The National Gallery is extending its opening hours and will open late every evening for a couple of months this summer.
The gallery, which has seen its visitor numbers struggling to recover to pre-pandemic levels says that the late opening 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.
The late opening will run from 3rd July until 31st August.
The National Gallery will remain open until 7pm daily, with its usual late opening on Fridays until 9pm, making it easier to visit.
A tip: to skip queues on Fridays, it helps to prebook a free ticket here.
The Gallery’s food and drink venues will also open 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”.