In April 1824, the House of Commons agreed to pay the sum of ?57,000 for the exquisite picture collection of the well-known banker John Julius Angerstein. The 38 pictures were intended to form the main core of a brand new national collection, for the enjoyment and education of all people. Until a gallery building was constructed, the pictures were displayed at Angerstein's house in Pall Mall.

In the first 20 years of its life, the administration of the National Gallery was rather disorganized as the staff was very small in number and the great burden of duties fell on the shoulders of the so-called Keeper, whilst strategic decisions were made by the Board of Trustees which did not meet regularly thus creating a very confusing situation. Public criticism of the Gallery's administration led to a government enquiry, and subsequent reforms. As a consequence, a new post of director was created, with the responsibility to shape the collection and manage the Gallery.

The public criticism of the inadequate accommodation for the fast growing national collection, led to the decision to construct a purpose-built gallery. A site in Trafalgar Square was chosen for this purpose as the crossroads of London, where the collection would be accessible to the rich people travelling from West London in their carriages, and on foot to the poor of the East End.

In 1914 the Gallery appointed its first official lecturer, who guided more than 11,000 visitors in his first year. By the 1920s a busy schedule of daytime, evening and weekend lectures had been created, which continues even today and serves an ever-growing audience, eager to find out new and interesting things. In 1944 the first lectures for children were introduced. The Education Department was established in 1974, which developed a wide range of activities targeted at school groups. Each year, the Education Department hosts approximately 100,000 school children at the Gallery.

The National Gallery also appointed a Scientific Adviser in the 1930s, which carried out pioneering work in X-Ray photography of pictures and established a Physics Laboratory at the Gallery. The value of the Scientific Department was rapidly confirmed by a government enquiry later on, in 1947, whose report stressed that scientific research was essential to underpin the work of the Conservation Department. This positive report led to the establishment of a Chemical Laboratory, whose work included investigating paints, varnishes and conservation materials. In recent years, the Scientific Department has been involved in pioneering research methods, including the development of high performance liquid chromatography, and the development of digital photography for accurate color recording of the paintings.

The Gallery established an in-house Conservation Department in 1946. Before this all conservation had been carried out by contracted experts. The newly created department quickly established an excellent reputation, which was confirmed by the findings of a government enquiry in 1947.

All things considered, a must-see location in London, the National Gallery is the home of many visitors from all over the world that come and stay in one of the many London apartments.