Get ready to brush shoulders with Britain’s movers and shakers through the centuries. This guided tour through the newly restored National Portrait Gallery (NPG) will take you on a creative dive into the drama, the power and the personalities that shaped Britain.
Here you’ll meet the titans who shaped the nation. With a portraiture and photographic collection of more than 26,000 works, your London Blue Badge Tourist Guide will carefully curate a tour that speaks to your particular interests exploring the works as well as the artists, the context and stories beyond the canvas. Highlights include:
Kings, Queens & Courtiers: See the steely gaze of Henry VIII; witness the transformation of a young princess into the iconic Elizabeth I; see how the portrait of Charles I hints at the growing unrest that would lead to his beheading. Your Guide will crack open the code of their bejewelled clothing and hidden messages – many of these portraits aren’t just faces, they’re propaganda machines!
Radicals, Reformers & Revolutionaries: Discover the men and women who united the kingdom and those that pushed for political change. Explore portraits of revolutionary figures like the Chartist leaders, the suffragette Dame Christabel Pankhurst and the abolitionist Olaudah Equiano.
Literary Legends: See the ‘Chandos portrait’ of William Shakespeare, the first portrait to be acquired by the National Portrait Gallery; view the charming sketch of Jane Austen by her sister Cassandra; explore different stages of the life of Charles Dickens; see the rare portrait of the elusive Brontë Sisters or the captivating and contemplative portrait of Virginia Woolf by Vanessa Bell. Here you’ll also find C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Zadie Smith and Salman Rushdie amongst many others.
Innovators & Pioneers : Isaac Newton, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Ada Lovelace, Alexander Graham Bell, Margaret Bryan, Stephen Hawkins, a roll-call of Britain’s most famous innovators – our world today would be unimaginable without the work of the pioneers whose portraits fill the NPG.
20th and 21st Centuries: The latter sections of the gallery showcase portraits from the 20th and 21st centuries – a kaleidoscope of modern icons, from the captivating musicians who defined British music, to the groundbreaking actors and actresses who stole the show. Here you’ll come face-to-face with sports icons, political leaders, fashion designers, writers and modern-day Royals. This section of the NPG is a vibrant who’s who of contemporary Britain, showcasing artistic styles that push the boundaries of portraiture.
As with all Blue Badge Tourist Guide private tours, you can tailor your visit to your specific interests. You also have added flexibility – you can stop to linger at a particular spot, you can ask as many questions as you like, share your thoughts and observations. You’ll be informed and entertained and have the undivided attention of your guide throughout.
This is a half day tour but could be part of a wider exploration of art at the National Gallery which, conveniently, is just around the corner from the NPG.
