Photos: Christine Matthews , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Acabashi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Jacek Halicki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Christine Matthews , Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 Acabashi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Jacek Halicki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leicester Square to the National Portrait Gallery
Your local guide
Mei Lin Tan
View profile
Highlights
- A square's shift to entertainment hub
- Two galleries, two different missions
- A short, efficient art-focused walk
- Portraits chosen for their sitters
- A quick stop worth the detour
About this tour
This short session links Leicester Square's entertainment history to the National Portrait Gallery's entrance nearby, explaining how the two very different collections sit so close together. It covers the square's shift from residential garden to cinema hub and the portrait gallery's distinctive selection criteria. It works well as a quick, focused stop for viewers short on time.
We start in the square with its history, then walk the short distance to the gallery entrance. Questions about the difference between the two nearby collections come up naturally, and I explain the distinction clearly. I close with a note on a few specific portraits worth seeking out inside.
It suits viewers with limited time who still want two art-related stops covered efficiently. It also pairs well with the earlier National Gallery session for a fuller picture of the area.
Included
- Live video walk with a local guide
- Questions to your guide all the way
- A short list of places to visit later
Not included
- Internet connection
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of London before heading out.
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Leicester Square 15 min
The camera holds on the square's cinema fronts and central garden, and I explain how the space shifted from a residential garden square to the entertainment hub it is today.
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Portrait gallery entrance 15 min
Arriving at the gallery, I explain how its collection differs from the National Gallery next door by choosing works based on the sitter's significance rather than the artist's.
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Your questions 7 min
Time to ask anything about London: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 3 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Fish and chips and Notting Hill, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in London time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 9 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through London, showing you Leicester Square and Portrait gallery entrance live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need any background in art?
No. The guide explains what matters as you go, whatever you already know or do not.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We connect on a video call in Leicester Square and walk the short distance to the gallery's entrance.
Times shown in London time (GMT)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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From 19,00 €
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