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Pro tip: When visiting, start on the top floor and work down. Starting at the top and descending is the most logical way to move through British history, and it means you finish near the exit, café, and shop.
How Far in Advance to Book the National Portrait Gallery in London
Updated February 2026
The National Portrait Gallery sits just behind the National Gallery on St Martin's Place, a short walk from Trafalgar Square in the heart of London. Its collection, the largest of its kind in the world, spans portraits of the people who have shaped British history from the late Middle Ages to the present day, rendered in everything from oil on canvas to photography, sculpture, and video. Following a major three-year renovation that concluded in 2023, the gallery has emerged fresher, brighter, and more welcoming than ever, with new gallery spaces, improved facilities, and a spectacular rooftop restaurant to boot. Best of all, entry to the permanent collection is completely free.
At a Glance
How Early to Book:
Book 1-2 days ahead of your visit for quick entry to the permanent collection. Most time-slots will remain available up until a day or two ahead of time. Special exhibits may require earlier booking.
At least one month ahead of time.
Best Times to Visit:
Mid-week (Tues - Thurs) have the smallest crowds, especially in the morning hours.
Ticket price:
Like many museums in London, the National Portrait Gallery is free of charge. Special exhibits may cost a fee.
Where to Book:
Museum Address:
Do You Need to Book National Portrait Gallery Tickets in Advance?
General admission to the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection is free. However, during busy periods in the Summer months, we do recommend booking a free timed entry reservation to avoid long queues.
Special and temporary exhibitions require a paid, timed ticket, and the most popular shows do sell out, particularly for weekend slots. Booking in advance online via npg.org.uk is strongly recommended if you have a specific exhibition in mind. The gallery charges no booking fee for online, phone, or in-person ticket purchases.
Concessions are available for special exhibits for students and disabled visitors (10% off), and children aged 12 to 18, along with those in receipt of certain benefits including Universal Credit and PIP, receive a 50% discount. Children under 12 in family groups go free. Gallery Members enjoy free entry to all exhibitions as a core membership benefit, along with discounts in the shop and restaurant.
Opening Hours and Entry Information
The National Portrait Gallery is open daily, with extended hours on two evenings each week:
Sunday to Thursday: 10:30am to 6:00pm
Friday and Saturday: 10:30am to 9:00pm
The gallery is closed on 24, 25, and 26 December.
Admission to the permanent collection is free. Special exhibition tickets vary in price by show, current exhibitions as of early 2026 include a major Sigmund Freud works-on-paper exhibition (£23 to £25) and a Catherine Opie photography exhibition (£19.50). Check the gallery's website for the current programme and pricing before your visit.
What is the Best Time to Visit the National Portrait Gallery?
The NPG is popular but rarely feels as overwhelming as some of London's larger museums. That said, weekends and school holidays are busier, and certain rooms can get crowded, particularly those displaying the most iconic portraits.
Weekday mornings are consistently the quietest time to visit. Arriving at opening (10:30am) on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday will give you the most space and the most unhurried experience. The Friday and Saturday late openings until 9:00pm are a useful option for those who want to visit after work or after dinner, because crowds thin considerably in the early evening and the atmosphere is pleasantly calm.
If visiting during school holidays, the gallery can be noticeably busier in the middle of the day, so an early start is especially worthwhile.
What is the Best Way to Get to the National Portrait Gallery?
The gallery is extremely central and very well connected by public transport.
By Tube: The closest station is Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines), around 230 metres from the gallery's main entrance on Ross Place. Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines) is 195 metres away and is actually the nearest station, though neither Charing Cross nor Leicester Square has a lift — see the Accessibility section below for step-free options. Embankment (Circle, District, Bakerloo, and Northern lines) is around 490 metres away and does have step-free access from street to platform on some lines.
By Train: Charing Cross mainline station is approximately 320 metres from the gallery and serves trains from south-east London and Kent.
By Bus: Numerous bus routes stop at Trafalgar Square, which is immediately adjacent to the gallery. This is one of the best-served bus stops in London.
By Bike: Several Santander Cycles docking stations are within easy reach, including on St Martin's Street and William IV Street. Note that bikes cannot be brought into the gallery, but there are bike racks nearby. Folding bikes are also not permitted inside the building.
