The National Gallery
London, United Kingdom; Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN; main entrance via the Sainsbury Wing
The National Gallery offers one of London’s most generous cultural propositions: an exceptional collection of paintings, in the centre of the city, with free general admission. Its strength lies in the conversations between pictures. A religious scene, a portrait and a landscape can reveal changing ideas about belief, status and observation within a few rooms. The collection extends from early European painting to works by artists such as Turner and Van Gogh. Rather than making the visit a hunt for familiar names, choose a handful of paintings and compare how their makers use colour, light and space. Trafalgar Square gives the museum a suitably public setting, while the Sainsbury Wing provides the current main entrance. Book a free ticket if you want priority arrangements and pre-visit updates; walk-up entry is also available. Building work for the future Research Centre is affecting some rooms and the location of individual paintings, so use the current floor plan for a specific wish list. The gallery earns its high ranking through the quality of its collection and the ease with which a short visit can become a substantial encounter with art.