Following a two-year refurbishment, the National Gallery’s impressive gallery space, Room A, has reopened to the public. Lying beneath the main floor galleries, this permanent display offers visitors a chance to explore 218 pictures dating from the 13th to the late 19th centuries.

This newly reopened gallery offers a different way of experiencing the nation’s collection of European paintings as it is hung in broadly chronological order, telling the entire story of 400 years of painting in a single space. It aims to enhance visitors’ appreciation and understanding of some of the National Gallery’s lesser-known paintings and it provides the space and opportunity to study these works in greater detail - and in better viewing conditions - than before. With a record-breaking 6 million visitors during 2013, the National Gallery remains committed to researching and showcasing its extraordinarily rich permanent collection.