National Gallery Visual Story

The Portico entrance is up twenty-three steps and through the columns into an entrance foyer. There are staff to help you, and this space can become noisy at busy times. You can go downstairs for the café and cloakroom, or upstairs to the paintings.

The Getty entrance is close to Charing Cross Road – this is the step-free route into the Gallery. There are six steps or a lift to the right just inside the doors. From here you can go up a staircase of thirty-four steps or use a lift which goes up to the galleries.

The Getty entrance is for paid exhibition ticket holders, Members, group visitors, and for anyone that requires step-free access.

You will be asked to walk through a security arch and the security team may ask to see inside your bag. If you have any special medical equipment with you, please let the security member of staff know.

Cloakroom: There is a cloakroom on the Ground Floor. The cloakroom costs £2 for each item; it is free of charge for Members.

Toilets: Disabled and ambulant toilets are available on the Ground Floor.

Lift access is available between the galleries and the Ground Floor.

Self-propelled and standard wheelchairs as well as a rollator are available to reserve before you arrive – please call 020 7747 2885. A limited number are available on a first come, first served basis at the Getty entrance. Folding stools are also available. Please ask at the welcome desk at the Getty entrance when you arrive.

The National Gallery has one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world.

Our staff are in the galleries all the time. They all wear black clothes and a blue patterned tie and a name badge.

They are happy to help you with any questions or problems may have. If you would like to know more about a painting or help finding your way, please ask our staff to help.

The galleries can be busy with lots of people. Our staff members can help you find quieter spaces to see the paintings.

The paintings move around and are sometimes loaned out so you may see different paintings each time you visit. If you are coming to the Gallery to see a painting you already know about, we suggest checking our floorplans before you arrive to see which room it is in.

The main galleries are all on one level, on Level 2.
Each room in the Gallery has a number. There are maps displayed around the building with the room numbers. You can also download or print a map in advance of your visit. Paper maps are also available to buy for £2 from the welcome desks at the Portico and Getty entrances.

Espresso Bar by Muriel's is a café; here you can get hot and cold drinks, pastries, sandwiches, and cakes. You go up to the counter, order your food and drink, collect it, and sit down at a table to enjoy.

Muriel's Kitchen is a café; here you can get hot meals, salads, cakes, and hot and cold drinks. You go up to the counter, order your food and drink, collect it, and sit down at a table or bench to enjoy.

Ochre is a restaurant; here you can get hot meals with table service. The menu ranges from weekend brunch, afternoon tea, to lunch and dinner. There is also a separate step-free entrance for the restaurant on Charing Cross Road.

The Portico giftshop on level 2 where you can buy National Gallery gifts and accessories.

The Getty bookshop on the ground floor where you can buy books, stationery, and exhibition essentials.

You can also shop online.