National Portrait Gallery

Where can you find a view of London like this…. With a collection of art like this?#

At the national portrait gallery, of course. It boasts some of the worlds finest examples of portrait art in its massive collection. Everything from the Chuda period right up to present day contemporary photography. And the good news is, its free.

VOX

I love walking around and looking at the portraits, and actually understanding where they fit into british history. And I just find it very stimulating and very relaxing at the same time.

And once you’ve enjoyed all five floors of art, you can top off the experience with a bite to eat, a glass of wine or a cappuccino up in the trendy top floor restaurant.

Now if you’re hungry for more artistic treasures, you don’t have to go far, because just a few steps away, bang on Trafalgar square, is the national gallery.

I/V

The gallery’s been here since the 19^th century. It actually was started in 1824. And it was always decided that this should be ina central London location. Trafalgar square was picked because its in the middle between east London where the poorer people tended to live and west London, so it was always meant to be somewhere that both sets of Londoners could come to.

Nowadays visitors come from everywhere, and for lots of different reasons.

Vox

Basically I work around the corner, and have done for four years. I’m an art student and its just something that I keep going to see the new exhibitions, whats coming up, old works, new works

VOX

I’m not an art connoisseur, but because the national gallery and the national portrait gallery are right next to each other, they’re both free to get in, I thought I’d just wander in and take a look at, uh, some art.

And the art you can take a look at includes everything from Tician to Botticelli, Constable to Cezzan.

There are beautiful colors here and lots and lots of landscapes, so if you’re feeling a bit fed up on a dark rainy day just come in here, because it is like stepping into the south of France or something like that.

Now what a lot of people don’t know is that on Wednesday nights, well, its like stepping into a bar with a difference, especially on the first Wednesday of every month when you can enjoy the current exhibition and excite all your senses.

VOX

I just thought it was something quite cool to do, combine a bit of culture with a glass of wine and free food and music, it is food, better than your normal night out in a bar in London.

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