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Please be aware of government guidelines before setting off.
Government Guidelines
The National Gallery, London, is one of the UK's most-visited art museums, and for good reason. This incredible gallery is home to some of the greatest works of art ever made. With free entry and lots of activities to take part in, it's an unmissable day out for all the family.
Over six million people visit the National Gallery every year, making it one of the most popular museums in London and the world. Established with a collection of just 38 paintings almost 200 years ago in 1824, the museum has grown to house thousands of brilliant pieces of art.
The museum, also known as The Nation's Gallery, is home to works by some of the best artists in the world. This includes multiple pieces by Vincent Van Gogh, such as his famous Sunflowers and Wheatfield with Cypresses. There are also works by artists such as Johannes Vermeer, Leonardo Da Vinci, Claude Monet, and Paul Cezanne. The gallery also holds different National Gallery exhibitions throughout the year in addition to its permanent collection. These exhibits chart the progression of some amazing artistic movements and are a very popular part of the museum.
The rooms of the National Gallery are separated by artistic movements. This lets you go on a journey from the Middle Ages to the modern day, as the Gallery charts the progression of European art from the 13th century to the 20th. While the collection is smaller than other museums of a similar stature, the quality of work in the National Gallery sets it apart as one of the most interesting museums in the world. You could spend anywhere from an hour to more than four in the museum depending on how much you'd like to see.
There are loads of cool ways for children to get involved at the National Gallery, making it one of the best free museums in London for families. The gallery has plenty of audio tours for families to take, which help bring the artworks to life and teach kids more about how these incredible pieces were made.
One of their most popular audio tours for kids is the 'Art Detectives' tour, where kids will follow in the footsteps of mysterious characters to discover more about the paintings around them. Another interesting option is the 'Teach your Grown-ups about Art' audio tour. In this tour, the tables are turned when the kids are told amazing facts about the gallery's collection through their headsets, and then teach the grown-ups a thing or two!
The guided tours at the gallery are another great plus; they're fantastic for engaging kids in the artworks and helping them to expand their understanding. The museum also holds lots of events, where kids can express their artistic talents or learn more about the museum and the art inside it. Even if you can't make it to the gallery, they hold many online events so that kids can get involved with art, straight from home.
Please follow the latest government guidelines if travelling by public transport.
Government Guidelines