Entering National Gallery like 'airport security' with long queues and metal detectors
Entering the National Gallery has been likened to going through “airport security.” Safety measures at the gallery have seriously ramped up since a spate of Just Stop Oil protests at the gallery left famous paintings covered in soup.
One recent visitor to the gallery likened the new measures, which have been in place for several months now, to “airport security.” She told MyLondon: "It was a super long queue to get in. I’ve been before and you used to just walk in.”
“Once you got in, you had to walk through metal detectors with a security guard saying when you could come in and then you had to go to a long desk to get a bag checked and a man said you had to throw water away.”
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“Before I got in, I said to the security guard, 'is it like this every weekend?' And he said 'no, every day'. When I got in they said you have to wear a backpack on the front.”
Other people have documented similar experiences online when visiting the gallery in recent months. One person said: “Fantastic day at the National Gallery but be advised if you’re visiting that it’s a minimum half hour queue with the new security screening.”
Another person said: “I'm in London today for a meeting so I thought I'd pop into the National Gallery over lunch. Disappointed to find out you now have to queue up to go through airport-style security. Suffice to say, Just Stop Oil has destroyed the last remnants of our once high-trust society.”
Since October 2024, the National Gallery has introduced enhanced security measures following protests by Just Stop Oil. There have been five separate attacks on paintings since July 2022 on works including Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers and John Constable’s The Hain Wain.
The new measures include a ban on almost all liquids, including water. Visitors are not allowed to take in large bags and they are encouraged to bring in minimal items.
A spokesperson for the National Gallery said in October: “Following recent incidents within the Gallery it is now necessary to introduce increased security measures to ensure the safety of all who visit, National Gallery staff and the nation’s collection of paintings.
“Free access to the National Gallery allows everyone to be inspired by humanity’s greatest achievements. The collection we hold is irreplaceable and with each attack we have been forced to consider putting more barriers between the people and their artworks to preserve these fragile objects for future generations.
“Unfortunately, we have now reached a point where we have been forced to act to protect our visitors, staff and collection. We anticipate it will take longer to access the Gallery than usual and we apologise for this inconvenience.
“We are sorry that visitors are, for the time being, not going to receive the welcome we would very much like to extend to them, but we hope they understand why it is necessary for us to do this.”
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