National Portrait Gallery
London · United Kingdom · Founded 1856
The world's first portrait gallery, holding the most extensive collection of British portraits ever assembled.
About National Portrait Gallery
Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery moved to its current building beside the National Gallery in 1896. It reopened in 2023 after a major refurbishment by Jamie Fobert Architects.
The collection charts British history through portraits of monarchs, scientists, writers, athletes, and contemporary figures.
Collections & Highlights
Frequently Asked Questions
A small ask before you go
You've just explored one of humanity's greatest collections of beauty. Art has the power to move us, inspire us, and change how we see the world. But millions of people will never see beauty like this — not because the art isn't there, but because they can't see at all.
Preventable blindness, caused by conditions like cataracts and trachoma, affects people of all ages across the world's poorest communities. A small gift — for the cost of a museum ticket — can provide a simple surgery to restore someone's sight and transform their life.