The National Gallery, the Courtauld and the Wallace Collection are all in central London, and Tate Britain is a short trip along the river. The National Gallery, Tate Britain's collection and the Wallace Collection are free.
The National Gallery
On Trafalgar Square, with free entry to the main collection of European paintings from the 1200s to the 1900s.
SunflowersVincent van Gogh, 1888 London- The Arnolfini Portrait, Jan van Eyck, 1434
- The Ambassadors, Hans Holbein the Younger, 1533
- The Hay Wain, John Constable, 1821
- The Fighting Temeraire, J. M. W. Turner, 1839
- Rain, Steam and Speed, J. M. W. Turner, 1844
- Sunflowers, Vincent van Gogh, 1888 Listed as not on display when we checked
Tate Britain
On Millbank beside the Thames, home to British art from 1500 to today. The main collection is free.
- Ophelia, John Everett Millais, 1851 to 1852
- The Lady of Shalott, John William Waterhouse, 1888
The Courtauld Gallery
A small gallery in Somerset House on the Strand, with a remarkable group of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
- A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, Édouard Manet, 1882
- Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, Vincent van Gogh, 1889
The Wallace Collection
A free museum in Hertford House, Manchester Square, a few minutes from Oxford Street.
- The Swing, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, c. 1767
At a glance
| Painting | Artist | Date | Size | Museum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Arnolfini Portrait | Jan van Eyck | 1434 | 82.2 × 60 cm | The National Gallery |
| The Ambassadors | Hans Holbein the Younger | 1533 | 207 × 209 cm | The National Gallery |
| The Hay Wain | John Constable | 1821 | 130.2 × 185.4 cm | The National Gallery |
| The Fighting Temeraire | J. M. W. Turner | 1839 | 90.7 × 121.6 cm | The National Gallery |
| Rain, Steam and Speed | J. M. W. Turner | 1844 | 91 × 121.8 cm | The National Gallery |
| Sunflowers | Vincent van Gogh | 1888 | 92.1 × 73 cm | The National Gallery |
| Ophelia | John Everett Millais | 1851 to 1852 | 76.2 × 111.8 cm | Tate Britain |
| The Lady of Shalott | John William Waterhouse | 1888 | 183 × 230 cm | Tate Britain |
| A Bar at the Folies-Bergère | Édouard Manet | 1882 | 96 × 130 cm | The Courtauld Gallery |
| Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear | Vincent van Gogh | 1889 | 60.5 × 50 cm | The Courtauld Gallery |
| The Swing | Jean-Honoré Fragonard | c. 1767 | 81 × 64.2 cm | The Wallace Collection |
Before you go
Big museums rehang rooms and lend paintings to exhibitions, so a famous work can be away when you visit. Check each museum's website for opening hours, tickets and whether a painting is on view. Gallery numbers above come from the museum's own published data where available.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous paintings in London?
The Arnolfini Portrait, The Ambassadors, The Hay Wain, The Fighting Temeraire, Rain, Steam and Speed, Sunflowers, Ophelia, The Lady of Shalott, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, The Swing.
Which museums in London have the most famous paintings?
The National Gallery (6 on our list), Tate Britain (2 on our list), The Courtauld Gallery (2 on our list), The Wallace Collection (1 on our list).
Sources: museum collection records and Wikidata, listed on each painting's page. Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.