National Gallery, London

London's National Gallery is home to one of the most impressive collections of European painting in the world. Its prominent position on Trafalgar Square's northern side makes it easily accessible to all, and its free entry adds to its popularity.

The Gallery's permanent collection consists of art works dating from the 13th to 20th Centuries. The paintings are hung in a continuous time-line, and the collection includes works from all the major schools of painting, and houses masterpieces by great artists such as Van Gogh, Monet and Cézanne.

When we visited the gallery we barely scratched the surface….there is so much to see, and to be honest I don't have a huge amount of patience for gallery viewings. Will go back again one day though to see some more.

"Still life with oranges and walnuts" by Luis Melendez 1716-1780.
How can a painting with such a simple title be so wonderful.
The cross hatching is due to it being a postcard reproduction. Sadly it detracts from the efforts of the man I consider to be the greatest still life painter ever. Then again, what do I know!
I first came across Melendez in the galleries in Spain. I had seen still life paintings before but the calibre of his works lifted the bar so to speak.
When I walked into the room in the National Gallery that held just a couple of his works, they just stood out from the other masterpieces. He's that good.

Today, the National Gallery houses one of the finest collections of European paintings in the world, in a nationally important, Grade I listed, purpose built, central London building. Just as the building itself has been added to and developed throughout the years, so has the collection, with the works of art kept, numbering over 2,300 ranging from Dali, Van Gogh, Renoir among several other masters.

The National Gallery provides a fascinating and enlightening day out. It offers very good access to great facilities and a first rate collection of paintings from across the spectrum of European works, some of the most popular being:

Van Gogh's Sunflowers
Botticelli's Venus and Mars
Constable's The Haywain
Rubens' Samson and Delilah
Da Vinci's The Virgin of the Rocks
Gainsborough's Mr & Mrs Andrews.

An impressive building with ornate architecture atop a broad ste of stairs... settle at the head of an equally lovely Trafalgar Square. What better setting could there be for a National Gallery? :)

If you thought the outside was nice, try going inside!

It is simply lovely. From the architecture to the artwork. All so well done. They have some permanent exhibitions and then some exhibitions that run for a certain time. Some of the exhibits charge admission, and some don't, so it's best you lok at their website below prior to going along there, so you know what you are in for admission-wise.

On Wednesdays they have live music, they show films associated with certain exhibitions, plus have special events, some child-orientated and some adult-orientated. A lovely outing in London!

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The National Gallery is one of the foremost art galleries of the world. Plan to spend a lot of time if you're an art lover, or since it's free.. stop off and then return on another day. The special exhibitions are often worth the hefty admission price. There are a few lovely places to eat a snack or meal. Right next door is the equally wonderful National Portrait Gallery - very much worth a visit.

National Gallery (and National Portrait Gallery just around the corner) is a great place for a rainy afternoon if you are the slightest interested in paintings. The portrait gallery houses paintings of famous people whilst the gallery itself has treasures such as van Gogh's "Sunflowers" and da Vinci's "Virgin of the Rocks" apart from several works by Turner, Constable and other British painters, along with works by Rubens, Canaletto and Cezanne and so on. Best of all is that entrance is free!

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The National Gallery provides another excellent opportunity to do some indoor sightseeing -- especially since there is no entrance fee (but you can make a donation). Do remember, there are other great art collections in London. Most of Turner's paintings are in the Tate Britain, and if you are a fan of the impressionists and post-impressionists, the Courtauld Institute offers an absolutely stunning selection of masterpieces from that period.

The National Gallery, London houses one of the greatest collections of European painting in the world. These pictures belong to the public and entrance to see them is free.

Gallery displaying Western European painting from about 1250-1900. Includes work by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Turner, Renoir, Cezanne and Van Gogh. Also special exhibitions, lectures, video and audio-visual programmes, guided tours and holiday events for children and adults.