The collection during wartime

Step behind the scenes of the Gallery during the Second World War on this intriguing, guided tour.

From the Blitz and the evacuation of the collection to the Manod quarry in Wales, to the vital roles played by Kenneth Clark and Winston Churchill, discover the Gallery’s surprising links to Britain in wartime. A compelling mix of art, wartime survival and hidden history, hear about the Monuments Men, dramatic rescue stories of two paintings, Myra Hess’s famous lunchtime concerts, the symbolism of the Anrep mosaics, and unexpected tales of Soviet espionage involving the collection and even the Royal Family.

• Saturday, 7 February 2026 will be hosted by Tim Maddison
• Saturday, 28 February 2026 will be hosted by Martin Brown

Tim Maddison is an accredited expert guide. Maddison completed the Sotheby's Works of Art Course after university, before spending the next five years working at Sotheby's and Phillips Bond Street, surrounded by an ever-changing carousel of treasures. This embedded a love for works of art, exhibitions and galleries. Maddison then went on to work as a dealer in vintage film posters, Americana and Art Deco, before opening London's first public gallery for vintage film and music posters. In his youth his favourite painting at the National Gallery was, 'The Family of Darius before Alexander', and he never imagined that decades later he would have the privilege of sharing its delights and that of so many other favourites with visitors.

Martin Brown is a qualified art historian in History of Art and Architecture. As an award-winning Blue Badge Guide experienced in guiding in National Gallery, Tate Britain and Tate Modern, Brown is passionate about the Gallery’s collection. Before retraining as a Blue Badge Guide, Brown worked for 30 years in education. Firstly, as a teacher of French and German in London secondary schools, and for the last 10 years as Head Teacher of a large Secondary School. In addition, Brown has worked as a Secondary School Improvement Adviser for a local authority, for OFSTED as an Inspector and for the Department for Education as a National Leader of Education.