The National Gallery has extended its opening hours for the summertime season, encouraging visitors to enjoy its collection beyond the traditional museum day. Running from 3 July to 31 August, the National Gallery Summertime programme will keep the Gallery open until 7pm daily, with Friday evenings extended until 9pm. Alongside access to the permanent collection, visitors will be able to enjoy late-night exhibitions, dining, shopping and social spaces, offering a more relaxed way to engage with one of London’s most visited cultural institutions.
The initiative responds to growing demand for more flexible opening hours, particularly among commuters and those unable to visit during the day. As part of the programme, the Gallery will host a series of evening creative workshops, such as beginner friendly life drawing and experimental drawing sessions in the Roden Centre for Creative Learning. Visitors will have additional time to explore exhibitions such as Zurbarán, while cafés, bars, restaurants and retail spaces remain open later into the evening. As National Gallery Director Sir Gabriele Finaldi notes, the goal is to give visitors the freedom to spend longer with a favourite painting or simply unwind among great works of art on a summer evening.
