The National Portrait Gallery, London. Free Entry. Charge for special exhibitions. Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Details
Accessibility:
Accessible access is via the Orange Street ramp entrance and the Gift Shop entrance, on St Martin's Place. Wheelchairs available, to book in advance telephone: 020 7306 0055.
Accessible toilets. Cloakrooms. Lifts to all floors. Plenty of seating, wheelchairs and additional seating available. Portable induction loops available. Photography allowed, restrictions apply.
The gallery offers a wide range of accessible resources to try and make everybody's visit as enjoyable as possible, including monthly events using British Sign Language https://www.facebook.com/NPGBSLevents, monthly talks entitled 'Visualising Portraits', audio descriptive folders and tactile images for the visually impaired.
For comprehensive accessibility information please see their website:
https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/access-facilities
There is no Shopmobility motorised scooter hire in central London. All of the latest-built taxes and buses must be disability accessible. The one exception to this is the No.15 London heritage route which runs with the iconic old AEC Routemaster double-decker bus (built between the 1950s and 1960s) which has a rear open entrance to enable passengers to get on and off quickly.
Brief Description:
The National Portrait Gallery was formally established in 1856. It was initially housed at 29 Great George Street, Westminster and opened to the public in 1859. In 1870 it moved to the Royal Horticultural Society buildings on Exhibition Road in South Kensington. Due to a fire in that building, temporary accommodation for the portraits was found in Bethnal Green Museum in 1885. This still being an unsatisfactory home for the growing number of portraits a purpose-built gallery was opened on the present site in 1896. Extensions have been added to the building over the years.
For more information on the History of The National Portrait Gallery see:
https://www.npg.org.uk/about/organisation/history
The National Portrait Gallery houses the most extensive collection of portraits in the world from the 16th century to the present day. It also has exhibitions and events throughout the year. It runs courses and workshops for adults and children, it also holds talks and discussions. See their website for 'what's on': https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/
Further Information:
Address:
St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE
Email:
information@npg.org.uk
Telephone:
020 7306 0055
Website:
Opening Times:
Gallery, Bookshop and Giftshop: Daily 10am–6pm, Thurs & Frid 10am–9pm.
Heinz archive and Library: By arrangement only.
Closed 24th, 25th & 26th December and 1st January.
Admission:
Free. There is a charge for special exhibitions. Discounts available for visitors with disabilities on exhibition tickets, escorts can go free. Members benefit from free admission to all exhibitions.
Directions:
Situated behind the National Gallery, near Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster.
OS TQ 299 806
Transport:
The London Congestion Charge Zone ( https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge/congestion-charge-zone) runs from Monday to Friday and motorists have ample signage to alert them to the entry points; only vehicles that are registered by the DVLA as ‘Disabled Tax-Exempt’ are NOT liable to the Charge. Disabled Tax-Exempt drivers can also use the Dartford Crossing without charge, which is a river crossing to the east of London which links the north and south of the M25 orbital motorway. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) automatically identifies the registration number plate of these vehicles so that their owners do not need to take any additional action.
If travelling by car, for specific directions it is best to use a satnav, but please be aware that the route may take you in and out of the Central London Congestion Charge zone. It is best to approach Central London using the excellent public transport.
For information on parking and car parks locally see: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/parking
Nearest stations are Charing Cross and Leicester Square. Please see the Gallery website for detailed travel information: https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/getting-here-opening-hours/
For more information on buses, trains, tube, cycle hire, airports and river traffic please contact Transport For London on 0343 222 1234 (Textphone 0800 112 3456). For further details on accessible services please see the website: https://tfl.gov.uk/
Amenities:
The Gallery has a restaurant, cafe and bar all situated on the 3rd floor.
There is a bookshop and gift shop on site.
Travel Information
For further travel information please see: www.traveline.info
Or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33
(Calls cost 12p per minute plus your phone company's access charge)
NB London ULTRA-LOW EMISSION ZONE
This started on 8 April 2019 in the Central London Congestion Charge Zone, and will extend to the whole of the London area within the
M25 Motorway from 25 October 2021.
For more details please see:
https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle-35896
Vehicles registered with a 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicles' tax class will benefit from a grace period after the ULEZ starts until 26 October 2025 as long as their vehicle doesn't change tax class, and this also applies to a 'disabled' vehicle registered outside the UK.
Location
Nearest Venues
*Distances are calculated in a straight line from the current venue, please allow extra time/distance based on available paths or roads.