National Portrait Gallery
Faces of British history — Tudors to Tudor pop stars — in a free gallery reopened in 2023 after a major refurbishment.
The call
Worth it if you're watching the budget and you only have one day.
Short answer
Is National Portrait Gallery worth it?
National Portrait Gallery deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
It's less about painting technique and more about meeting the people who shaped (or sang for) the nation, from Henry VIII to Amy Winehouse.
- 02
The honest catch: if you don't know or care who these Britons are, room after room of faces can feel flat.
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to London
More about meeting the people who shaped Britain than fine-art technique — engaging if the names mean something to you.
You're watching the budget
National Portrait Gallery earns the spend, even on a tight budget.
You only have one day
Short trip or not, keep National Portrait Gallery.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, National Portrait Gallery is an easy yes.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free (special exhibitions ~£20)
- Timing
- Weekday mornings; the refreshed galleries are calmer than the National Gallery next door.
- Booking
- Free permanent collection; special exhibitions are ticketed.
- Allow
- 1.5 hrs
- Accessibility
- Step-free with lifts following the 2023 redevelopment.
- Getting there
- Leicester Square or Charing Cross Tube, just off Trafalgar Square.