Gallery trails for children, that are fun for adults too!
Audio trails
Audio trails are pre-recorded guided tours of the National Gallery, that pick out paintings of particular interest to families.
They are available from the Audio Guide desks for a suggested donation of £3.50.
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Teach your Grown-ups about Art!
Roll up, roll up! Come and see circus performers, mad scientists, and the world's ugliest old woman...
In this tour, children get to turn the tables on the grown-ups. Grown-ups take off their headphones, so children can hear amazing secrets, which they then get the chance to reveal.
The tour is split into four sections by time period.
Take all four parts of the tour at once, or come back later and try another section. (The whole tour lasts at least one hour.)
Come to the audio desks to collect your map and audio guides. And that's all the grown-ups need to know!
After the tour, try out a worksheet with quizzes, jokes and activities. Then children have the chance to submit a picture to the mini masterpiece gallery.
Visit the mini masterpiece gallery
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Tell Me a Picture
There's something funny going on in Trafalgar Square: two secret agents have been sent to the National Gallery to investigate.
In this audio trail, children and adults follow in the agents footsteps as they search for explanations to the mysteries they meet. The truth is there, somewhere...
A Right Royal Tour
Join journalist Tania Fawningly-Grovel and press photographer Jimmy Snoop in their hunt for kings and queens at the National Gallery.
In this audio trail hear about a Queen who ruled for nine days, find out about an elusive Emperor executed by firing squad, and learn what kings got up to on days out with friends. |
Printed trails
These printed trails are free. They guide you round the National Gallery, and pick out paintings of particular interest to families.
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Festival of Light
The Gallery has launched a new trail to celebrate the symbolism of light shared by different traditions. Each of the seven paintings in this trail suggests a different aspect of light:
- Fire
- Sun
- Sight
- Lamps
- Spirit
- Knowledge
- The modern world
The trail is aimed at adults, but is written in accessible language and can be easily shared with children. The text is in English, Hindi and Gujarati.
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Chinese Zodiac
Which animal sign are you? Use this trail to find all 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac, and find out more about the differences between Eastern and Western traditions.
The text is in English and Chinese, and is aimed at adults – though families with children can enjoy discovering these paintings together.
This trail is available from the information desks. You can also download it below as a PDF.
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Winged Things
Come and explore the National Gallery in search of fantastic flying creatures.
As you journey to magical places you'll meet a colourful dragon, hear some noisy birds, play music with angels and discover many more wonderful winged things!
This trail is available from the information desks.
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Families at the National Gallery
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