The National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of significant figures from the late 15th century to the present day. This isn't the place to come for serious works of exceptional artistic merit - the overriding aim of the National Portrait Gallery is to reflect the status of the sitter, not the artist - but where else in London could you hope to find The Beatles, Henry VIII, Sir Richard Branson and JK Rowling all hanging out together? The appeal of this gallery (opened in 1856) rests simply in its comprehensive commemoration of British history from the late 15th century to the present day through the medium of portraiture. The sense of progression and the feeling of familiarity with many subjects are what make the gallery so appealing. Having said that, critically acclaimed self-portraits by William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds and other notable British artists are also displayed alongside the 10,000 portraits of everyone from statesmen to showbiz stars and media barons. The collection represents Britain and is arranged thematically, starting with the Tudors and ending with present day politicians and pop stars. Look out for the only surviving portrait of Shakespeare taken from life in The Ondaajte Wing, the Hans Holbein cartoon of Henry VIII, the anamorphic portrait of Edward VI, and the sculpture of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in medieval costume. Photographs, caricatures, drawings and sculpture are included in the collection which also boasts 250,000 archived images. The National Portrait Gallery also hosts the annual Portrait Prize competition alongside ever-changing collections of contemporary work. Best for: Accessible art, portraits and posing, Shakespeare and showbiz.
What's on at
National Portrait Gallery
Beatles To Bowie: The 60s Exposed 15th October 2009 - 24th January 2010 London in the swinging sixties is explored through carefully selected -...
Price: £9.00-£10.00
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portra... 5th November 2009 - 14th February 2010 The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, held at the National...
Radisson Edwardian Leicester Square
3 St Martin's Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7HL
Despite being part of a large-scale chain, the Radisson Leicester Square manages to feel like... More
London's Theatreland is the finest in the world, with swarms of Hollywood stars making pilgrimages across the pond to tread the hallowed boards of ... More
National Portrait Gallery
St Martin's Place, WC2H 0HE
Portraits from the 14th century to the present day
This isn't the place to come for serious works of exceptional... More
Gerhard Richter Portraits
National Portrait Gallery, WC2H 0HE
26th February 2009 - 31st May 2009
Following a highly successful solo show at the Serpentine Gallery at... More
BP Portrait Award 2009
National Portrait Gallery, WC2H 0HE
18th June 2009 - 20th September 2009
The £25,000 BP Portrait Award is, for many young artists, a ticket... More
The National Gallery dominates London's Trafalgar Square with its neo-classical columns and portico designed by William Wilkins adjoining the square on its east side where ... More
This historic church of St Martin-in-the-Fields overlooking Trafalgar Square was designed by James Gibbs and built in 1726. It houses a glorious eaterie ... More
The sight of lost and lonely tourists wandering around Leicester Square is already a distant memory. LondonTown.com's London Information Centre, Leicester Square, is situated directly ... More
Overlooking Leicester Square - the setting for London’s regular film premieres - the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire has glamorous, exclusive décor to match its high-profile setting: ... More
Set in between Trafalgar and Leicester Squares and right next to the National Portrait Gallery, the Thistle Trafalgar Square is a modern hotel set in ... More
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, held at the National Portrait Gallery each year, attracts around 7,000 images and is open to professionals and amateurs ...More
Every Friday, from 7-8pm, meet at the Sainsbury Wing Information Desk for a sixty-minute taster tour of the National Gallery. Within the collection are paintings ...More
From budding Harry Potters and bumbling Tommy Coopers to dynamic David Copperfields, Davenports is a haven for magicians of every level and ability. Non-magicians too ... More
Belgium's finest export, the first Godiva was opened in Brussels approximately 75 years ago by master chocolatier Joseph Draps and named after the legendary Lady ... More
Taking inspiration from Japanese ramman-noodle bars, Wagamama is the ultimate in high-quality, fast food. Huge bowls of steaming, soupy noodles, chicken dumplings with a chilli-soy ... More
The National Gallery's National Dining Rooms restaurant won Time Out's Best British Restaurant Award in 2007 for good reasons - they do all sorts of ... More
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and ... More
Imperial College London is the foremost medical training faculty in the country but for non-medical graduates wishing for a change of career, King’s is the ... More
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll ... More
In the shadow of both Centrepoint and St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, hidden from most tourists and residents alike, lies this beautiful West End garden. Originally a ... More
If you're not up for the hectic atmosphere of Waxy O'Connors it might be worth slipping across the street to her infinitely more tranquil Little ... More
Part Victorian pub, part museum dedicated to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous sleuth.
Thirsty Sherlock Holmes fans look no further than this homage to the ... More
This
was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really
shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and
velvet curtains ... More
A favourite with young royals - Princes Harry and William, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been spotted here... all at the same time. And where ... More
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London in the swinging sixties is explored through carefully selected - and largely unseen - photographs in the National Portrait Gallery's autumn exhibition, Beatles to Bowie. ...More
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, held at the National Portrait Gallery each year, attracts around 7,000 images and is open to professionals and amateurs ...More
LondonTown.com has special discounts every week. The amount of discount will vary depending on the dates you are coming and how far in advance you book. All discounts are subject to availability.
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The National Portrait Gallery houses portraits of significant figures from the late 15th century to the present day. This isn't the place to come for serious works of exceptional artistic merit - the overriding aim of the National Portrait Gallery is to reflect the status of the sitter, not the artist - but where else in London could you hope to find The Beatles, Henry VIII, Sir Richard Branson and JK Rowling all hanging out together? The appeal of this gallery (opened in 1856) rests simply in its comprehensive commemoration of British history from the late 15th century to the present day through the medium of portraiture. The sense of progression and the feeling of familiarity with many subjects are what make the gallery so appealing. Having said that, critically acclaimed self-portraits by William Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds and other notable British artists are also displayed alongside the 10,000 portraits of everyone from statesmen to showbiz stars and media barons. The collection represents Britain and is arranged thematically, starting with the Tudors and ending with present day politicians and pop stars. Look out for the only surviving portrait of Shakespeare taken from life in The Ondaajte Wing, the Hans Holbein cartoon of Henry VIII, the anamorphic portrait of Edward VI, and the sculpture of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in medieval costume. Photographs, caricatures, drawings and sculpture are included in the collection which also boasts 250,000 archived images. The National Portrait Gallery also hosts the annual Portrait Prize competition alongside ever-changing collections of contemporary work.
