The National Gallery in Trafalgar Square is one of London's best free days out. General admission to the permanent collection is free for everyone, with no ticket or booking required for most visits.
Beyond free entry, there's a free way to go deeper into the collection too: Audioguide.London is a free audio guide that works at The National Gallery, covering over 2,000 artworks, more than 95% of the collection, in 6 languages.
Some special, ticketed exhibitions are not covered by free general admission. The free permanent collection is what Audioguide.London is built for.
Instead of (or alongside) the National Gallery's own £7 paid audio guide, you can use Audioguide.London at no cost. See the full free National Gallery audio guide comparison.
Not sure what to see first? Check the National Gallery must-see highlights for a practical shortlist.
Yes. General admission to the permanent collection is free for everyone. Some temporary special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket.
For the permanent collection, no booking is usually required. Special exhibitions may need a timed ticket, so it's worth checking before you go.
Yes. Audioguide.London is a free audio guide that works at The National Gallery, covering over 2,000 artworks in 6 languages, no download or rental needed.