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 (50)
A scenic walk through European landscapes: Online tour
From MATERIAL Gallery, an online tour offers a scenic walk through European landscapes, where virtual rooms host contemporary works and invite Members and Friends to a luminous, borderless gallery stroll.
British Sign Language (BSL) Talk: Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse
At MATERIAL Gallery in London, the British Sign Language Talk on Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse turns a lecture into a vivid, inclusive moment—live BSL interpretation, intimate gallery setting, and sharp insight into 19th‑century equine portraiture.
Curators' Introduction: Zurbarán
MATERIAL Gallery in London hosts Curators' Introduction: Zurbaran—a crisp preview day for the show, with curators guiding walkthroughs and members mingling amid Spanish Baroque masterpieces.
Sitar at sunset, inspired by Monet: Tommy Khosla
At MATERIAL Gallery in London, Tommy Khosla threads sitar melodies with Monet-inspired visuals as sunset bleeds across the room, fusing classical strings with impressionist mood for a spellbinding evening.
Talk and draw: Whistlejacket
Join a guided Talk and Draw workshop at the National Gallery inspired by George Stubbs' Whistlejacket. A short gallery talk pairs with hands-on drawing prompts, delivering a creative, studio-style drawing session amid the museum's iconic artworks.
Friday Lates student takeover: UAL Central Saint Martins
Friday Lates at MATERIAL Gallery in London showcases UAL Central Saint Martins talent with a student takeover—live music, bold performance, and late-night energy across art and sound.
Curators' introduction to Zurbarán: Livestream (online access)
Curators' introduction to Zurbarán streams live from MATERIAL Gallery in London, a thoughtful conference with talks and conversations around the House Members Exhibition, open to members online.
The story of Impressionists
Take a guided tour through The story of Impressionists at the National Gallery, tracing how Monet, Degas, and their peers transformed painting. This exhibition-focused tour reveals defining works, techniques, and the cultural push of late 19th-century France, within the gallery's historic spaces.
The National Gallery Free Creative Space
The National Gallery invites visitors of all ages to a free, drop-in Creative Space. Explore art hands-on with drawing, painting and building activities in accessible gallery spaces—no booking required—creating playful, family-friendly moments in a world-class setting.
Wright of Derby: Industry and Idleness — Salon Talk
Join a salon-style talk at the National Gallery exploring Wright of Derby’s Industry and Idleness with speakers Tom Hodgkinson, Cynthia Johnston, and Jamie Holman. A scholarly, accessible discussion linking 18th‑century industry to art in a distinguished museum setting.
St Francis of Assisi
Explore St Francis of Assisi at the National Gallery with a guided tour for Members. Delve into the artwork through expert commentary in a historic London gallery, offering an intimate view of a celebrated piece within the Members' Exhibition.
Reflecting on Wright of Derby: From the Shadows
An engaging lecture at the National Gallery examining Joseph Wright of Derby's use of light and shadow, linked to the Reflecting on Wright of Derby: From the Shadows display. Curator-led talk with audience discussion, set within the House Members Exhibition program.
Masterpieces of Spanish art
Explore Masterpieces of Spanish Art at the National Gallery with an exclusive members-only tour. This exhibition-focused event offers guided insights into iconic Spanish paintings in a world-class gallery setting.
Feasting with the Georgians: The art and theatre of country house dining
Join a captivating lecture at the National Gallery as scholars explore the art and theatre of Georgian country-house dining. Discover how dining rituals, tableware, and stage entertainments shaped Georgian culture, with vivid examples drawn from paintings, prints, and period sources. An engaging session for art and history lovers.
Wiston sparkling wine tasting
Explore Wiston's sparkling wines in a gallery setting as a guided tasting led by colour at the National Gallery. This adults-only experience blends art and wine in a refined atmosphere, with expert notes and sensory insights—perfect for wine lovers and culture seekers.
The House of Habsburg
Take a guided tour at the National Gallery to explore the House of Habsburg exhibition, uncovering royal patronage and iconic artworks on display. Learn how a European dynasty shaped art collections and taste.
