The National Gallery
galleryMajor national art gallery housing the UK’s collection of Western European painting from the 13th to the early 20th century. Open daily with free admission, it displays around 2,300 paintings and also offers temporary exhibitions, learning programmes and venue hire.
Upcoming Events (32)
Zurbarán exhibition highlights: Online tour and Q&A
Join an online tour of the Zurbarán exhibition at the National Gallery, followed by a live Q&A. A guided virtual walkthrough reveals the master’s serene still lifes and sacred canvases, with gallery experts answering questions and offering behind-the-scenes insights.
Horses
Join a guided horses-themed tour at the National Gallery as part of the Members Exhibition. This focused walkthrough offers expert insights into equestrian artworks, with member access and curator-led commentary through the galleries.
Clouds and cosmos: A mixed media summer school
Clouds and Cosmos: A mixed media summer school at MATERIAL Gallery invites curious minds into hands-on art making, blending celestial imagery with collaborative workshops in vibrant East London spaces.
Members Mixer
A Members Mixer at the National Gallery offers a casual, social evening for members to mingle with peers among world-class art in Trafalgar Square. Expect light refreshments and informal conversations in an iconic museum setting.
Friday Lates discussion: Sir Gabriele Finaldi in conversation with Shirazeh Houshiary
Sir Gabriele Finaldi engages Shirazeh Houshiary in a Friday Lates conversation at the National Gallery, exploring contemporary art.
The Grand Tour
Experience a guided tour of The Grand Tour at the National Gallery in London. This members-only tour provides an intimate look at featured works from the exhibition, with expert commentary and curated insights through the galleries.
Sun-kissed sketches: Summer mindfulness session
An English-language gallery talk at the National Gallery exploring sun-kissed sketches and summer mindfulness, tied to the Members Exhibition. Enjoy a relaxed, conversation-friendly session blending art appreciation with reflective practice in a iconic London setting.
Back to basics: A practical guide to oil painting
Peter Paul Rubens
Curator-led tours of the Peter Paul Rubens exhibition at the National Gallery (London). Explore Rubens’ vibrant Baroque paintings, learn about his techniques, and gain behind-the-scenes context through exclusive member tours.
Picture This: Palin & Wilson in Conversation
Picture This: Palin & Wilson in Conversation fills London's MATERIAL Gallery with sharp ideas and candid dialogue, a tight-space talk blending art, journalism, and storytelling for a thoughtful crowd.
Artistic rivals: Michelangelo and Raphael
Join a guided tour at the National Gallery in London on June 27, 2026, exploring the rivalry and masterpieces of Michelangelo and Raphael. This Members Exhibition tour offers expert insights into Renaissance painting, the artists' rival dynamic, and the gallery's prized rooms.
Curator's introduction to Waldmüller: Landscapes
Curator-led introduction to Waldmüller's landscapes at the National Gallery, presented as an in-conversation talk exploring the exhibition's key works and themes.
Embroidery Summer School
Embroidery Summer School at MATERIAL Gallery blends hands-on stitching, bold color, and playful technique, inviting art lovers to learn, create, and connect in a bright, contemporary London space.
Stillness and splendour: Zurbarán and the art of 17th-century Spain
Step into Zurban's stillness and splendor at MATERIAL Gallery in London, where tranquil light and austere Spanish altarpieces invite a contemplative journey through 17th-century devotion and masterful quiet drama.
250th anniversary of American Independence
Join curator-led tours at the National Gallery London to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence. Discover a commemorative display and related artworks with expert insights into the historical context and the collection.
Sacred citrus: A herbal workshop with Lab Tonica
Join Lab Tonica for a herbal workshop hosted at the National Gallery. Explore the lore of sacred citrus, learn practical herbal techniques, and experience a hands-on, gallery-based session that blends art, nature, and mindful craft.
Fashion in painting: Symbols, status and changes in dress
Delve into how fashion and dress are depicted in painting, exploring symbols of status and changing wardrobes across eras. This National Gallery talk traces how artists encode identity, power, and social shifts through garments, sparking a lively discussion of art and fashion history.
Artemisia Gentileschi
Join a guided, house-member tour of Artemisia Gentileschi's exhibition at the National Gallery, London. Discover her dramatic Baroque paintings and the context of her groundbreaking career through expert commentary available to members only.
Odyssey: An epic exploration of the collection
Take an exclusive tour at the National Gallery exploring highlights from the collection. Odyssey invites house members to a guided, insider look at renowned works, with expert context and fresh perspectives. A thoughtful, museum‑grade experience for serious art lovers.
Creative connections: Experience art through music
Join a thoughtfully curated talk at the National Gallery as part of the House Members Exhibition. Creative connections explore how music can illuminate visual art, with conversations from curators and artists that reveal cross-disciplinary insights and new ways to experience paintings and sound.
Waldmüller-inspired wine tasting at the National Gallery
Experience a wine tasting inspired by Waldmüller, traversing landscapes and biodynamics in a museum setting at the National Gallery. This curated session fuses art-inspired storytelling with sensory tastings, ideal for adults and house members seeking a cultured, convivial evening.
The Aulos and Odyssey
An evocative concert pairing ancient Greek wind instrument music (the aulos) with Odyssey-inspired performance at the National Gallery. In a museum setting, expect live classical pieces and theatrical storytelling that fuse history and sound.
Stories of Art 1800-1900
Stories of Art 1800-1900 at MATERIAL Gallery invites everyone into a participatory look at 19th-century art, where courses unfold like guided explorations through color, form, and era.
Rembrandt
Join member-only guided tours exploring Rembrandt’s masterpieces at the National Gallery. This exclusive access offers curator-led commentary on select paintings within the House Members Exhibition, highlighting Dutch master techniques and historical context.
Mythica: The Women Behind the Iliad and the Odyssey
Join a gallery-based book club to explore Mythica: The Women behind the Iliad and the Odyssey. In-conversation with scholars, this discussion examines the roles of women in ancient myth and how their stories influence epic literature, set within the National Gallery.
Light, water, air: Watercolour landscape painting course
Light, water, air bursts into MATERIAL Gallery as a watercolour landscape course invites beginners and seasoned artists to explore translucent washes, moody horizons, and tactile pigments within a bright London studio.
Leonardo's 'Paragone'
Join a curator-led tour of Leonardo's Paragone at the National Gallery, limited to House Members. This indoor walkthrough offers exclusive context on the painting-vs-sculpture debate, guiding you through the exhibition's highlights and enabling close looking at masterworks.
The life and times of William Hogarth
Explore the life and times of William Hogarth at the National Gallery with a dedicated members-only tour. This exhibition delves into Hogarth's 18th-century satirical painting and portraiture in a refined gallery setting.
Objects as portraits: Still life oil painting summer school
Objects as portraits still life oil painting summer school at MATERIAL Gallery in London invites artists to give everyday items a soulful glow through hands-on practice and playful exploration.
Venice unmasked: Canaletto and the portrait of a city
Join a focused talk at the National Gallery exploring Canaletto’s view of Venice and how the city is portrayed in 18th-century painting. The session features expert-led conversations from curators and historians, revealing hidden details of cityscapes, light, and civic life in this celebrated exhibition.
Life drawing summer school
Life drawing summer school at MATERIAL Gallery in London invites everyone to explore gesture and form, with guided exercises, relaxed critique and artist-led sessions in a bright, brick-walled space.
Beyond the body: From drawing to sculpture summer school
Beyond the body: From drawing to sculpture summer school at MATERIAL Gallery in London offers hands‑on art making for everyone, guiding curious creators from sketch to sculpture in a welcoming space.