Must-See Paintings at London's National Gallery: 6 Masterpieces Not to Miss

London's National Gallery holds the finest Western painting from the 13th to the early 20th century — free to enter and world-class. But it's easy to get lost across 60-plus rooms, so this list helps you focus on the highlights first.

Van Gogh, Sunflowers

Sunflowers (1888). Van Gogh painted it in Arles to welcome his friend Gauguin — bright yellow and bursting with life, one of the most popular works in the whole gallery.

Turner, The Fighting Temeraire

The Fighting Temeraire (1839). Once voted Britain's greatest painting: in the glow of sunset, a small steam tug hauls away a once-mighty sailing warship — the farewell to an era.

Constable, The Hay Wain

The Hay Wain (1821). The defining English landscape — a calm summer's day on a Suffolk riverbank.

Van Eyck, The Arnolfini Portrait

The Arnolfini Portrait (1434). A miracle of Northern Renaissance detail — the mirror on the back wall even reflects the painter himself.

Velázquez, The Rokeby Venus

The Rokeby Venus. The only surviving female nude by the Spanish Golden Age master, with a face half-glimpsed in the mirror.

Leonardo da Vinci, The Virgin of the Rocks

The Virgin of the Rocks. Leonardo's signature sfumato and shadowy grotto — mysterious and soft.

How to tour it without tiring out

The collection is huge — two hours focused on a dozen of the best is plenty; follow the rooms by period. Most of the magic lies in the stories behind the paintings, easy to miss without context. Follow a National Gallery guided tour to understand them properly — Yaqi Wang walks you through the essentials in two hours.