Spend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This is a gallery-based day out that aims to introduce you to the National Gallery’s remarkable collection of paintings. The session will include looking at key works and discussing their historical context, iconography and subject matter. We will also explore how materials and techniques affect the appearance of paintings, and the significance of art movements and styles. The session will be informal, with discussions around the objects and lots of opportunity to ask questions and to chat about what you are seeing. The works span the time period from the mid-13th century to the late 19th century, including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
Please note the following:
1. Displays at the National Gallery can change at short notice.
2. This course is 3.5 hours in the museum with a one hour break for lunch. There will be a fair amount of walking and standing during the session. Please see our full disclaimer on gallery-based courses under the 'how will I be taught' section of this course outline.
3. A meeting point for the session will be emailed to you at least one week before the session.
What will we cover?
- The function of the National Gallery and why it was founded
- The issues that arise when displaying works in a gallery
- What questions to ask when first encountering a painting
- How to engage with the exhibits to gain an understanding of how and why they were made, their historical contexts and their functions and/or meanings.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Demonstrate an understanding of key works in the National Gallery collection and explain their importance
• Identify the processes/techniques used by a wide range of artists and explain how this affects the appearance and meaning of exhibits in the collection
• Participate in discussions on works in the collection with greater confidence and offer an informed opinion about them
• Learn how to find out more about specific exhibits that particularly interest you.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels and requires no prior knowlege.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught in the gallery with lecture and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. Please note, the National Gallery requires a security bag check; this queue can be quite long some days, so please arrive at least 30 mins before the start of the course to leave ample time for bag check.
Please note:
Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them. You may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools as they may all be in use. If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You might wish to purchase a notebook or pad for taking notes. You may bring your own portable stool if you have one. Entrance to the gallery is free. Your tutor will make the group booking on your behalf. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided after the event.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Demystifiying the Tate Modern National Portrait Gallery Introduction to the V&A Introduction to Tate Britain.
Liz Keevill Eyres worked as a textile designer in the fashion industry for four years and then as a magazine journalist specializing in interior design for 13 years. Her first degree was at Camberwell School of Art which she did at the same time as completing a degree in History and Art History with the Open University. Liz studied and has taught at Kingston University, where she lead modules and lectured in history of art, design history and architecture for ten years and ran study visits both at home and abroad. Liz has researched into English Modernist textile design of the 1950s and the professional practice of the provincial Edwardian architect, in particular Norwich-based architect George Skipper.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/a-day-at-the-national-gallery2492488A day at the National Galleryhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/-/a-day-at-the-national-gallery-1080.jpg4949GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Galleries, collecting & curating/Courses/vm/Courses to do around London/Courses/vm/Courses to do with friends22851136117718921678164712285117711361653Spend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).002621169A day at the National Gallery4949https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/a/-/a-day-at-the-national-gallery-1080_1.jpgInStockDaytimeSunOff SiteAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-03-08T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allMar 2026Culture, history & humanitiesVB1634949A day at the National Gallery393249Elizabeth Eyresa-day-at-the-national-gallery/vb163-2526Spend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).0000-Available|2026-03-08 00:00:00<p>This is a gallery-based day out that aims to introduce you to the National Gallery’s remarkable collection of paintings. The session will include looking at key works and discussing their historical context, iconography and subject matter. We will also explore how materials and techniques affect the appearance of paintings, and the significance of art movements and styles. The session will be informal, with discussions around the objects and lots of opportunity to ask questions and to chat about what you are seeing. The works span the time period from the mid-13th century to the late 19th century, including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.</p><p>Please note the following:</p><p>1. Displays at the National Gallery can change at short notice.</p><p>2. This course is 3.5 hours in the museum with a one hour break for lunch. There will be a fair amount of walking and standing during the session. Please see our full disclaimer on gallery-based courses under the 'how will I be taught' section of this course outline.</p><p>3. A meeting point for the session will be emailed to you at least one week before the session.</p>Spend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).