Rum tasting: A journey from light to dark
Join a guided rum tasting at the National Gallery, moving from light to dark rums as you discover aroma, flavor, and a touch of history. Set during the House Members Exhibition, the intimate session pairs spirits with museum surroundings for a thoughtful, flavorful experience.
The art of vulnerability: Intimacy, solitude and the body in painting
A gallery talk at the National Gallery examining how vulnerability, intimacy, and the body appear in painting. The session features conversations around selected works, offering fresh perspectives on representation and the viewer’s encounter with art.
Picture This: David Harewood and John Wilson in conversation
Picture This: David Harewood and John Wilson in conversation at MATERIAL Gallery, London, blends sharp cultural insights with musical memory inside a clean, white-walled space perfect for debate and connection.
Leonardo's rivalries
Explore the rivalries and collaborations surrounding Leonardo da Vinci in this National Gallery exhibition, with curated tours that illuminate the Master’s most famous works and the wider Renaissance context. Set within London's grand galleries, the guided tours offer insightful narratives for art lovers and visitors alike.
An introduction to... Zurbarán
An introductory talk at the National Gallery exploring Zurbarán's works within the Spanish Baroque tradition. The event features conversations with attendees and members, offering insights into the artist's key paintings and the gallery's exhibition context.
Myth and legend book club: The Sweetbitter Song of Penelope and Melantho
An in-conversation book club at the National Gallery exploring Myth and legend in The Sweetbitter Song of Penelope and Melantho. Join museum talks blending classical myth with contemporary interpretation in a refined gallery setting.
Equine art: Drawing for understanding anatomy
Equine art: Drawing for understanding anatomy invites you to a lunchtime talk at MATERIAL Gallery in London, where artists unpack horse anatomy with approachable demonstrations, sketches and live study.
Drawing the horse: From anatomy to life
At MATERIAL Gallery in London, 'Drawing the Horse: From Anatomy to Life' invites everyone into a hands-on workshop where anatomy meets expressive line, with inclusive, artist-led guidance.
Stories of Art 1700-1800
Stories of Art 1700-1800 unfolds at MATERIAL Gallery, London, pairing captivating curations with hands-on courses for all ages as visitors explore masterworks through playful, inclusive learning.
The German imagination: Dürer, Friedrich and beyond
Trace German art from Dürer to Friedrich and beyond at the National Gallery. The exhibition invites visitors to explore iconic works and themes shaping the German imagination, with curator-led tours available for members.
The Elements: Water
Take a guided tour at the National Gallery exploring The Elements: Water. This House Members Exhibition tour offers expert insights into water-themed artworks, shedding light on artist techniques, curatorial context, and the collection's narrative through curated highlights.
Friday Lates life drawing: London Drawing
Friday Lates life drawing at MATERIAL Gallery turns the evening into a relaxed, workshop-friendly space with warm lighting and approachable models, inviting everyone to sketch, experiment, and unwind.
Friday Lates: DoodleLand: Mr Doodle in conversation with Verity Babbs
Friday Lates: DoodleLand at MATERIAL Gallery brings Mr Doodle into conversation with Verity Babbs, sparking playful sketch banter, doodle demos, and Q&A as fans join the visual mischief.
Flesh and form: Life drawing with Rubens
Flesh and Form: Life Drawing with Rubens at MATERIAL Gallery invites artists of all levels to explore bold gesture and luminous flesh tones, turning classical anatomy into a modern, immersive studio session.
Carlo Crivelli: A Renaissance oddity
Join a guided tour exploring Carlo Crivelli's Renaissance oddity at the National Gallery. This members-only exhibition tour invites House Members to view and discuss a distinctive Crivelli work in the gallery's intimate setting.
May half-term: Creative Space
May half-term: Creative Space at MATERIAL Gallery, London — join family-friendly workshops where kids and parents explore hands-on art, crafts, and collaborative making in a bright, welcoming studio.