By car: Parking in this part of central London is extremely limited. There is a public car park on the corner of Whitcomb Street and Orange Street (020 7839 5858), but driving is generally not recommended. The area falls within the Congestion Charge zone.
Is the National Portrait Gallery Worth Visiting?
I would say yes, particularly following the recent renovation. The NPG occupies a slightly different cultural space from most London galleries, because rather than showcasing art for art's sake, it uses portraiture as a lens through which to explore British history and identity. The result is a collection that feels unusually immediate and human: you are looking at the faces of monarchs, writers, scientists, musicians, and activists whose lives genuinely shaped the world.
Some of the most recognisable images in British cultural history are here. The only surviving portrait of Shakespeare made during his lifetime, Holbein's striking studies of Tudor courtiers, Cecil Beaton's photographs of the Queen, David Bailey's images of the 1960s. The collection also extends to the present day, with an active commissioning programme that ensures living figures are regularly represented. The building itself, post-renovation, is beautiful: light-filled, thoughtfully laid out, and with one of the finest rooftop views in London. And given that entry is free, it is one of the easiest yes decisions in the city.
The National Portrait Gallery houses the only surviving portrait of William Shakespeare made during his lifetime. It is one of the most iconic portraits in the museum.
How Much Time Should I Spend at the National Portrait Gallery?
The NPG is significantly more manageable in scale than neighbours like the National Gallery or the British Museum. You can cover the highlights in two to three hours, and a thorough visit covering most of the collection can be done in a half-day.
The collection is arranged broadly chronologically across four floors, from the Tudors and Stuarts at the top, working down through the 18th and 19th centuries, and finishing with the 20th century and contemporary works at ground level. This layout makes it easy to focus on a particular era if you have limited time. If you are combining a visit with a special exhibition, factor in an additional hour or more.
The rooftop restaurant is worth building into your plans as a destination in its own right. See the dining section below.
Guided Tours and Audio Guides
The NPG offers free guided tours of the permanent collection on selected days, led by gallery volunteers and educators. These are a great way to get context and curatorial insight, particularly for first-time visitors. Check the daily schedule at the information desk near the main entrance on arrival.
Audio guides are available to hire for a small fee and cover highlights of the collection across multiple floors. They are available in several languages. Group visits can also be arranged with dedicated guides. Just contact the gallery in advance for group bookings.
The gallery also runs a varied events programme for adults, ranging from illustrated talks and practical workshops to drop-in drawing classes and Friday and Saturday late-night events. Many are free; others are ticketed. The full programme is listed on the NPG website and is worth checking if you have flexibility around your visit dates.
Temporary Exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery in London
The NPG's temporary exhibition programme is consistently strong. Recent years have brought major shows on figures including David Hockney, Cecil Beaton, and Yevonde, and the current programme as of early 2026 includes exhibitions focused on Sigmund Freud's works on paper (February to May 2026), photographer Catherine Opie (March to May 2026), and a celebratory Marilyn Monroe portrait exhibition. The annual Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize, one of the most prestigious portrait photography competitions in the world, is also hosted here each autumn.
Exhibition tickets must be booked in advance online, particularly for weekend visits. Prices vary but typically fall in the range of £15 to £25. Gallery Members receive free entry to all ticketed exhibitions.
Where Should I Eat at and Near the National Portrait Gallery?
The gallery has three eating options, all of which are worth knowing about:
The Portrait Restaurant by Richard Corrigan occupies the top floor of the building and is one of the most spectacular dining rooms in London. The views over Trafalgar Square, Nelson's Column, and the Houses of Parliament are extraordinary. You are essentially eye-level with the top of Nelson's Column. The menu showcases contemporary British and Irish cuisine with a strong emphasis on seasonal and sustainable ingredients. It is a proper, sit-down restaurant rather than a casual café, and booking is highly recommended, particularly for lunch at weekends. It is open for lunch and dinner during gallery hours, and for drinks at the bar throughout. You can make reservations directly with the restaurant.
