The Scottish National Gallery is situated in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town, midway between East and West Princes Street Gardens. The gallery is free to enter and is one of the city’s must-do attractions thanks to its priceless collections featuring some of the world’s finest artworks, many of which were created by Scottish artists.
A unique feature of the Scottish National Gallery is that it has an underground exhibition space that joins the Royal Scottish Academy, so visitors can explore the art in both buildings without having to go outside.
| Address: | The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL |
| Opening Hours: | Open daily, 10am-5pm |
| Admission Price: | Free |
| Parking: | None on-site. Parking is available in Edinburgh |
| Contact: | enquiries@nationalgalleries.org |
| Facilities: | Wifi, wheelchair access, wheelchairs available, lockers (£1/£2), seating throughout, bike rack, accessible toilets for gallery visitors, baby change for gallery visitors, toilets for gallery visitors. |
Overview
The Scottish National Gallery is virtually impossible to miss if you take a walk through the centre of Edinburgh, as not only is it one of the most architecturally impressive buildings in the city, it’s located in the dead centre of the ever-popular Princes Street Gardens.
The gallery is home to one of Europe’s finest collections of artworks by artists from across the globe, but special consideration has been given to Scotland and the gallery contains one of the most comprehensive collections of Scottish masterpieces in the country.
The location of the Scottish National Gallery means it’s a great place to explore when the weather closes in, as within the space of less than a mile, tourists can walk between the Scott Monument, the Museum on the Mound, the National Museum of Scotland, and a wide range of restaurants, including those at the superb Balmoral Hotel.
Both the Scottish National Gallery and the adjacent Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) welcome huge numbers of visitors each year, partly due to the quality of art on offer and partly because it’s completely free to view these masterpieces (although there are charges for some exhibitions).
During a visit, it’s possible to meander through galleries containing many of the most important artworks in the world including paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Constable, Turner, Monet, and Van Gogh. Meanwhile, the biggest part of the collection covers the entire history of Scottish painting and features works by Ramsay, Raeburn, ilkie, and McTaggart.
In fact, there’s so much to see in both galleries that most visitors will find themselves lost in the world of art for the best part of an afternoon, and that’s before visiting the nearby National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery of Modern Art, both of which are also free to enter.
The Highlights
1: Like all of Edinburgh’s best attractions, the Scottish National Gallery is completely free to enter – as are the national portrait and modern art galleries.
2: The Scottish National Gallery offers visitors the chance to see some of the world’s finest artworks from the likes of Rembrandt, Raphael and Titian as well as Scottish-born artists such as Ramsay, Raeburn and Wilkie.
3: The National Galleries of Scotland comprises three magnificent galleries – the Scottish National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.
The National Gallery and the RCA are located immediately next to each other, while the National Portrait Gallery is an 8-minute walk away on Queen Street. The National Gallery of Modern Art, meanwhile, is located 1.5 miles to the west and takes 30 minutes to walk, but there is a free shuttle bus that runs between both galleries.
Visiting Tips
1: There’s a very clever Scottish National Gallery guide that you can download to your phone that provides information about most of the artworks in the collection as well as an overview of the life of each artist. Simply scan the artwork with your phone, and the app will download a collection of fascinating details as well as an audio guide. Apple: Smartify. Android: Smartify.
2: Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to eat in Edinburgh, but the restaurant and café in the Scottish National Gallery are highly recommended. Both the restaurant and café feature views over Princes Street Gardens and the café has an outside terrace that’s a nice place to eat on a sunny day.
3: Return visitors to any of Scotland’s national galleries should consider getting a Friends membership. For one annual payment, visitors can enjoy unlimited free entry to all paid exhibitions, a 10% discount in all cafés, free entry for children, and free car parking.
Tourist Information
Tourists are spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do in Edinburgh, but the Scottish National Gallery deserves to sit somewhere near the top of any sightseeing itinerary. If nothing else, the architecture of the national gallery is very Instagram-worthy, and a visit to Scotland’s capital city wouldn’t be complete without a selfie or two in front of it.
The Scottish National Gallery building was designed by celebrated Edinburgh architect William Playfair to house the national art collection of the RSA when plans were put in place to rehouse the collection in the 1840s.