- The function of the National Gallery and why it was founded<br/><br/>- The issues that arise when displaying works in a gallery<br/><br/>- What questions to ask when first encountering a painting<br/><br/>- How to engage with the exhibits to gain an understanding of how and why they were made, their historical contexts and their functions and/or meanings.• Demonstrate an understanding of key works in the National Gallery collection and explain their importance<br/><br/>• Identify the processes/techniques used by a wide range of artists and explain how this affects the appearance and meaning of exhibits in the collection<br/><br/>• Participate in discussions on works in the collection with greater confidence and offer an informed opinion about them<br/><br/>• Learn how to find out more about specific exhibits that particularly interest you.This course is suitable for all levels and requires no prior knowlege.<br/><br/>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.You will be taught in the gallery with lecture and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. Please note, the National Gallery requires a security bag check; this queue can be quite long some days, so please arrive at least 30 mins before the start of the course to leave ample time for bag check.<br/><br/>Please note:<br/><br/>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them. You may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools as they may all be in use. If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.You might wish to purchase a notebook or pad for taking notes. You may bring your own portable stool if you have one. Entrance to the gallery is free. Your tutor will make the group booking on your behalf. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided after the event.Demystifiying the Tate Modern<br/>National Portrait Gallery<br/>Introduction to the V&A<br/>Introduction to Tate Britain.Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingvirtual394932VB163NONESun08/03/2611:00 - 15:3011:0015:301 session1One-off onlyWeekendOSOff SiteElizabeth EyresBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-03-08T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeMar 2026Culture, history & humanities4949A day at the National Gallerya-day-at-the-national-gallery/vb163-2526Spend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).0000-Available|2026-03-08 00:00:00<p>This is a gallery-based day out that aims to introduce you to the National Gallery’s remarkable collection of paintings. The session will include looking at key works and discussing their historical context, iconography and subject matter. We will also explore how materials and techniques affect the appearance of paintings, and the significance of art movements and styles. The session will be informal, with discussions around the objects and lots of opportunity to ask questions and to chat about what you are seeing. The works span the time period from the mid-13th century to the late 19th century, including Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.</p><p>Please note the following:</p><p>1. Displays at the National Gallery can change at short notice.</p><p>2. This course is 3.5 hours in the museum with a one hour break for lunch. There will be a fair amount of walking and standing during the session. Please see our full disclaimer on gallery-based courses under the 'how will I be taught' section of this course outline.</p><p>3. A meeting point for the session will be emailed to you at least one week before the session.</p>Spend a fascinating and enjoyable day at the National Gallery exploring a range of galleries. We shall be looking at the collection with the aim of gaining a better understanding of the art produced in different periods, countries and movements, as well as themes such as genres and iconography (decoding symbols).- The function of the National Gallery and why it was founded<br/><br/>- The issues that arise when displaying works in a gallery<br/><br/>- What questions to ask when first encountering a painting<br/><br/>- How to engage with the exhibits to gain an understanding of how and why they were made, their historical contexts and their functions and/or meanings.• Demonstrate an understanding of key works in the National Gallery collection and explain their importance<br/><br/>• Identify the processes/techniques used by a wide range of artists and explain how this affects the appearance and meaning of exhibits in the collection<br/><br/>• Participate in discussions on works in the collection with greater confidence and offer an informed opinion about them<br/><br/>• Learn how to find out more about specific exhibits that particularly interest you.This course is suitable for all levels and requires no prior knowlege.<br/><br/>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information. You will be invited to take part in group discussion.You will be taught in the gallery with lecture and group discussions. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course. Please note, the National Gallery requires a security bag check; this queue can be quite long some days, so please arrive at least 30 mins before the start of the course to leave ample time for bag check.<br/><br/>Please note:<br/><br/>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them. You may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools as they may all be in use. If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.You might wish to purchase a notebook or pad for taking notes. You may bring your own portable stool if you have one. Entrance to the gallery is free. Your tutor will make the group booking on your behalf. You might wish to buy some of the books on any reading list provided after the event.Demystifiying the Tate Modern<br/>National Portrait Gallery<br/>Introduction to the V&amp;A<br/>Introduction to Tate Britain.Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingconfigurable
Gods and heroes from Classical to Renaissance artFull fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00
