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Private tours

Discover over 700 years of some of the world's greatest art on one of our expert-led tours.

Get in contact with our dedicated team now to organise your tour.

Private Daytime Tours

Perfect for individuals or small groups, our Private Daytime Tours offer a chance to connect with the National Gallery collection on a personal level. Customise your experience with a choice of themed tours and your Gallery-approved Blue Badge guide will bring each painting to life. 

Our tours are available in multiple languages including Italian, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin, and include VOX devices with noise-cancelling headsets for exceptional sound quality. Guests are free to roam the Gallery rooms at their own pace any time before or after the tour.

Private Daytime Tours

Price
Up to 11 guests £400
12-25 guests an additional £400

Times
From 10.30am-4pm daily
Tours occur during the Gallery opening hours.

Tour length
1.5 hours

Private Out of Hours Tours

Create unforgettable memories with a private out of hours tour. Taking place before or after public opening hours, this intimate experience allows you to escape the crowds as you enjoy one of the world’s greatest art collections. 

Customise your experience with a choice of themed tours and your Gallery-approved Blue Badge guide will bring each painting to life. Elevate your experience further with a private breakfast or champagne and canapes.

Our tours are available in multiple languages including Italian, French, Spanish, German and Mandarin.

Private Out of Hours Tours

Price
Up to 25 guests from £2,500

Times
9am–10am, 6pm–7pm daily

Tour length
1 hour

Daytime group tours

Our official daytime group tours are available for groups of 12+ guests and a maximum of 25 . For larger numbers we can accommodate multiple groups simultaneously.

Your Gallery-approved Blue Badge guide will lead you through some 700 years of art and introduce you to iconic masterpieces by Van Gogh, Raphael, Titian, Turner and more.

Daytime group tours include VOX devices with noise-cancelling headsets for exceptional sound quality. Guests are free to roam the Gallery rooms at their own pace any time before or after the tour.

Daytime group tours

Price per person
Adults: £20
Children (under 15 years): £15
Concessions and students: £17

Times
10am–6pm daily (last group entry at 4pm)

Tour length
1 hour

Choose your theme

Highlights tour

Join our expert guides on a tour of 700 years of art from the late 13th to the early 20th century, exploring the most popular paintings and artists in our collection.

Heroes and villains

Go on an adventure with the heroes and villains of the National Gallery. This guided tour will introduce you to the myths and legends behind some of the Gallery’s greatest paintings.

Impressionists tour

Discover our world-class Impressionist collection in this tour of paintings by the artists who laid the foundations for modern art.

Women in art

The role of women in art has often gone unspoken. This tour tells the stories of the women both in and behind the paintings, unveiling inspirational tales and hidden histories.

Royal tour

Rub shoulders with royalty on this collection tour. Meet Kings, Queens, and other regal figures, learning the stories behind the paintings and their lasting influences as both sitters and patrons.

Other unique experiences

Bespoke experiences

If you have a specific request or requirement such as a specialist or different language, on a specific artist, painting or subject, contact us at TravelTrade@nationalgallery.org.uk and we will be happy to discuss how we can tailor your experience.

 

FAQs

Our general Gallery visiting opening hours are 10am–6pm every day, and until 9pm on Fridays. 

We also offer out-of-hours tours, please get in touch at TravelTrade@nationalgallery.org.uk to find out more.

Read more about our visiting information.

All our tours, except the scheduled Daytime Highlights Tours, are private, exclusively reserved for your guests. However, please note that daytime tours take place during regular Gallery opening hours and members of the public will also be enjoying our collection

For a more intimate and private experience, we recommend considering our out of hours tours, which offer an even more personalised and private exploration of the National Gallery.

It is essential to pre-book guided tours in advance of your arrival. Please complete our booking request form or email TravelTrade@nationalgallery.org.uk with your preferred date, time and group size.

Any cancellation requests must be made via email to TravelTrade@nationalgallery.org.uk at least 14 working days prior to the date of your tour. Any request made after this date will not be accepted and you will be charged in full for the price of the tour.

We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule your tour at any time. If we cancel your tour, we shall refund any payments that you have made to us in respect of the tour. We shall not be liable for any costs you incur as a result of this cancellation, including any travel or accommodation costs.

If you are running late for your tour, please contact the team via TravelTrade@nationalgallery.org.uk to let them know. We will do our best to accommodate you where we can.

Photos are permitted inside the galleries without the use of flash. Please refrain from taking pictures of members of the public unless they have given their consent. Please be advised that photos are not permitted inside exhibitions.

If you have any special access requirements, please call us on
+44 (0)20 7747 2885 and we’ll be happy to help. Find out more about access at the Gallery

For all enquiries, please email TravelTrade@nationalgallery.org.uk

Travel trade

If you are interested in bringing groups to the Gallery on a regular basis, we have an account scheme which offers preferential rates and post-visit invoicing.

To find out more, please get in touch with the Travel Trade Team at TravelTrade@nationalgallery.org.uk.

Please note that you will need to guarantee a minimum spend to join the scheme and bring in groups on a regular basis. 

Make the most of your visit

Shopping

From prints and postcards to cushions and jewellery, complete your Gallery experience with a visit to one of our gift shops, at the start and end of your visit.

Browse our online shop

Eating and drinking

Delicious food and drink is available from our restaurants Ochre and Locatelli, and our cafés Muriel's Kitchen, Bar Giorgio and the Espresso Bar by Muriel's.

Find out about eating and drinking

Venue hire

Entertain your guests in the splendour of the Gallery with a bespoke private event, from small meetings to large-scale dinners. Contact our friendly events team to discuss your plans. 

Find out more about venue hire

Visiting guidelines

To help us keep the Gallery a safe and enjoyable place for everyone, please follow the guidelines listed in our Visitor Admissions Policy.