Experts' Choice Award National Portrait Gallery
What the experts agree on
Centuries of British celebrity in one gallery—from Tudor royals to modern icons like Amy Winehouse. The collection prioritizes historical significance over artistic technique, mixing formal paintings with playful caricatures and contemporary
“The National Portrait Gallery is the Platonic ideal of Facebook.”
– Let's Go
Fodor's "The National Portrait Gallery was founded in 1856 with a single aim: to gather together portraits of famous (and infamous) British men and women." Full review
Time Out "Portraits don't have to be stuffy. The National Portrait Gallery has everything from oil paintings of stiff-backed royals to photos of soccer stars and gloriously unflattering political caricatures." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery has since 1896 occupied a late-19C Italian Renaissance-style building neighbouring the National Gallery." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Explore portraits of famous citizens from Tudor Kings and Queens like King Henry VII in 1505 to the Bronte Sisters in 1834." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Explore portraits of famous citizens, from Tudor Kings and Queens like King Henry VII in 1505 to the Bronte Sisters in 1834. " Full review
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Don't miss the 1981 portrait of Lady Diana Spencer.
Time Out "Every Thursday and Friday the gallery stays open until 9pm meaning you can take part in drawing classes, talks and discussions after work." Full review
Afar Magazine "an absolute beaut of a gallery, with a permanent collection of portraits of everyone you’ve ever heard of, from Elizabeth I and Winston Churchill to the Duchess of Cambridge and Amy Winehouse." Full review
Frommer's "Pictures have been chosen on the basis of who the subject is, not how well they've been captured by the artist." Full review
National Geographic "My city's best museum is too hard to choose, but I do love the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A"
Condé Nast Traveler "Following a three-year hiatus, the iconic National Portrait Gallery re-opened its doors to the public in summer 2023 with new spaces, collections, and elevated dining options to boot. The..."
