The National Gallery, Charing Cross, London

A great place – try and have lunch here as often as possible, very calming.

The fragility of Leonardo’s paintings and drawings have made it nearly impossible to pull off a Leonardo show of any size.

Leonardo Da Vinci: Painter at The Court of Milan at The National Gallery is the largest collection of work ever gathered in one place.

Leonardo spent nearly 20 years in Milan and the gallery has seven paintings that have survived from that period.

These include the recently discovered and restored, once thought lost masterpiece of Christ as Salvator Mundi.

There is also the stunning early copy by his pupil Giampietrino of the famous Last Supper Leonardo painted for the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

The tickets for this sold out in a matter of weeks and I feel very lucky that I managed to purchase two for this once in a lifetime exhibition.

I found myself extremely moved by Da Vinci’s paintings, especially the two versions of the Virgin of the Rocks, one housed by the Louvre in Paris, the other by the National Gallery itself. These two paintings have never been in the same room together, even during Leonardo’s lifetime.

There is something of the spiritual about Leonardo Da Vinci’s work that can’t help but make you feel moved and in awe of his unique talent.

The experience and privilege of visiting Painter at The Court of Milan at The National Gallery will stay with my for the rest of my life.

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National Gallery is a sea of serenity, from the minute you set foot through those great big wooden doors you are transported in time. Like going through a star gate to share the same air as arts greatest patrons. Just being in their presence you get this sort of chill running down your spine, the paintings also do not let you down.

Classics so many of them, priceless works of art, its like stepping through a time warp or machine, walking through the renaissance or baroque periods. Some of the most creative time in planets history.

My recommendation is it will be one of the most rewarding and cultural days out you can imagine.

Probably the best art museum in London. A beautiful building full of inspiration. Not only for tourists. Definitely a place you HAVE to visit!

Enjoy going to different exhibitions which are over different periods of time. During weekdays I like going there for an hour or two as it becomes overwhelming. For me this is the greatest collection of art works in the world. Most of all you can enjoy this at no charge (it’s totally free).

A great gallery, I could spend ages in here.
A lot of interesting art work on display from different time periods, and a range of national and international artists.
Even though the gallery is arranged very well (according to time period) you could probably get lost here – it would be okay because you’d be surrounded by art ;)

One of the most wonderful museums to visit in London. Not just full of wonderful paintings and sculptures, my favourites being the Impressionists and post impressionists, but also a wonderful building to see.
Restores the artistic equilibrium in your life.

This is the place, everyone has to visit whoever been to London... The atmosphere can not describe only you can see with your eyes!!!

Wondrous paintings wrapped in beautiful architecture - a true delight.

On a more practical note it's also perfectly located and contains a lovely little cafe as well!

Another excellent building in a stunning location. Before you even go into the gallery you get to see he beautiful building. This gallery is another one that you could spend the whole day getting lost inside. Workshops for school are offered and also like many galleries are free! This is such an excellent gallery - every painting is filled with many stories. I always enjoy following a guided group and listening to the descriptions of those who work at the gallery.

A beautiful building crammed full of inspiring works of art - what's not to love? It's a very peaceful spot nestled amongst the hustle and bustle of central London, a haven of quiet beauty within the metropolitan buzz of the capital.
A great place to wander and lose yourself.

I remember my first visit to the national gallery when I was only 12 and I still to this day go back for more.
Their collection of French 19th-century impressionist like Claude Monet, Alfred Sisley, Paul Cézanne , Édouard Manet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas still take my breath away. Their are 1000's of paintings to loose your self in and too many to mention. If you love art or have never seen the great french painters before this is the place to start. Please give a generous donation at the door as it is free to enter.

You forget sometimes, what's just on your doorstep. Totally absorbing.

Pick up one of the £1 guides in say, Japanese, so you can at least spot the room numbers, but have no pre-conceptions as you lose yourself physically in the maze of inter-connecting rooms and mentally in the worlds of paint.

Maybe, also pop down and see Bridget Riley juxtaposed against the old masters - until May 2011.

The National Gallery is one of the reasons I love London so much: where else can you just enter such a majestic building in the heart of the city, sit in front of any of its 2,300 masterpieces 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 things in silence, without all the tourists running around taking pics with their mobiles.

If there is only one place to visit in this town, this is it. After 30 minutes you will be overwhelmed. Take your time, see a few things, leave and come back every day for a year. lol

When ever I am down with family or friends I take them here.
SO much history.
Van gough, Michaelangelo.
wow

I work nearby and pop in in my lunch hour all the time (a few short trips is a much better way to see the collection, it's a bit overwhelming otherwise!)

Love the cafe, love the special exhibitions, love love love the paintings.

This place always seems to drag me back. Throughout the year there are many first class exhibitions that will cover most peoples taste. Go on take a look

I certainly recommend the friday´s evening in The National Gallery. The atmosphere is totally different to the week and you´re going to find live music and a bar with a delicious wine. The doors are open until 9 pm and you can find more that a "gallery", but a place to experience the art.

When I first came to Europe, alone, fresh-er faced and freezing (note to all Australians, do not visit London for the first time in January, you do not actually knwo what cold is even though you think you do) I wanted to visit this gallery first.

Of al those in London this was the fist place I came to because living in near isolation and studying art is a bit of a cultural oddity. Study are in Europe? Go and see the real thing. Study art in the Pacific? Get out a library book and get creative.

Firstly I was bowled over by the fact it was free, even a Library card costs money. Secondly, I loved the layout, the old style room on room, high ceiling classic style. The point of fascination came from the art itself, if you have never seen ancient religious inspired art, crept up to a renaissance master, or got close enough to see the brush strokes of the impressionist, then two things might happen. You might start hyperventilating, and you might also cry a little (I did both). Degas was the tipper- you've been warned- it's also nice to know the staff will bring you tissues.

Classic London experience forever in my memory- this is a great place to review your art history, or get a full introduction.