May half-term: Art Studio family workshop
May half-term invites families to a hands-on Art Studio workshop at MATERIAL Gallery in London, where kids and carers explore creativity through playful, art-forward activities.
Social Space: Family Lunchroom
A family-friendly workshop at the National Gallery during May half-term, exploring social space through a 'family lunchroom' activity.
May half-term: Decoding pictures family tour
May half-term: Decoding pictures family tour at MATERIAL Gallery, London—an engaging, kid-friendly art tour guiding families through contemporary imagery, puzzles, and storytelling in a playful gallery setting.
In focus: George Stubbs
A focused exploration of George Stubbs at the National Gallery, with curator-led insights into his work and its historical context.
Reflecting on Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse
Curator-led lecture at the National Gallery examining Reflecting on Stubbs: Portrait of a Horse. The session surveys 18th‑century British painting, Stubbs's brushwork, and the significance of equine portraiture, in a member-focused museum talk.
Talk and Draw: The Full-Length Mirror
Join a guided drawing workshop at the National Gallery centered on The Full-Length Mirror. An instructor-led session for all levels blends sketching techniques with discussion of mirror-themed artworks in a welcoming museum setting.
Masterpieces of Spanish art: 17th-century Seville
Explore masterworks of 17th-century Spanish art from Seville with guided tours at the National Gallery. This focused exhibition pairs classic Seville school paintings with insightful context, ideal for art lovers seeking a deeper look into Spain's golden age.
Decoding dress: Unlocking the secrets of fashion in painting
Decoding dress: Unlocking the secrets of fashion in painting at MATERIAL Gallery turns brushwork into couture, inviting visitors to read fabrics and silhouettes across centuries in a vivid art encounter.
Caravaggio, reputation and desire
Join a focused history talk at the National Gallery examining Caravaggio’s reputation and the theme of desire. Led by an expert lecturer, this member-focused discussion blends art history with insightful conversation in a museum setting.
Art Distilled
Art Distilled gathers talks and conversations connected to the House Members Exhibition at the National Gallery. Join member-led discussions and artist insights in an intimate, gallery-setting that highlights the ongoing exhibition.
The still life apothecary
Join a hands-on still-life art workshop at the National Gallery, linked to the House Members Exhibition. Explore composition, light and texture as you develop your own study inspired by classic works in a focused studio setting.
Masterpieces of Spanish art: Celebrating Diego Velázquez
Guided tours at the National Gallery celebrate Diego Velázquez’s masterworks and key figures of Spanish art. Discover iconic paintings, learn about Velázquez’s influence, and enjoy a member-focused experience in London’s premier art institution.
Still life: Splendid everyday objects
Join a curator-led talk on 'Still life: Splendid everyday objects' at the National Gallery on 8 June 2026, part of the House Members Exhibition. Learn how ordinary objects become art as gallery staff and members discuss still life themes in a formal, intellectual setting.
Tom Hodgkinson's 'How to Live Like a Stoic': Book talk
Tom Hodgkinson discusses his book How to Live Like a Stoic in a book-talk at the National Gallery. An engaging evening of conversation blending practical Stoic philosophy with museum ambience, part of the Talks & Conversations series.
Rooms with a view
Rooms with a View at the National Gallery invites visitors to engage with the House Members Exhibition through a series of talks and conversations. Expect curator-led discussions and member perspectives that illuminate the artworks and display spaces in a lively gallery setting.
British Sign Language talk: Celebrating 250 Years of John Constable
Join a British Sign Language interpreted talk at the National Gallery celebrating 250 years of John Constable. The accessible discussion explores Constable's iconic landscapes, his place in art history, and what his luminous skies reveal about English painting.
Duets: Music in the Lounge
An intimate evening of live duet performances in the National Gallery’s lounge, blending refined chamber music with a relaxed gallery atmosphere. A short program by acclaimed duos offers thoughtful contrasts between pieces, ideal for art lovers and music fans seeking a sophisticated, social night.
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.