About National College of Arts (NCA)
The National College of Arts, founded in 1875 (originally the Mayo School of Arts, with Lockwood Kipling as principal), is Pakistan’s most prestigious art and design institution. Its historic red-brick campus on the Mall is itself an architectural gem.
The NCA has shaped generations of Pakistani artists, and its campus and student energy make it a highlight for those interested in the country’s creative culture.
Highlights
- Historic campus, Elegant 19th-century red-brick architecture.
- Kipling connection, Lockwood Kipling was its first principal.
- Creative heart, Pakistan’s leading art and design school.
- Mall Road, Part of the colonial educational precinct.
Plan this stop with Lahore Museum and Government College University (GCU) for a more complete Lahore itinerary.
Nearby & related sites

Lahore Museum
Pakistan's greatest museum, home to the famous Fasting Buddha of Gandhara.
Read guide →Government College University (GCU)
A historic Gothic-revival college that educated much of the region's elite.
Read guide →Punjab University Old Campus
The historic Indo-Saracenic campus of one of South Asia's oldest universities.
Read guide →