Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rock groupies, book lovers, movie fans, gossipmongers, and even historians all can find
at least one favorite celebrity here. From Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II, Byron to Bowie, the
National Portrait Gallery puts a face on 500 years, making “history” the simple story of
flesh-and-blood people. Consider that, for the most part, these portraits were painted in the
presence of their subjects—providing us with a tangible link to the real person in the paint-
ing. The Gallery is a great rainy-day museum for serious students, or a quick (and free)
peek at the eccentric inhabitants of the British Isles.
(See “Westminster Walk” map,
here
.)
Cost:
Free, but suggested donation of
£
5; temporary (optional) exhibits require an admis-
sion fee.
Hours:
Daily 10:00-18:00, Thu-Fri until 21:00—often with music and drinks offered in
the evening, first and second floors open Mon at 11:00, last entry to special exhibits 1
hour before closing.
Getting There:
It's at St. Martin's Place, 100 yards off Trafalgar Square (around the
corner from the National Gallery and opposite the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields).
The closest Tube stops are Charing Cross and Leicester Square.
Information:
A floor plan costs
£
1. The cozy “Digital Space” lounge on the first-floor
mezzanine level (just up the stairs from the main lobby) is filled with comfy chairs
and computers that let you tailor your own printable tour route through the collection.
Tel. 020/7306-0055, recorded info tel. 020/7312-2463,
www.npg.org.uk
.