Prince Albert laid the foundation stone for the building’s construction, and it housed the national art collection after it opened until 1912, when the RSA moved into an adjacent structure. After extensive remodelling, the Scottish National Gallery re-opened with an emphasis on showcasing a selection of Scottish and European art—a theme that continues to this day.
By 1970 it was decided that additional storage space would be required to house the nation’s artworks so an extensive series of basement galleries were constructed, which were further extended in the early 2000s so that the separate buildings of the RSA and the national gallery effectively became one building.
This underground area is particularly popular with tourists as it houses an excellent restaurant and café, along with a gift shop that sells reproductions of some of the artworks that can be seen in both galleries. The café and restaurant overlook Princes Street Gardens, so stopping for a meal or a coffee at either venue is highly recommended.
Visitors carrying bags will be pleased to know that all sites of the national galleries have lockers available, which cost around £2 per person. In the national gallery, the lockers are located on the ground floor, next to the cafe.
Things to Do
Explore Art Collections: Discover a vast array of artworks from the Renaissance to the 20th century, including masterpieces from Botticelli, Constable, and Rembrandt. The gallery has free entry for the main exhibitions but paid entry for the temporary exhibitions.
Attend Art Workshops: The Scottish National Gallery often hosts workshops, lectures, and talks. These sessions provide a deeper understanding of art, its history, and its different forms. It’s a perfect place for art enthusiasts and students alike.
Visit the Cafe & Restaurant: After exploring the gallery, enjoy a meal or a coffee at the on-site cafe & restaurant. The terrace offers a stunning view over Princes Street Gardens where you can enjoy a menu featuring locally sourced Scottish produce.
Visit Other Galleries: The Scottish National Gallery operates a free bus that allows visitors to see the National Portrait and Modern Art Galleries at no cost. Speak to reception when you arrive to find out more about the service.
Shop for Art-Inspired Gifts: Don’t forget to stop by the gallery shop. It offers a range of unique gifts including art books, prints, stationery, and jewellery, as well as reproductions of some of the artworks on display in the main gallery.
Things to Do Nearby
Balmoral Hotel. 1 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2EQ. 6-minute walk.
A grand Victorian hotel on Princes Street. The Balmoral Hotel sports a luxurious interior and has several spaces to eat and drink including the glass-domed Palm Court and the ultra-chic Bar Prince.
Princes Street Gardens.
This is a sizeable public park in the centre of Edinburgh. There are numerous monuments and statues inside the landscaped gardens including the Scott Monument.
Calton Hill. Edinburgh, EH7 5AA. 11-minute walk.
A prominent landmark in Edinburgh that offers panoramic views of the city. Also the location of the city planetarium, the National Monument and the Nelson Monument.
Museum on the Mound. The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 1YZ. 4-minute walk.
A museum is located in the historic Bank of Scotland head office. Visitors can explore the history of money in Scotland with a collection of exhibits that include the country’s oldest banknote and £1 million of real notes.
Princes Street. 1-minute walk.
Arguably the most famous street in Scotland. Princes Street is the first port of call for most visitors to the city as it offers a wide range of shops and restaurants and borders Princes Street Gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the National Gallery of Scotland free?
There are no Scottish National Gallery tickets as entry is free. Likewise, there is no fee to visit the Royal Scottish Academy, though there are occasional paid exhibitions.
Both galleries are open daily, from 10 am to 5 pm.
Where is the Scottish Portrait Gallery?
The Scottish Portrait Gallery is located at: 1 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JD.
The Scottish National Gallery is located at: The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL.
Why is the National Gallery of Scotland so famous?
The Scottish National Gallery is famous both for its stunning architecture and its world-leading art collections. One of Scotland’s finest neoclassical structures is the gallery, which William Henry Playfair designed in 1859. The Scottish National Gallery is right next to the Royal Scottish Academy, and a basement connects them both.
Can you take photos in the Scottish National Gallery?
Visitors to all National Galleries of Scotland collections are allowed to take photos or videos for personal, non-commercial use. All other uses require prior permission from the National Galleries of Scotland.
What is in the Scottish National Gallery?
The Scottish National Gallery is known for its collection of masterpieces that include works by Gainsborough, Vermeer, Botticelli, Constable, Turner, Rembrandt and many other famous artists.
