National Gallery

Its collection may not be of quite the same monumental scale as some of Europe's other great galleries, such as the Louvre, the Prado, or the Uffizi, but for the sheer skill of its display and arrangement, the National surpasses its counterparts. And the gallery's 2,300-plus paintings would still take some considerable time to view in their entirety -- certainly a good deal longer than the gallery's original collection, which consisted of just 38 works. It was founded in 1824 by the British Government, and gradually built up via a combination of private bequests and purchases.

Today the collection provides a comprehensive overview of the development of Western art from the mid-1200s to 1900, with most major artists and movements of the period represented.

The layout is straightforwardly chronological. Passing through the sturdy neoclassical facade on Trafalgar Square, you turn left to find the gallery's oldest works, housed, by way of contrast, in its newest section, the 1990s-built Sainsbury Wing. It covers the period from 1250 to 1500, including paintings by such Renaissance and pre-Renaissance greats as Giotto, Piero della Francesca, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Van Eyck (including his famed Arnolfini Portrait). The basement gallery here is the usual setting for temporary exhibitions, for which tickets typically cost in excess of £12.

The chronology then moves on to the West Wing, covering 1500 to 1600 and filled with European Old Masters, such as Titian, Raphael, El Greco, and Hans Holbein. Next in line is the North Wing (1600-1700), where highlights include a Rembrandt self-portrait and works by Caravaggio and Velázquez. Things culminate in the East Wing (1700-1900), with a celebrated selection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, including various waterlilies by Monet, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, and Renoir's Les Parapluies (The Umbrellas) -- some of the gallery's most popular (not to say most valuable) paintings.

If you can't decide where to begin, try joining a free 1-hour taster tour of the collection given every day at 11:30am and 2:30pm. If you'd rather move at your own pace, you can pick up an audio tour from the front desk for £3.50. Children's trails are available for £1 from the front desk (or can be downloaded for free in advance from the website).

If you want to see more modern art, head to Tate Modern. For a more in-depth look at British art, go to Tate Britain.

Insider's tip: The National also lays on plenty of additional free entertainment, including lectures and family events (particularly during the school holidays), and stays open till 9pm on Fridays, when talks and classical music concerts are often staged.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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