The moment I saw Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ my heart started beating so fast. It was a thrilling moment for me. Just the thought that many years ago, Van Gogh touched this canvas and I am standing just a metre away from it was moving. The same feeling can be said about the other paintings there by other artists, like Renoir, Monet, Raphael, Van Eyck, Delaroche, Constable and more. If you are moved by art, you really have to visit this museum.

We often visit the national gallery when in London and it’s always been a very relaxing experience but we left quite upset as a I asked a member of staff a question he was abrupt aggressive rude and very dismissive of my question . When I left I mentioned it to a member of staff outside who said that’s the 2nd complaint about a member of staff that morning. Due to this I certainly wouldn’t return and I was so annoyed that a member of staff could speak to the public like this. I would be happy to discuss further

Great museum with lots of art from many different eras. We went mid afternoon on a weekday and the line was very long to get in. The museum seems to be busy all days / hours as it is a free museum. You are not allowed to bring in any liquids so be sure to toss them or finish drinking them before entering.

Thank you for the free entrance. I came with my teen, who didn’t last long. I wish the Museum Guidebook came in pocketbook version, hardbacks are heavy to bring home as souvenirs… Loved the gift shops! Sad to see many areas of the museum closed off, I guess I will have to come back!

Visiting the National Gallery was an incredible experience, not just because of the world-renowned artwork but because of the overall atmosphere. The moment I stepped inside, I was surrounded by a sense of history, creativity, and elegance that made the entire visit feel truly special. The gallery’s grand architecture, with its high ceilings and beautifully lit rooms, created a calm and inspiring environment. Each room had its own unique charm, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the masterpieces on display. Despite the number of visitors, the space felt peaceful, making it easy to appreciate the details and emotions captured in each painting. What I loved most was how the atmosphere enhanced my connection to the art. Whether standing in front of a Van Gogh or a Turner, the quiet and reflective setting made each piece feel even more powerful. The blend of history, culture, and serenity made my visit truly unforgettable. For anyone who loves art or simply enjoys being in a beautifully curated space, the National Gallery is a must-visit. It’s not just a museum—it’s an experience. Rating: 5/5

We had pre booked tickets for 2pm on a Sunday afternoon, we only had to queue for about 10 minutes for entry. The queue for people with no tickets was very long so we were really pleased we had pre booked. This is a magnificent art gallery with a stunning collection. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Yes it is crowded and busy and we would all prefer to admire the art with less people but this is a major “free” attraction in a capital city so to be expected.

I've visited and enjoyed the National Gallery many times over the years. There are some magnificent artworks but sadly now there are so many visitors that you can't really enjoy it. If a Monday morning in February is busy, I dread to think what peak season may be like. Maybe somebody could advise when the quieter times are.

Add the National Gallery of London to your Must-Visit list in the city. Be sure to get your FREE tickets before your trip so you don’t miss out. There are several different rooms with paintings from many different eras that you could enjoy the history and artistry for hours. Pros: 1) Free tickets 2) Close to public tube (subway) station and markets Cons: 1) You do have to reserve tickets in advance 2) you have to pay for coat check @NoMoneyTravelGuy

Really terrible and unwelcoming place for visitors. I had an hour to kill before my train so thought I would go and look at some art. The queue was long and after 10 minutes hadn’t really moved so I left as I didn’t want to spend my hour queueing and still not get in. I said to the staff member at the bottom of the steps that it would be helpful if there was an indication of queue time from various points as I was tight for time. He said if I went to the entrance at the other side of the steps I could go straight in. This was true, and I did, but why make people wait in such a long queue the other side if there are two entrances, or why not divert people to both? Having got in, I was directed to the bag check. The member of staff there ignored me completely whilst looking at my bag, as he was having a chat to his colleague. Eventually I asked if he was finished, and he then seemed aware of my presence and said “Yes, go!” as if I was being a nuisance. On entering the main area, there is nothing to indicate where to go, where specific works are and so on. You’re not offered or given a map or guide. There is a small room plan on the wall at the top of the stairs but it just gives room numbers and no indication of what is in each. Having gone in and out of a few rooms but not finding many paintings that I recognised, I went back down to what appeared to be a reception desk to ask the staff there if there was a map. As I started to speak to the staff member on the desk, she turned her back on me and started chatting to a colleague at the rear of the reception area. I waited there but she carried on ignoring me. I just gave up and left at that point.

PROS * One of the world's greatest and finest art galleries * Tremendous and fantastic display of outstanding classic art and paintings * There are regular and special unique exhibitions * The building itself is an impressive architectural structure * This museum is centrally located on Trafalgar Square * It is free admission! CONS * It is always crowded, including * There are so many rooms that it can be confusing to see the stuff * The price of special exhibits is high especially the cafeteria "I VISITED THIS PLACE"...... … because it is a fantastic place and an important component of any visit to London. It is a stunning and incredible museum, and no visit anywhere is complete for me without seeing the Monet paintings on display gallery rooms 41 and 43. I marveled once again at the realistic paintings of Venice form the 1600s- it looks exactly identical to the views when I visited there! And the paintings by Caravaggio were also so realistically life-like. It was fantastic to be in a “place” where the building itself and the rooms are art in-and-of itself. I noticed even the bright bordeaux colors of the walls so complemented the hanging displayed artwork. At the time of my visit, there was a special exhibit of Van Gogh, but the entry cost with advanced reservations was £25. In summary, I love the museum and I loved wandering through it… even though it was clearly crowded. I was thrilled with the place and took a large amount of fantastic photos of the paintings (and close ups) and of the structure itself and of the visitors. WAS IT WORTH THE COST? It is free WOULD "I VISIT THIS PLACE" AGAIN? For sure, in order to see (at least) the Monet paintings in galleries 41 and 43 ADVICE * Be sure that this place belongs on every tourist's main itinerary * Enjoy the architecture and design of the building and its rooms * Marvel in the ecstasy of seeing the paintings * Be sure to visit galleries 41 and 43 * Be prepared and beware and watch out for and avoid the elementary school groups * Take advantage of the regularly scheduled special exhibits… if you can afford it

I went to see the Van Gogh exhibit and it was fantastic. I have a mobility issue and the staff were excellent throughout the visit. All the staff were polite and courteous and so helpful to me with my disabilities. I thought the day would be hard but the care made it bearable and I am so happy to have seen the work from the greatest ever artist! Thank you.

My go to place when I lived in London! Not as massive compared to other art museums in the world but I immersed myself in so much art!

We had booked to see the Van Gogh exhibition which was just as well as numbers were very limited. There was still a good number of people in the Galleries but if you took your time and walked round in order of the catalogue we had a good viewing of each painting. Afterwards we toured the rest of the National Gallery and saw some amazing paintings that we had not seen before

Titian, Raphael, da Vinci, Michelangelo, van Gogh, Rubens, Velazquez, Rembrandt, Gaugin, Degas, Monet, Manet, Renoir and many many more. Is this the reason to visit? Free of charge. Located on Trafalgar Square. Must be visited.

We visited the Van Gogh exhibition, with timed tickets. Our enjoyment was much diminished because the exhibition was over subscribed, and we had to endure so many people taking multiple photographs, videos and selfies.