Where: St. Martin’s Place, WC2 (to the north of Trafalgar Square)

What: The national portrait gallery in London houses a collection of portraits of famous British men and women dating mainly from Tudor times all the way up to today.

Opened in 1856, the gallery was established with the criteria that it was to be about history, not about art, and about the status of the sitter, rather than the quality or character of a particular image considered as a work of art.

The collection today is the most comprehensive of its kind in the world, and constitutes a unique record of the men and women who created (and are still creating) the history and culture of the nation. It contains over 10,000 oil paintings, watercolours, drawings, miniatures, sculptures, caricatures, silhouettes and photographs.

The national portrait gallery displays over 1,000 paintings of British men and women dating from the Middle Ages until the present day. There are portraits of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, the only known portrait of William Shakespeare, as well as Winston Churchill and all of the way up to date with portraits of the present royal family.

The gallery continues to develop its role through changing displays, varied acquisitions and commissions and an annual portrait competition for young artists. The national portrait gallery is around the corner from the national gallery.

Nearest station: Leicester Square or Charing Cross

Gallery opening times: daily 10:00 - 18:00, plus Thursday and Friday until 21:00. Closed 1 January, 24–26 December.

Admission: (2005) Free

Website: npg.org.uk