At St. Martins Place is the site of the National Portrait Gallery. The Gallery was founded in 1856 to collected and display picture of Royalty and political figures.

The works range as far back as the Fourteenth century. The twentieth century collection even has portraits of Rolling Stones front man, Mick Jagger and Elton John. One of the most precious images is the only surviving portrait of William Shakespeare, as well as works by Gainsborough, Sargent and Van Dyck.

Set over several floors, the Gallery is laid out chronologically with the newest portraits on the ground floor and the eldest at the top.

In 2000 the Tudor and Balcony Gallery were opened to display the eldest works in the collection and some modern works as well.

The National Portrait Gallery feature fifty portraits of the Queen and sixty-five portraits of William Gladstone. There is a portrait of Henrietta Anne that measures less than an inch squared, and at 52, 000 times the size is an oil painting by Sargent that measures over five metres wide and nearly three metres tall.

The National Portrait Gallery hold regular exhibitions of new works, most of which hold an admission fee. In the roof of the building is a restaurant with breathtaking views of the city.

Admission to the National Portrait Gallery is free, other than specific exhibition dates.

Lucian Freud Portraits
Location: National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place
When: Thu 9th February 2012 to Sun 27th May 2012

You Loyal Subjects - a tour in the National Potrait Gallery
Location: National Portrait Gallery, St. Martins Place, London
When: Thu 16th February 2012