The National Gallery Announces Extended Opening Hours For New Summertime Season

This summer, the National Gallery launches National Gallery Summertime, extending opening hours and inviting visitors to experience the Gallery in a new way during the warmer months.

From 3 July until 31 August, the Gallery will remain open until 7pm daily, with late opening on Fridays until 9pm, giving visitors more time to enjoy one of the greatest collections of paintings under one roof.

For those lazy summer days or the post-work evening cultural experience, National Gallery Summertime positions the Gallery as a destination not only for art, but also for dining, shopping and socialising in the heart of central London. Whether visitors are stopping by after work, visiting from overseas, beginning an evening out before the theatre, or winding down after a day exploring the city, the Gallery’s extended hours offer a new way to experience one of the UK’s most iconic cultural institutions.

The initiative responds directly to audience demand for more flexible visiting hours, particularly for Londoners and commuters who are unable to visit during traditional daytime opening hours. 

National Gallery Summertime also aims to attract first-time visitors looking for a relaxed evening cultural experience during the busy summer season.

Retail spaces, bars, restaurants and exhibitions will also be open for extended hours, ensuring visitors can enjoy the full Gallery experience later into the evening. Visitors will also be able to explore the five-star Zurbarán exhibition and step back into the dramatic world of Baroque Spain.

The Gallery’s Supporters’ House will remain open until 7.30pm throughout the summer period, creating a welcoming space for House Members to gather for post-work drinks, dinner or pre-theatre evenings overlooking Trafalgar Square.

Alongside the extended opening hours, visitors can experience a programme of evening creative workshops hosted in the Roden Centre for Creative Learning (RCCL), where the Gallery’s popular Take One Picture exhibition will remain on view throughout the summer.

Upcoming events include:

Creative workshop: Life drawing for beginners 
10 July, 5.30–6.30pm | The Clore Art Studio, RCCL 
Led by Gallery Educator and artist William Goldsmith, this relaxed introduction to drawing the human figure uses simple exercises to help participants look closely and draw what they see. 

Creative workshop: Still life for beginners 
13 July, 5.30–6.30pm | The Clore Art Studio, RCCL 
Led by Gallery Educator and artist Alex Bowie, visitors will explore observation, composition and tone through drawing everyday objects in a supportive, beginner-friendly session. 

Creative workshop: Drawing without fear 
8 July and 14 July, 5.30–6.30pm | The Clore Art Studio, RCCL 
These playful workshops encourage participants to let go of perfection and rediscover the joy of drawing through confidence-building mark making and experimentation. 

The Gallery’s food and drink offer will also continue throughout the evening opening period. Locatelli will close at 7.30pm with final reservations at 6pm, while Bar Giorgio, Ochre, the Espresso Bar and the Café will remain open until 6.45pm.

‘Great art will not be rushed’ says Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery: ‘National Gallery Summertime gives visitors more freedom to experience the Gallery at a different pace – to spend longer with a favourite painting, visit an exhibition, enjoy dinner overlooking Trafalgar Square, or simply to wind down during a summer evening surrounded by art’.  

National Gallery Summertime forms part of the Gallery’s continued commitment to broadening access to its collection and reimagining how audiences engage with art, culture, and creativity.