The National Gallery in London: Where to Start?

What Do You Want to See?

The first thing to note is that there is no “right” way to visit a museum. As much as some gallery snobs would love to disagree, visiting an art museum simply for the café, or to see one particular painting that went viral online, are perfectly acceptable ways to interact with art. So, take a deep breath and remind yourself that visiting the National Gallery is not an exam, and the most important thing to do there is enjoy yourself and learn—if you want to!

But then we move on to the crucial question: what do you want to see at the National Gallery? When I first began giving advice on visiting the gallery, I was surprised at just how many people didn’t know the answer to that question. Visiting such a vast collection can be like searching for a needle in one of Monet’s haystacks if you don’t know what you want to see. Because—and you may have picked up on this through my use of the words “enormous” and “vast”—the National Gallery is expansive and it can be difficult, and very tiring, to see it all in one go.

Therefore, what I suggest to people visiting the gallery for the first time, is to narrow their focus. Take the time to find out what you want to see and seek those paintings out.

But how do you find out what you want to see? I won’t suggest any required readings like 1000 Paintings to See Before You Die, but it is worth taking the time to familiarise yourself with the types of paintings that appeal to you.

For example, when you see a Van Gogh, are you drawn in by the thick impasto and vivid colors, or do you find yourself longing for something more clearly defined and recognizable? When you see a Constable landscape of the British countryside, do you feel peace, as if you could sit and stare at it for hours? Or are you looking for something with a little more action, like you’d find in a painting by Delacroix?

My advice is to visit the National Gallery’s website—it doesn’t take long—and browse through the catalog. When something catches your eye, click on it, and their database will show you more paintings by that artist. In addition, the website gives you the option to click on the artist’s name, which leads you to a brief description of their history, style, and the period of art history in which they worked.

Take this painting by Frans Hals, for example, Young Man holding a Skull (Vanitas). This one caught my eye because of the bright colors against the plain, almost studio-like background and the swift, light brushstrokes that make up the sitter’s face and costume.

Clicking through to Frans Hals’ artist page, I then discover that he was a Flemish painter known for dynamic, often comedic portraits in the 16th and 17th centuries. I know now that I may want to design my next visit around the Flemish paintings in the collection, or maybe even the portraits, or both.

How to See Them

So, now that you know what you want to see, the question is: how do you find it? Anyone who has been to the National Gallery can attest to the fact that navigating the collection can be a challenge. However, this challenge is made much easier by the gallery’s well-defined “route” map. At the entrance to the gallery, visitors can view a map that uses a color-coded system to explain the suggested routes for seeing certain artists, periods, or movements.

It is worth noting that the National Gallery has been under refurbishment recently as they are making some updates to celebrate the gallery’s 200th anniversary in 2024. This means that some of the rooms are closed off, changed around, or re-worked within other rooms. While some of the usual collection is not on display as these renovations are being carried out, the gallery still provides clear color-coded routes to make finding your desired art easy, as seen on the website below.

Bonus Tips

Now you’re all set to visit the National Gallery in the heart of London, UK. But I would be remiss to let you go without giving you a few bonus tips to ensure that your visit is as delightful as possible.

Firstly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve gotten lost and a friendly gallery worker has pointed me in the right direction. They really are there to help, and they seem to take pride in helping people find exactly what they’re looking for. So, don’t be afraid to ask for directions, advice on accessibility, or even a personal recommendation of their favorite paintings!

Secondly, make use of the benches. The gallery, even with the current renovations, is a large building, and it can be easy to end a visit with sore feet. However, there are plenty of comfortable benches and sofas around the gallery which not only allow you to take a rest, but also to spend a little extra time appreciating that painting which has captured your imagination.

And finally, don’t forget the architecture! The building itself is a marvel of architectural detail, so as you wander through the interconnecting rooms, make sure to look up and take in the colors, etchings, and skylights designed for the perfect viewing experience. It can often be fun to consider why certain choices were made within the rooms to better enhance the paintings themselves.

I hope that these tips contribute to your next visit to the National Gallery being an excellent one. And remember, there is no right or wrong way to visit an art museum, even one as impressive as the National Gallery. Just focus on having a good time, and you might even walk out with a few new favorites to add to your own personal collection.