Trafalgar Square marks the very center of London. Big Ben, just past Admiral Nelson. Buckingham Palace, straight shot that way. Soho, where all the nightlife is, it’s about six blocks over there. The National Gallery has the greatest collection of European paintings in Britain. And St. Martin-in-the-Fields is famous for its classical concerts and its charity work.

Just around the corner, the National Portrait Gallery is the perfect place to look into the eyes of the dynamic cast of characters in Britain’s compelling story as it grew from small island nation to global superpower.

Five hundred years ago, it was the formidable Henry VIII who first planted England onto the world stage, while navigating six wives. Henry’s shrewd daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, ruled a prosperous age that fostered great minds—minds like William Shakespeare, whose timeless plays explored the full range of human experience.

As their empire grew, the energetic British reshaped the world in many fields. The curious scientist Isaac Newton noticed a falling apple and thought: “Hmm…gravity.” Novelist Charles Dickens opened his fellow citizens’ eyes to the inequalities that came with the Industrial Revolution, while mild-mannered Charles Darwin shocked everyone with his bold theory of evolution.

In the turbulent 20th century, our old friend Winston Churchill would rally the nation to victory in World War II. And Queen Elizabeth II served dutifully through 70 years of unprecedented change before passing the crown to her son, Charles, with his queen—ensuring that Britain’s long legacy of glorious traditions continues proudly into the 21st century.

Britain’s history continues to unfold, and the gallery works hard to keep up. With creative displays and a focus on including once-marginalized people, there’s an ever-changing array of the latest cultural luminaries. From monarchs to war heroes, fashion icons to pop stars, the National Portrait Gallery puts a literal face on the fascinating story of Great Britain.