The Courtauld Gallery and The National Gallery are both central London art museums with strong Impressionist holdings, but they differ a lot in size, price and focus. Here's how they compare, and Audioguide.London offers a free audio guide at both.
| The National Gallery | The Courtauld Gallery | |
|---|---|---|
| Collection focus | European painting, about 1250-1900, encyclopedic | Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Old Masters, a smaller focused collection |
| Location | Trafalgar Square | Somerset House, Strand |
| Admission | Free (permanent collection) | Paid (around £10-£12 for the permanent collection) |
| Free audio guide | Yes, via Audioguide.London | Yes, via Audioguide.London |
If you want a free, encyclopedic sweep of European painting from Medieval altarpieces to Van Gogh, The National Gallery is the one. If you don't mind paying for entry and want a smaller, focused collection strong on Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and a handful of Old Masters, in a beautiful Somerset House setting, The Courtauld is a rewarding couple of hours. Many visitors do both, they're a short walk apart along the Strand.
Audioguide.London is a free audio guide that works at both The National Gallery and The Courtauld Gallery, and four more London museums. See the free National Gallery audio guide or the free Courtauld Gallery audio guide for details.
Not sure where to begin? See the National Gallery highlights or the Courtauld Gallery highlights.
Many visitors think so. The Courtauld is much smaller and charges admission, but its Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection, including works by Manet, Van Gogh and Cézanne, is considered one of the finest of its size anywhere.
Yes. They're about a 10-15 minute walk apart along the Strand. A focused visit to each takes 1-2 hours, so both fit comfortably into a single day.
Yes. Audioguide.London provides a free audio guide at The National Gallery, The Courtauld Gallery and four other London museums.