Audrey Green Café on the ground floor is a relaxed, bright space serving coffee, fresh juices, cakes, sandwiches, and light meals. It is a good option for a break between galleries without leaving the building.
Larry's, a café bar in the vaulted brick lower ground floor, offers drinks and lighter bites in a more informal setting.
For eating outside the gallery, Trafalgar Square and the surrounding streets offer a huge range of options. J Sheekey in nearby St Martin's Court is one of London's finest and most beloved seafood restaurants. Café in the Crypt at St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square is an atmospheric and affordable option for lunch. The streets of Covent Garden, a ten-minute walk east, offer everything from market food stalls to destination restaurants.
Accessibility at the National Portrait Gallery
All entrances to the National Portrait Gallery have step-free access, and lifts serve all floors. The main entrance is on Ross Place; wheelchair users arriving by taxi or car are recommended to be dropped at the corner of Orange Street and Charing Cross Road and enter via the main entrance.
Note that the nearest Tube stations (Charing Cross and Leicester Square) do not have lifts. For accessible transport, Embankment station has step-free access on some lines, or a short taxi or bus journey from a more accessible station is advisable. The TfL Journey Planner's step-free option is a useful planning tool.
Wheelchairs are available to borrow from the cloakroom. Disabled visitors receive free admission to the gallery's ticketed exhibitions, and one carer or companion also receives free entry. The gallery has accessible toilet facilities on multiple floors, including a Changing Places toilet on the lower ground floor.
Rules, Bags, and Security
Backpacks and large bags over 35 x 25 x 15cm are not permitted inside temporary exhibitions. These must be left in the cloakroom before entering an exhibition. The cloakroom is on Floor 0, next to the Tickets and Information desk, and is open during gallery hours (last deposit one hour before closing). There is limited cloakroom space, so the gallery recommends not bringing large items where possible.
Photography for personal, non-commercial use is permitted throughout the permanent galleries unless signage indicates otherwise. Individual exhibitions may have different photography rules, which will be displayed at the entrance to each show.
Food and drink are not permitted in the galleries. Free WiFi is available throughout the building.
What Else is There to Do Near the National Portrait Gallery?
The NPG's location near Trafalgar Square puts it within easy reach of a remarkable concentration of things to see and do.
The National Gallery is immediately adjacent, one of the world's great art collections, housing masterpieces from the 13th to the 19th centuries, and entirely free to enter. The contrast between the two galleries is fascinating: the National Gallery gives you the art, the Portrait Gallery gives you the people.
Trafalgar Square itself is right on the doorstep and worth a few minutes. The Fourth Plinth contemporary art commission is always worth seeing, and the square is one of London's great public spaces. St Martin-in-the-Fields, the elegant church on the north-east corner, hosts free lunchtime concerts several days a week.
Covent Garden is a ten-minute walk east, with its market, street performers, shops, and restaurants. The Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House (about a 15-minute walk) has one of the finest Impressionist collections in Britain, including several Van Goghs and a famous Manet.
For theatre, the West End is essentially on the doorstep: the Coliseum, English National Opera, and dozens of theatres are all within easy walking distance.
Final Tips for Visiting the National Portrait Gallery
Start at the top and work down. The chronological hang runs from the Tudor period at the top of the building to the contemporary at the bottom. Starting at the top and descending is the most logical way to move through British history, and it means you finish near the exit, café, and shop.
Book the rooftop restaurant if you plan to eat there. The Portrait Restaurant is genuinely one of London's best dining-with-a-view experiences, and tables fill up quickly, especially for weekend lunch. Reserve in advance via the gallery website.
Visit on a Friday or Saturday evening. The late opening until 9:00pm is underused by tourists and offers a calm, unhurried way to see the collection. The rooftop bar is also particularly atmospheric as the sun sets over Trafalgar Square.
Check the events programme. The NPG runs one of London's more interesting gallery event schedules, from illustrated talks to late-night events, and many are free. It is worth a look before you visit to see if anything coincides with your dates.
The gallery is a great rainy-day option. Unlike some London attractions where queues form outdoors, the NPG's free walk-in permanent collection means you can head there spontaneously when the weather turns, without worrying about wasted ticket costs.
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