Fancy Sleeping In London’s National Gallery? Here’s How
By
3 weeks ago
In celebration of its newly transformed Sainsbury Wing, The National Gallery has set up a unique prize draw
We’ve all heard of the Natural History Museum’s kid-friendly sleepovers. But what’s the adult version? Well, this: The National Gallery has revealed a unique prize in celebration of its newly renovated Sainsbury Wing. Here’s what you need to know – plus how to enter.
How To Sleep In The National Gallery
Ever wished you could wake up to the sight of one of the world’s greatest paintings? Sounds like a money-can’t-buy experience. And that’s exactly what The National Gallery is offering in a unique prize draw in celebration of its 200th anniversary and the re-opening of its Sainsbury Wing.
First opened in 1991 and closed for two years, The Sainsbury Wing has been totally reimagined and rehung, opening up and welcoming more light into the space which functions as the art gallery’s main entrance. Home to The National Gallery’s collection of early Renaissance paintings, the Sainsbury wing (funded by the supermarket) will reopen to the public on Saturday 10 May. But just before that, there’s the opportunity for one lucky individual to see the collection the night before – from bed.
For the very first time, The National Gallery is inviting an art lover to sleep under its roof. The bed itself will sit on the ‘bridge’ that connects the newly refurbished Sainsbury Wing with the rest of the Gallery, and will be bedecked with bedding from the Marks & Spencer x National Gallery collection.
And it’s not just a sleepover the lucky winner will enjoy. Before that, on Friday 9 May, they will enjoy dinner for two at the soon-to-open Locatelli, The National Gallery’s new restaurant created by Michelin-star chef Georgio Locatelli in partnership with Searcy’s. Then, after saying goodbye to their +1, the winner will enjoy a private, late-night tour of the rehang – titled C C Land: The Wonder of Art – with a National Gallery curator, absorbing more than 1,000 works of art tracing the development of painting in the Western European tradition from the 13th to 20th centuries, including paintings never previously seen in the National Gallery.
The winner will then wake up surrounded by beautiful art, and will be treated to breakfast in bed before heading home, absorbing their final few solitary moments surrounded by priceless art. At 10am, the wing will open to the public for the first time in two years.
How To Enter
To enter The National Gallery’s sleepover competition, anyone over the age of 18 is invited to subscribe to the Gallery’s newsletter here. Sign up by 6pm on Monday 7 April to be in with a chance of winning, after which the winner will be randomly selected.
VISIT
The National Gallery is open daily from 10am to 6pm, closing at the later time of 9pm on Fridays. The Sainsbury Wing will reopen to the public at 10am on Saturday 10 May 2025. Entry is free, but advanced booking of a timeslot is recommended.
Find it: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN
