Whether you want an audio guide for a single work or an audio tour of the whole collection, ArtGuide describes whatever painting you point your camera at. Start with 50 free artworks, enough for a full museum visit, then get a Weekly Pass or Monthly Pass for unlimited access at hundreds of museums worldwide.
Open ArtGuide in your browser before you enter. It's a web app, no download needed, just a phone with an internet connection. The National Gallery has free wifi throughout the building, so you can connect on arrival.
Point at any painting across the National Gallery's collection of over 2,300 works. Personal photography without flash is allowed in the permanent galleries, so you can scan freely as you go. Some loan paintings are restricted — look for signage beside the painting. Photography is not usually permitted in special exhibitions.
Choose from 9 languages, and pick the narration style that suits you: a high-level overview, an in-depth story, or a quick artist bio.
Official Audio Guide
~£5 at museum · 60+ fixed stops · handheld device · no other museums
Third-Party Apps
Free–paid · fixed route · often English only · limited elsewhere
ArtGuide
50 free artworks then €4.90 · any painting · 9 languages · hundreds of museums worldwide
ArtGuide describes whatever painting you're standing in front of, not a preset path. Try it free: 50 artworks, no card required.
Start free trialSaturday through Thursday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Friday, 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Verify hours on the National Gallery's official site before visiting, as holiday schedules can change.
Entry to the permanent collection is free. A free timed-entry ticket is available online and recommended on busy days for fast-track entry. Some special exhibitions have a separate charge. Verify at nationalgallery.org.uk before visiting.
Weekday mornings between 10:00 and 11:30 AM are the quietest. Friday evenings after 6:00 PM are also significantly less crowded than weekend afternoons. Avoid Saturday afternoons and school holidays if possible.
A highlights visit covering the most famous rooms takes 2 to 3 hours. To explore the collection more broadly, over 2,300 works spanning 700 years of European painting, plan for 4 to 6 hours.
Van Gogh's Sunflowers is in Room 43. The Arnolfini Portrait by Van Eyck is in Room 56. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire is in Room 34. Leonardo's Virgin of the Rocks and Velázquez's Rokeby Venus are both in the Sainsbury Wing.
Personal photography without flash is allowed in most permanent galleries. Some loan paintings are restricted, check signage beside each painting. Tripods and selfie sticks are not permitted. No booking required for the permanent collection; just walk in during opening hours.
