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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 06 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Sarah Barrell

Founded in 1856 as a visual hall of fame for the country’s great and good, today the National Portrait Gallery is still a vital part of British culture. The form may be traditional but the collection of 175,000 portraits range from stiff-upper-lipped royals and Victorian politicians to modern-day celebrities and Olympic heroes.

If you’re in London in summer, look out for the gallery’s prestigious BP Portrait Award; otherwise, the rotating exhibitions of portrait photography cover lively themes such as rock’n’roll, fashion and dance.

Don’t miss

What makes the NPG unique is that it encompasses portraits of everyone from Elizabeth I to Barack Obama. Highlights include the 16th-century portrait of Anne Boleyn (by an unknown artist), Antony van Dyk’s self-portrait (17th century) and Map of Days by Grayson Perry, which depicts the artist’s inner psyche, rather than external appearance.

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Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The nearest Underground station is Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines).

Audio guides offer commentary on over 300 portraits on display, grouped into five themed tours. There are also films from the gallery’s curators and exclusive interviews with artists and sitters. Various apps (for iPhone and Android) are available via the gallery’s website, including an excellent examination of Lucian Freud’s work.

For food & drink, head to the rooftop Portrait Restaurant, with modern British cuisine from breakfast to dinner and views of Nelson and Big Ben. Afternoon tea is served too.

When to do it

The gallery is open all year round, Saturday to Thursday. Closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

The Hub Covent Garden

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.1 miles]

A super-affordable, tech-savvy stay in very centre of the capital between The Strand and Covent Garden, with a buzzy café, popular with locals.

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Z Hotel Covent Garden

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]

A sleek, streamlined budget option with an exclusive edge, accessed via a ‘secret’ courtyard just behind Covent Garden Piazza.

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The Resident Covent Garden

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]

Low prices without sacrificing style or comfort are the order of the day at The Resident’s smart Covent Garden address.

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Henrietta Hotel London

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.3 miles]

A stylish boutique hotel with a standout bar, superb London Eye views and Covent Garden and the Royal Opera House right outside the door.

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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

London

Greater London, United Kingdom (UK)

World-class culture, fashion, music, food and history – and a mind-boggling array of bucket list experiences – packed into one extraordinary, incomparable destination. 

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National Gallery

London, United Kingdom (UK)[0.1 miles]

One of the world’s greatest collections of Western European paintings, with more than 2,300 works on display from Da Vinci to Monet.

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This iconic and atmospheric West End square has a historic Victorian market building, street performers, restaurants and boutiques.

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Fascinating museum offering an insight into the remarkable transport heritage of the city that pioneered the underground railway. Trains, iconic black cabs, scarlet double-decker buses and more.

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World-famous, incomparable military parade dating back to the 17th century, involving thousands of soldiers, horses and musicians in full regalia, occurs each June to mark the Queen’s official birthday.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 2.5 hours

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Royal Academy of Arts

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