National Portrait Gallery Reviews

Can't see why this needs a rating. Go if you can...

This building is jam packed full of portraits spanning hundreds of years and of every type of person. You get to see those pictures of Kings, Queens, courtiers, Prime ministers etc which adorn every history book. And also of more ordinary folk. You can spend hours here and it's completely free.

Hidden around the corner from the National Gallery, this is a British history lesson starting with the Tudors. All the greats are here and some of your favorite artists.

It's worth starting with visiting the second floor. Old painters could capture her feelings and character in the portrayed figure, without losing anything of the beauty of the work itself. On the ground floor, the modern scene is terrifying. Naked figures displaying genitals, suggestive sadomasochistic portraits. We quickly took the children from there. Something went wrong in our world ...

You need to like portraits. Some of the modern ones are very good.

Had an excellent time roaming through and watching the history before my eyes. Well done and free unless you want to go to the exhibitions.

Great photography exhibition. Always nice to pop in for 30 minutes. Lovely rooftop restaurant too

A friend and I enjoyed the Picasso portrait exhibition. Incredible selection of artwork and great insightful bios. Reasonably priced.

One of my favourite galleries in London. I visit with my family several times a year and there is always something exciting to see. Today we revisited the Tudors - simply beautiful & incrediblly detailed paintings. We also enjoyed the Creative Connections Nottingham photographs for their warm social realism.
A stunning space which we will go back to time and time again.

One of the best things to do in London if you have a spare hour. Free to look around (aside from some charged exhibits) and the annual Portrait Awards can be spectacular.

Would have been better, but some paintings were overlit.

Wonderful place to view so many interesting paintings. Definitely somewhere to return to on a rainy day.

Went to see Michael Ja ckson's portrait exhibition.Amazing spent fours hours there, so interesting would recommend.

I really love this place as well as my daughter also. There are so many fun things to see historic portraits as well as medallions and other smaller things to view. Wouldn't miss it for anything even though it wasn't very busy I think it should have a lot more visitors. Phenomenal works are in there and it didn't take long to see and enjoy the awesome artwork on display

Amazing museum and a must visit for enthusiast portrait photographers

I did not like it much because i am not into such stuff.

Great seats! No need to bring your own. Dem paintings are da shiz. They look like fotos bruv

The gallery gets better each time I visit. I spent my time today on the top floor - Tudors & Stuarts and Georgians. Good clear labels although the Kitkat Club ones weren't all identified even though there was a special sheet all about them. However it was an attractive display. I love the painting of Charles II in which his expression is so familiar and modern, and the bust of Hogarth by Roubiliac is stunning. Just a pity that one or two visitors were doing that annoying thing of not looking at the exhibits, but just standing in front of the paintings to take selfies. I didn't remember the picture of John Donne as a young man, lurking in the shadows, but loved it, which is why I'm posting it

Obe of London's best galkeries. Always worth a browse or seeing a special show

Very disappointing. Was in the vicinity so decided to go and see the famous painting by Millais of Bl John Henry Cardinal Newman who is to be canonised on 13 October. Not on show which I find quite extraordinary.

I feel like a lot of people walk past and don't go in... Please do, it's really worth it!

Extraordinary place! The portraits of all the famous people and not all over the centuries. And then as always for state museums FREE ENTRY! What more can we say?

Not great for young children, though there is an art traill; I used to enjoy contemporary portraits here a lot but the range of these pieces is now very limited to two rooms. Otherwise plenty tonsee across many floors and staff were very helpful

One of the best galleries I have ever been in my life. Its spectacular and lots of portraits and statues to be witnessed. The staff is very friendly and looks after the gallery very nicely. And its free admission. I recommend this gallery to anyone who wants to expand their knowledge about portraits and arts. Thanks.

Don't rush though. Start at the top and work your way through the history of this country through human portraits (Tudors to present).

My favourite rainy / cold day place to hang out and chill

Amazing although some members of staff can be a bit grumpy

I loved. I like history and in the pictures you can appreciate it and remember what they represent. Would come back

The special attractions are often of exceptionally high quality

Huge Gallery with lots of art pieces. Would definitely recommend if you are a big fan of portraits.

Very nice building in the heart of London. I admired the portrait and artostic photographs. Very good for coffee and tea even food.

Fascinating collection. Tours could do a better job of acknowledging that some of the subjects (e.g. Cromwell) were not wholly good

Very entertaining for about 1-2 hours. Lots of portraits from the Beatles to the Kings of England.

The NPG has a wonderful collection of painted and photographic portraits, beginning with the Tudors. The gallery also puts on temporary exhibitions, which are outstanding. Also look out for the events that support the temporary exhibitions, like films, music evenings etc.

Very nice gallery with very high quality and well curated exhibition.

The Tudors
I was so excited to finally see the Tudors, I have learnt interesting facts from the audio guide; however not every painting from the audio guide is in display, which is a shame...

The staff were friendly, they were happy to show me where the paintings are.

Brilliant collections especially the Tudors and Stuart.

A quick visit to the rooftop bar & restaurant for a drink with a nice view south towards the river....pleasant service...

Less interesting than the neighboring The National Gallery, as this is mainly a collection of portraits of historical figures of Great Britain.

Free, but paid extra for the 1800's photography exhibit (April 2018). Worth a look. Excellently curated portraits. I like the way they were organized

One of my favourite places to visit when in London,since it always hosts interesting exhibitions. Last time I went,there was a Marti Parr exhibition.

Awesome art, none of that modern excuse for pictures here.

Free entry and lots to see inside. Important to note that this is probably not a great place to bring young children, as they are likely to get bored quickly. However, there is a variety of styles on display including some more contemporary portraits. Nearby Trafalgar Square, the national gallery, and not far from the British Museum.

The National Portrait Gallery is interesting in small doses... because the staff and so up themselves. They are very Arrogant and seem to be looking out for someone to make a mistake...carry a bag in the wrong manner...to get to close to some picture..ETC...and they are ready to pounce and wield their little bit of power. They are quire fake and unfriendly and quite removed from the public who they see as the enemy. The Gallery is trying to be in the 21st Century but the staff still think its the 1950s.

Fabulous photography exhibition. Always something worth seeing.

The previous decor has gone temporarily. Gone are the vast array of portraits of all and sundry. Small individual exhibits are now in place. It has lost its charm and old style familiarity. Perhaps this is the way things are generally going. The Bobby Moore photographs however were wonderful. Some candid and unposed pictures of a period of innocence now gone, and of a genuine human being and.sportsman.

Good value. Excellent service and a beautiful setting.

Nice place, but they're very strict with closing time - 5.57 pm you already have to be outside the building, so better come earlier to fully enjoy exhibitions

Very many interesting works. As it is a portrait gallery the focus is on historical figures and not necessarily on the art quality which makes it different from the nearby national gallery.

Very comfortable and quiet. Great tour of portraits of historical and contemporary personalities. Free. The store has very good souvenirs.

Such a great venue. Lovely event although "Jackson on the wall".. Very strange exhibition!!.. He really did love himself!!

Wonderful art, free entry except to special exhibitions

I loved! Many of the paintings are very evocative and the place is quite cozy and with a wide display of characters from the 19th to the 21st century.

If you like painted portraits, is this the best place in Europe? Now you can see the BP competition with unbelievably good portraits. Moreover, Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery are around the corner.

Lovely gallery with lots of interesting portraits. The signage is sometimes confusing so you can't see which picture it relates to.

Who knew there were so many types of portrait art? Old or modern, its a great walk through the who's who in history - great if you have children.

A massive collection of old portraits. I was a fan of the pieces of more modern personas as well.