to that of growing grass.

Arriving at Charring Cross Underground, make your way into day light. Once back in civilization, you will see the National Gallery directly in front of you.

Entry into the National Gallery is free, however they do ask for a donation. Donations are optional and no pressure is put upon you to empty your wallets. My suggestion is don't make a donation immediately, wait until you reach an audio tour booth and make one there. The National Gallery audio tour booth does not charge for the hire of their headsets but the suggestion of a donation is once again raised. I strongly suggest that patrons of the National Gallery should take the opportunity to "hire" a headset and donate approximately £3. Through out the tour you discover those who were to cheap to donate and are blocking everyone's view because they're reading painting descriptions. Feel free to spit on these people as they are soulless.

My suggestion is to start in the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery. It is a smaller wing off to the side that houses paintings primarily from Italy and predated the rest of the works in the Gallery.

Working your way from rooms 51 to 66 using your National Gallery Plan, free from the information desk, focus on the collection highlights which are detailed in the plan. If you don't you will be there for days and days and days. Such highlights include: Room 53 "The Wilton Diptych" Unknown English or French artist; Room 55 "The Battle of San Romano" Uccello; Room 56 "The Arnolfini Portrait" Van Eyck; Room 58 "Venus and Mars*" Botticelli and Room 66 "The Baptism of Christ.**"

Now for a word of warning. For those who have a great passion of the arts, such as myself, do not listen to the audio guide for every single painting as you will find yourself in one room for over an hour with the rest of the gallery to see.

The larger area of the National Gallery houses some of the world's most influential paintings. Allow an hour, as I did, to sit in front of Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece "Madonna of the Rocks." Its sheer atmospheric presence is out of this world.

Move from room to room, pausing occasionally to mark off the highlights you have seen on you plan. This will help you work out how long you have been in the Gallery and how long you have to go before you have seen everything.

As we draw this tour to an end, I ask that you spend your last minutes reflecting in Room 45. Tucked away in a corner is the only Picasso work you will find in the National Gallery. While "Child with Dove" may seem quite simple to the untrained eye, it is an interesting mix of flamboyant colour. Along with the sole Picasso is housed some of Van Gogh's most famous work including that of “Sunflowers.” I tell you now that no picture or photograph will ever do this masterpiece justice. Even the small print in the gallery plan does not fully ready you for the bright almost metallic yellow background that is “Sunflowers.”

And that, my dear guests, concludes today's tour. In true fashion of the National Gallery, donations for my guide are optional....but are necessary if you want to live.

* Botticelli painted this picture to reflect the different attitudes towards sex by both Male and Female. Venus and Mars details the moments after sexual intercourse. If you can't find time to visit the National Gallery, Google this painting and have a look. It's priceless!
** This painting is extraordinary as you can draw a straight line from the bottom of Jesus Christ's ankle right up to the top of the painting. At some point every other subject in this painting crosses this imaginary line.

The National gallery is a beautiful place. From the marble floors to the roman pillars, this place is splendid. What I’d like to emphasise is the genre of its art, which are mostly oil paintings and canvas orientated. These beautiful pieces of art range from Christian art from the dark ages to recent pieces from the Modern era such as Monet’s and Picasso’s art work. The National gallery keep the same paintings up for display for as long as years whilst continually introducing specific exhibitions for limited time only. You can come here with the intention of seeing a particular exhibition or take a day to see all the pieces of art that are on display for free admission. I’ve come to this place several times on a Sunday to calm my mind from the stresses of everyday life by looking at elegant art. The grandeur décor and the historical tradition of ‘paintings’ is celebrated through the National gallery’s presence. In comparison to the Tate Modern, I’d say that this gallery is far more sophisticated and academic, therefore, I wouldn’t recommend the kids taking this type of art seriously. If you love history, art, symbolism, European culture, romance and paint, then this is a London ‘must see’ for you.

Can’t beat the location for centrality! The permanent collection (one of the best in Europe) makes the NG worth a visit anytime of the year. But, it’s especially worth dropping by when there’s an exhibition such as the Velasquez exhibition. Wow. I don’t get to this gallery often enough.

