Within one of London’s most recognisable buildings, a quietly confident new members’ space has been drawing attention since its doors opened last summer. Supporters’ House, the National Gallery’s newly established retreat within the historic Wilkins Building, offers something increasingly rare in the capital: a place of genuine calm, positioned a matter of steps from Trafalgar Square.
Founded by Parliament in 1824, the National Gallery has spent two centuries building one of the world’s great collections of Western European paintings. Works by Leonardo, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Turner and Velázquez sit within its walls, drawing millions of visitors annually. Yet until June 2025, there was nowhere within the building that members could simply stop, sit, and think.
Supporters’ House changes that, and then some. Occupying part of the gallery’s original Wilkins Building architecture, the four-room venue has been designed to serve as both a social space and a quiet retreat, a genuinely considered addition to a building that has anchored London’s cultural life for nearly two centuries. The space opened exclusively to members, and the interest it has generated since suggests the gallery has read the room rather well.
The gallery worked with Purcell Architects, alongside architect Annabelle Selldorf and interior designers Studio Linse, to shape the interiors. The result is a light-filled environment with muted tones and soft furnishings that mirror the natural colours of the seasons, thoughtfully executed and notably free of the self-congratulatory flourishes that often accompany spaces of this kind.
More Than a Lounge
The four connected rooms within Supporters’ House have been arranged with deliberate flexibility, and it shows beautifully. Early mornings lend themselves to reading and quiet reflection, while the bar and lounge spaces come into their own as the day progresses, offering a relaxed and genuinely enjoyable setting for conversation. Soft lighting and carefully chosen furnishings do the work without ever drawing attention to themselves.
What sets the venue apart is the rotating programme of content woven into the space itself. Selected displays, archival material and artist-focused installations move through Supporters’ House regularly, offering members an intimate view of the processes behind conservation, exhibition planning and research. It is the kind of access that most visitors to the gallery’s main rooms would never ordinarily receive, and it makes the space feel alive rather than merely comfortable.
Access with Intention
Annual membership to Supporters’ House includes all standard exhibition membership benefits including priority access, advance booking and complimentary entry to paid exhibitions.
“Supporters’ House is about providing a welcoming space for community and conversation, allowing us to open our doors and bring our heritage venue to life. We are delighted to be able to offer this exclusive space as a way of connecting people through art, and allowing our members to engage with our collections and with each other in a new way.” Susan Noonan, Chief Commercial Officer, The National Gallery
The membership delivers programmes including talks, curator-led previews and small-scale gatherings that connects members directly with the people who research, conserve and exhibit the collection.
Exceptional exhibitions ahead
The exhibition calendar through 2026 and into 2027 gives the membership proposition serious weight. Zurbarán runs from May to August 2026, the first major monographic exhibition in the UK dedicated to Francisco de Zurbarán in over 30 years, bringing together nearly 50 works from international collections including the Musée du Louvre and the Art Institute of Chicago. It is, by any measure, a significant cultural moment.
Later in the year, Renoir and Love opens on October 2026 and runs through to January 2027, marking the most substantial presentation of Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s work in the UK for two decades. The exhibition will feature the iconic Bal au Moulin de la Galette, on loan from the Musée d’Orsay. Members will be among the first through the door for both exhibitions, with early-access privileges included as standard.
London’s smartest cultural proposition
The launch of Supporters’ House reflects a confident shift in how major cultural institutions are approaching their relationship with members. A dedicated space that is warm, considered and genuinely pleasurable to spend time in changes the dynamic entirely, and the National Gallery has delivered it with real conviction.
The location alone, within a building that has stood since 1838 and sits seconds from one of London’s most iconic squares, would ordinarily command a premium well beyond most people’s reach. That the gallery has opened it at this price point, without compromising on quality or experience, makes Supporters’ House one of the most compelling cultural offerings London has produced in years. Admission to the gallery itself, as ever, remains free.