Why pay a visit to the National Gallery in London today!
As part of the National Gallery’s grand 200th birthday celebrations, a new chapter begins on Saturday 10 May 2025, with the reopening of the Sainsbury Wing entrance. Closed since February 2023 for an ambitious transformation, the Sainsbury Wing now re-emerges as a more welcoming and beautifully redesigned main gateway to one of the world’s greatest art collections. The renovation, led by New York-based Selldorf Architects in collaboration with heritage architects Purcell, has been a sensitive yet forward-thinking project. The changes balance a respect for the historic architecture with a fresh approach to meet the modern needs of millions of annual visitors. A Transformed Welcome Visitors will now enter through a reimagined space, where some of the Gallery’s footprint has been cleverly dedicated to the public realm. The result is a “square-within-a-square” leading to a more spacious and approachable entrance. The formerly dark glass stairs have been replaced with clear glazing, allowing sunlight to stream into the foyer while offering glimpses of the National Gallery’s historic 1830s building by William Wilkins. For the first time, passers-by in Trafalgar Square will be able to peer directly inside this iconic cultural landmark. Inside, a stunning double-height foyer awaits. The space is brighter, airier, and beautifully modernised. At its centre is a colossal 12-metre-wide, state-of-the-art 16K screen, which showcases astonishing close-up details of the Gallery’s masterpieces. Culinary and Cultural Delights The renovations also bring exciting new amenities to enhance the visitor experience. A ground-floor espresso bar, Bar Giorgio, will offer coffee connoisseurs a perfect pit-stop, while the mezzanine level… Read More