National Portrait Gallery: Drop In Family Sessions

The National Portrait Gallery can feel a bit... grown-up. Silent, serious and uninviting to the giggles and gurgles of excited children. But it's one of the wonders of London, home to masterpieces, and at its best when families are welcome to admire the art loudly and enthusiastically as they like.

The National Portrait Gallery's family events are wonderful opportunities to inspire little minds and to broaden their horizons. Here are the next three drop-in sessions - including the one during February half term. Families don't have to book in advance except for the February half term events and the sessions are free, just turn up and prepare to get creative in the hands of experts.

Drop-in Family Sessions: Drawing Faces. 17 January 15:00-16:30

Children and their families explore how artists have drawn and captured faces from Tudor times to the present day. Then they can experiment with materials to create a large-scale drawing focussing on expression.

Suitable for children aged 7+ plus an accompanying adult.

Family Art Workshop: In Style. 15-19 February 11:00-16:00

The National Portrait Gallery's half term activities are inspired by fashion and costume in the portraits on the walls. During the week there will be a range of ticketed and drop-in activities, exploring contemporary and historical styles and encouraging families to create their own.

Please note the 14.30 workshop on Tuesday 16 February will be BSL interpreted.

Suitable for children aged 7+

Drop-in Family Sessions: Futuristic Fashion. 21 February 13,00-14:30

Families explore how fashion has changed over the centuries and then get to try their hand imagining what we might be wearing in the future and creating their own portraits.

Suitable for children aged 3+ plus an accompanying adult.