EXHIBIT 5.1

            [LETTERHEAD OF WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, PC]

                               October 6, 2000


The Gap, Inc.
One Harrison Street
San Francisco, California 94105

     Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8/The Gap, Inc. UK Employee Stock
          Purchase Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     At your request, we are rendering this opinion in connection with the
proposed issuance pursuant to The Gap, Inc. UK Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan"), of up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.05 par value ("Common
Stock"), of The Gap, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

     We have examined instruments, documents, and records which we deemed
relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed.  In
such examination, we have assumed the following:  (a) the authenticity of
original documents and the genuineness of all signatures; (b) the conformity to
the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; and (c) the truth,
accuracy and completeness of the information, representations and warranties
contained in the records, documents, instruments and certificates we have
reviewed.

     Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that the 1,000,000 shares
of Common Stock to be issued by the Company pursuant to the Plan are validly
authorized shares of Common Stock and, when issued in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to this
Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to the use of our name wherever it
appears in the Registration Statement.  In giving such consent, we do not
consider that we are "experts" within the meaning of such term as used in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission issued thereunder, with respect to any part
of the Registration Statement, including this opinion, as an exhibit or
otherwise.

                             Very truly yours,

                             /s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                                 Professional Corporation

                             WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                             Professional Corporation