The Gallery houses a collection of portraits of prominent figures throughout British history. The Tudors are on the top floor and you descent through the generations with 20th century figures on the ground floor. There are portraits of Henry VIII; Elizabeth I; the only known portrait of William Shakespeare; as well as Winston Churchill and the present Royal Family. Temporary exhibitions are often held on the lower ground floor. Entry is free as well as some lectures. Audio guides are available. Directions: Charing Cross 230 metres, Leicester Square 195 metres, and Embankment 490 metres. Charing Cross station 320 metres.
Other Art Galleries that may be of interest are: The National Gallery in Soho, Burlington Paintings in Mayfair, Courtauld Gallery in London, The Redfern Gallery Ltd in London, Houldsworth Fine Art in London, Bernard Jacobson Gallery in Mayfair.
Attractions near National Portrait Gallery include Duke of Yorks Theatre in Westminster, The Theatre Royal Haymarket in Haymarket, Nash House in London, The London Pavillion in London, The Vaudeville Theatre in City of Westminster, Covent Garden Market in London, St James's Church in London, Fortune Theatre in Covent Garden, Burlington Arcade in London, London Eye in London.