Oo-er. I'm not a very arty person, but I was impressed by a lot of the paintings. I must have walked for miles around the different galleries... shown by the fact that my feet were almost dropping off by the end of it ...! It's well laid out, so you don't often repeat your steps, but it's a sort of trail that keeps leading you on to the next section. It's really interesting to see how the styles of paintings develop. It is worth a visit if you happen to have a day off, but you'll enjoy it more if you've read a book about paintings beforehand, explaining what to look for.

The extroadinary experience of visitng this place will last with you forever. Founded in 1824, after George IV pressed the Government to purchase some 38 major paintings, the gallery now hosts thousands of paintings.

The listed building itself is worth the visit, with it's vast pillars on the impressive entrance. It's free and on entry, you are immediatley struck by the size of the place, cool air and tranquilty, the history echoes off the walls. It's said, you could fit 2156 Double decker buses inside, whether you wish to of course, is another matter, but that indicates the volume of space.

Their are over sixty rooms to visit, each one providing you with the most incredible visions, Rembrandt, Van gogh, Renaissance, Renoir, Leonardo, The Impressionists, (no, that's not a band), the list goes on and on...

Should you be living in or visiting London, this is an absolute must to see, even if you can't take it all in, the bit that you do will be framed in your heart.

The gallery is a located at trafalgar square. It's an enourmous gallery with a wide array of art collection..namely da vinci, michealangelo and van gogh ..as the prime attraction. You haven't been to london till you check it out guys!

The National Gallery is one of the finest collections of art in the world and is a must see for any tourist and if you live in London and don't pay it a regular visit you are doing yourself a disservice. The Building in itself is incredible, sitting pride of place in Trafalgar Square, with its inner walls lined with what is surely extremely expensive wallpaper. But then you do need a sublime background on which to place some of the finest artworks the world has seen.

The collection is divided into four time periods, and as such you can literally take a stroll through art down the ages. You can see how art progressed over the centuries, how later artists were influenced by those who came before. The most impressive aspect for me is how the gallery has examples from all of the greatest names, right through history to realtively modern works of the impressionists. My personal highlights are the Rubens section, where you have six or seven mammoth examples of his works, it's awe-inspiring, and the Monet collection is superb. But you can also see the work of Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Raphael, Turner, Carravagio, Stubbs, the list goes on. If you only do one cultural thing in London, I hope you make it a visit to the National Gallery.

From the 7th November to 17th February 2008 there is the Art of Light : German Renaissance Stained Glass exhibition is on showing many of the early 15th and 16th century German paintings in the National Gallery. The paintings are unique because a whole series of them have been removed from the ecclesiastical context they were created for. These settings from that period also included brilliantly coloured,boldly designed and exquistely made stained glass windows.
The ART OF LIGHT will depict contrasts and similarities between the two mediums of art. This exhibition will bring together some of the finest examples of German stained glass and put them next to a selection collected in the National Gallery paintings from the same period and regions of Germany.
These illustrative show will be an eye opener to anyone who views the exhibition because not only will they be able to see highlights the contrast between paint and glass but will also open up 2 new lost worlds of medieval and Renaissance Germany.

Positioned as it is at the top of Trafalgar Square this is a convenient museum to drop into. And of course, it does have an impressive collection of paintings. To be honest I was a bit disappointed by some of the ‘Old Masters’ which were I thought less impressive than I’d expected. I suppose you expect them to be on some whole different level to old paintings by different painters that you’ve seem before. To be honest I thought the gap often wasn’t so big. However there were others that lived up to expectations (Van Gogh for me), and a few painters I hadn’t heard of, but who’s work I really liked.

The building itself is impressive of course. A great place to wander through. Downstairs they have a café, but I thought it was overpriced for what they offered.

Positioned where it is this is an obvious tourist trap. But, unless you’ve got a particular interest in paintings, there’s other museums you might enjoy more. It is worth a visit though. You’ve got to find something you’ll like in a collection this large.