Gallery from home
Discover the National Portrait Gallery from home – explore our Collection, visit a virtual exhibition, learn a new skill, get creative with the kids, treat yourself from the online shop or sit-back and watch fascinating films. We have put together a collection of activities, ideas and inspiration for all ages to enjoy from home.
Activities For Children
Do, draw and make!
From building dens to food faces – enjoy our Playful Portraits activities and find out about some brilliant people!
Healthcare Heroes
Activities for children and families inspired by three healthcare heroes from our Collection.
Learning resources
Downloadable and web based resources to support learning at home linked to art, history, citizenship and literacy.
Get Creative
Develop your art skills
Discover our BP Next Generation short films made by artists. Follow step by step guides in drawing and painting techniques.
Hold Still photography workshop
Reflect on your own experiences of lockdown through this easy-to-do from home, photographic exercise.
Draw Like a Renaissance Master
Revisit The Encounter exhibition and learn about Renaissance and Baroque drawing methods and materials.
Visit From Your Armchair
Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize
An online exhibition celebrating the very best in contemporary portrait photography.
Hold Still
Explore our community photography project, which presents a personal record of the UK during lockdown.
Sculptures in 360°
See sculptures and fascinating objects from our Collection from all angles.
David Hockney: Drawing from Life
Watch highlights from our special exhibition, which had to close early in March 2020 due to lockdown.
Listen
Pioneer Podcasts
Listen to a series of podcasts exploring the lives of pioneering women, past and present.
Eggleston Playlist
William Eggleston was closely associated with the alternative music scene in Memphis. Revisit our 2016 exhibition and listen to a special playlist.
Archive interviews
Links to audio and transcripts of interviews with artists, sitters and historic recordings.
Discover
Scientific techniques
Watch our playlist exploring scientific techniques used by the Gallery to unlock the secrets behind our Tudor portraits.
Subjects and themes
Search the collection by themes - from pets to weddings!
Black History Month
Take a tour exploring our Collection created by Alayo Akinkugbe for Black History Month in 2020.
A Picture of Health
Learn about pioneers in medicine, health and social reform from 1840 to 1920.
Watch
Our channel
View a wide collection of video content on our YouTube channel from past projects to our latest films.
Artist and sitter interviews
Get insights into creating portraiture from BP Portrait Award 2020 artists and their sitters.
Sleeping Awake
Watch our film created to say ‘goodbye’ to the Gallery before we closed for our major transformation project.
Play
Tudor and Elizabethan matching pairs
Test your memory by playing our matching pairs game. Three levels of difficulty make it fun for the whole family.
Regency familiar faces
Rearrange tiles to uncover sitters from the Gallery's Collection by playing our puzzle game.
Who do you think you were?
Answer a few lifestyle questions about the elizabethan period and discover your inner Elizabethan!
Contribute
Identify our Silhouettes
Join enthusiastic contributors who have already identified 155 sitters.
Tell us more about our Silvy sitters
Help us identify the sitters who visited Camille Silvy’s photographic studio during the 1860s.
Join
Become a Member
Enjoy access to special events, discounts on the Gallery online shop, supporters’ updates and much more
Get social
Bringing people together by sharing the portraits and stories of the men and women who have shaped our nation.
Newsletter
Sign up to recieve information on exhibitions, collections and activities of the National Portrait Gallery, including special offers, shop products, and exclusive competitions.
Support
Make a donation
Support our Making History appeal and help us transform the Gallery.
Online shop
A unique range of books, accessories and gifts. Every purchase supports the Gallery’s work.
Bring a familiar face home
Refresh your home gallery with a huge selection of custom art prints .