Visiting the Gallery

Plan your visit

Visiting the Gallery

The Gallery is open daily from 10.30

The Gallery is free to everyone. There is a charge for some exhibitions.

Book your free ticket to guarantee entry and receive updates before your visit.

Book now

Open daily: 10.30 – 18.00
Friday & Saturday: 10.30 – 21.00

See our full list of opening times

The Gallery will begin closing ten minutes before the stated closing time.

Contact us

Notice: Temporary Room and early Gallery closures, Tuesday 19 March 2024
Several Rooms on Floor 3 and Floor 2 will be temporarily closed on Tuesday 19 March, due to a Gallery event. Rooms 3 and 9 and 14 to 18 on Floor 3 and Rooms, 20 and 21 on Floor 2 will be closed all day from 10:30. Floor 3 will be closed from 15:00. The whole Gallery will close early at 17:00. From 16:00 -17:00 St Martin’s Place will be the only entrance and exit in and out of the Gallery. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Getting here

The National Portrait Gallery is located on St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE

Entrances are located on St Martin’s Place and Charing Cross Road. All of our entrances have step-free access

Wheelchair access: we recommend taxis or cars drop off on the corner of Orange Street and Charing Cross Road and visitors use the main entrance on Ross Place

The Heinz Archive and Library entrance is at 39–45 Orange Street

Plan your journey on the TfL website
  • Rail: Charing Cross station is 320 metres from the Gallery.

    Tube: Charing Cross Underground is 230 metres from the Gallery. Leicester Square is 195 metres away and Embankment is 490 metres away. Please note these stations do not have a lift.

  • Travel to Trafalgar Square

    Our nearest bus stop is Bus Stop K

  • Plan your journey by bicycle using the Transport for London website.

    Bike racks are available close to the Gallery and can be found on the Active Things website.

    Please note that folding bikes are not permitted in the Gallery or the Cloakroom.

  • The Gallery has no car-parking facilities.

    Wheelchair access: We recommend taxis or cars drop off on the corner of Orange Street and Charing Cross Road and visitors use the ramp to the main entrance on Ross Place.

    Disabled parking: There are a limited number of blue badge parking pays close to the Gallery.
    Blue Badge Bays (arcgis.com)

    A public car park is 195 metres from the Orange Street entrance on the corner of Whitcomb Street and Orange Street.

    Coach set down and pick up between the Gallery entrances on Charing Cross Road.

    Taxi set down and pick up by between the Gallery entrances on Charing Cross Road.

Opening hours

  • Open daily from 10.30

    Sunday to Thursday 10.30 - 18.00. Last entry at 17.30.
    Friday to Saturday
    10.30 - 21.00. Last entry at 20.30.

    The Gallery will begin closing ten minutes before the stated closing time.

  • Sunday to Thursday: 10.30 - 17.50 (last deposit 17.00)
    Friday and Saturday
    : 10.30 - 20.50 (last deposit 20.00)

    Read more about our cloakroom policy.

  • Sunday to Tuesday
    Lunch: 12.00 - 17.30 (last sitting 15.30)

    Wednesday to Friday
    Lunch: 12.00 - 17.00 (last sitting 15.30)
    Dinner: 17.00 - 22.30 (last sitting 20.15)

    Saturday
    All-day dining: 12.00 - 22.30 (last sitting 20.15)

    The Portrait Restaurant

  • Monday to Thursday 08.00 - 17.30
    Friday 08.00 - 19.00
    Saturday 09.00 - 19.00
    Sunday 09.00 - 17.30


  • Sunday to Monday 10.30 - 17.30
    Tuesday to Thursday 10.30 - 23.00
    Friday and Saturday 10.30 - midnight

  • Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays from 10.00 to 17.00 by appointment only

Plan your visit

Visiting tips for...

National Portrait Gallery: The Collection

This accessible, pocket-sized book on portraiture is an essential memento for any visitor

Buy now
National Portrait Gallery: The Collection

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