Portrait

Overview

Open daily, 10am–5pm

Free admission

1 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JD

[email protected]

The lift is currently out of order. There is no step-free/wheelchair access to the upper floors. We hope to resolve this issue soon.

The gallery

A love letter to Scotland

A neo-Gothic palace dedicated to exploring various aspects of the Scottish story, this gallery is a hidden gem right at the heart of Edinburgh. The art tells you stories of the land and its people, through the medium of imagery.

Meet with friends in the welcoming Café Portrait. Find other familiar faces when you discover contemporary portraits of pop culture icons like Billy Connolly, Emeli Sandé and Tilda Swinton in the galleries above. You will spot recent pioneers in science, sport and the arts and sit alongside famous historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots, Robert Burns and Charles Edward Stuart.

The gallery is decorated in elaborate murals and sculptural embellishments inside and out - really, take time to look up at the Zodiac ceiling in the world-famous Great Hall. Seriously, it is like 2,000 golden stars and 47 constellations! Bedazzling.

See all exhibitions and displays at the Portrait

See all artworks on display at the Portrait

Getting here

Getting here

Located in the city centre on Queen Street, the Portrait is easy to access.

Venue map
  • Open daily, 10am–5pm
1 Queen Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1JD

Accessibility

Accessibility & facilities

  • Information desk
  • Wifi
  • Wheelchair access
  • Accessible toilets
  • Wheelchairs available
  • Public toilets
  • Lockers (£1/£2)
  • Baby changing facilities
  • Buggy park
  • Seating throughout
  • Bike rack
  • Café
About your visit

About your visit

Opening times

Gallery Open daily, 10am-5pm.
Café Portrait Open daily, 10am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm).
Shop Daily, 10am-5pm

Contact

For general enquiries regarding your visit or gallery services:
+44 (0)131 624 6200
[email protected]

Visitor information

Everything you need to know about your visit can be found in our frequently asked questions and our visitor guidelines.

Families

Enhance your visit with wee ones with our Art Spot guide. You can pick up copies in the gallery or use our online resource. Who will you meet - and what will you spot?

Group visits

Schools and community groups of 10 or more can book free self-led visits to all our galleries.

Portrait BSL introduction

Presented by Trudi Collier, this short welcome film in British Sign Language (BSL) introduces the building and collections of the Portrait.

Tour of The Great Hall at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Liz Louis, Curator of Portraiture introduces the Great Hall of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Liz gives us a tour of the elaborate decorative interior and examines the glittering frieze and mural decorations by William Brassey Hole. The Great Hall is a work of art in itself, and Liz explains how the decorative scheme relates to both the outside of the building, and the contents that it was purpose built to house.

See more video tours
Featured exhibitions and displays

Featured exhibitions and displays

Display

James's People

Portrait

Open daily, 10am–5pm

Admission free

Display

The Modern Portrait

Portrait

Open daily, 10am–5pm

Admission free

Exhibition Coming Soon

Before and After Coal | Images and Voices from Scotland’s Mining Communities

Portrait

Sat 23 Mar 2024 - Sun 15 Sep 2024

Open daily, 10am–5pm

Display

The Remaking of Scotland | Nation, Migration, Globalisation 1760-1860

Portrait

Open daily, 10am–5pm

Admission free

Featured events

Featured events

Special event SOLD OUT

Gala Day and Exhibition Preview | Before and After Coal

Portrait

Sat 23 Mar 2024

11am - 3pm

Free

Booking essential

Course or workshop

Relaxed mornings for adults (autism and learning disability friendly)

Portrait

Tue 26 Mar 2024

10 - 11am

Free

Booking essential

Drop-in event

Bring Your Own Baby/Bump

Portrait

Mon 1 Apr 2024

10:15 - 10:45am

Free

+2 other sessions

Drop in

Course or workshop

Relaxed afternoons for adults (autism and learning disability friendly)

Portrait

Tue 23 Apr 2024

2 - 3pm

Free

Booking essential

Restaurants

Café & shop

Café Portrait

Open daily, 10am-5pm (last orders 4.30pm). +44 (0)131 558 7031

After visiting the galleries head to Café Portrait, where you can relax and enjoy a delicious lunch or coffee and cake in impressive surroundings.

All our food is prepared from scratch in our kitchen, which is why it tastes so good. You can choose from a wide variety of gluten and dairy free dishes.

Sample menu

Book a table

Gallery Shop

Open daily, 10am-5pm +44 (0)131 624 6494

Visit our newly reopened shop this festive season for an inspiring range of Scottish gifts, books, limited edition prints, stationery, fashion, craft, design and exclusive products featuring well-loved images from Scottish artworks.

Shop online
Venue Hire

Venue Hire

This beautiful neo-gothic gallery is one of Edinburgh’s most striking city centre event venues.

About us

About us

The National Galleries of Scotland cares for, develops, researches and displays the national collection of Scottish and international art and, with a lively and innovative programme of activities, exhibitions, education and publications, aims to engage, inform and inspire the broadest possible public.