National Galleries of Scotland

We are in a process of phased reopening. 

• Scottish National Gallery is open.
• Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One) is open.
• The grounds of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One and Two) are open.
• Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two) opens on Monday 24 October for our exhibition Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema.
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery will reopen in the Autumn. Exact dates to be confirmed.

Admission to our buildings (except for Ray Harryhausen Titan of Cinema) is free, via a timed ticketed entry system which must be booked in advance from this website.
For the grounds, admission is free and unticketed.

• The Scottish National Gallery is open 10am-5pm daily.
• Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One) is open 10am-5pm daily.
• Opening times for the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two) are to be confirmed.
• The grounds of the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art are open 9.45am-5.30pm.
• Last admission to all our Gallery buildings is 3.45pm.

Booking for the Scottish National Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One) is open and can be made directly from this website. Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two) is also open for booking.

Bookings can be made for up to six people for a visit. Each individual booking can be made up of no more than members of two households. 

You are able to book a visit two weeks in advance for the Scottish National Gallery and Modern One. We are currently taking bookings for Ray Harryhausen: Titan of Cinema for the first three months of the exhibition run: 24 October 2020-17 January 2021 inclusive.

Yes, we ask that everyone that wishes to visit books in advance. Only babes in arms do not require a ticket.

Not currently. We will reintroduce group bookings as soon as we are able.

We are limiting the number of visitors coming into our Galleries. We hope that not only will this reassure and make you feel safe, but that you will be able to have your own very special experience, re-engaging with much-loved artworks after the separation of lockdown.

Not all rooms will be accessible from reopen day. Some smaller spaces need to be temporarily closed so we can conform with safe physical distancing measures. Others are closed because of the refurbishment works going on around the Scottish National Gallery complex.

Rooms that are closed at the Scottish National Gallery:

• Room 4 Cabinet Pictures
• Room 14 Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Art
• Room 17 A Century of Scottish Art 1810-1920
• Room 18 Impressionism and Post Impressionism

Rooms that are closed in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art:

• Room 5 Katie Paterson’s film Future Library: A Century Unfolds, 2019. The film can be viewed on the exhibition page.
• The exhibition Resource Room.

You can print off your ticket and bring it with you or show the email attachment on your mobile phone at the entrance to the Gallery.

There will be a queuing system in place which is outdoors and uncovered. There is no indoor space for waiting, so we suggest arriving as close to your timeslot as possible. We recommend arriving no more than 5 minutes before your allotted admission time.

Please meet up with other members of your party before entering the Gallery as there are no designated meeting spaces.

We are implementing a one-way route around all our buildings. There will be signage to guide you on-site. When you book you will also receive a link to download a map of the Gallery so you can easily navigate the site.

Entry to the Scottish National Gallery is via the main entrance off the precinct. Entry to Modern One is via the main front entrance. Entry to Cafe Modern One is via the back of the buillding.

Queuing is on the precinct adjacent to the railings on the east side of the Royal Scottish Academy Building.

Please note late comers may not be admitted.

No. To minimise touchpoints, we’re not giving out paper maps. We recommend you download and print out a gallery map before your visit. There is a link to download a map here for the Scottish National Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art.

We ask all visitors more than 5 years old wear face coverings during their visit.

There are no lockers currently available so please avoid bringing large bags or luggage with you.

All bags must be carried below waist height, ie. no bags on your back. Baby carriers are permitted.

All events at our Galleries have been cancelled. You should have heard from us already about a refund. If you didn’t, get in touch at [email protected].

Yes, while all our other exhibitions have been put on hold or cancelled, this exhibition will open at Modern Two on 24 October 2020 and run until 5 September 2021. Tickets are on sale now. Full details here.

We have been in contact with all those who had booked tickets already offering the chance to rebook. If you haven't heard from us, get in touch at at [email protected]

To allow as many people as possible to enjoy the art, we are asking you to please limit your time in the Gallery to one hour. You are of course welcome to extend your visit in the shop, café or rebook for another time.

If you have already booked a ticket but cannot make it, or need to exchange it for another time slot, get in touch with us at [email protected]

We have a limited number of wheelchairs at our sites for vistors to borrow. They are regularly sanitised as part of our routine cleaning procedures.

There are no guided tours running at the moment. This is so we can follow physical distancing measures safely.

We always welcome visits with children at our Galleries. All of the Galleries have baby changing areas and buggy parks available.

Large print labels won’t be available for use when we open, but we have made information about many of artworks on display available via our free mobile phone app Smartify. Find out more about Smartify.

Toilets at the Scottish National Gallery are available at gallery level, but only for those with a ticket. There are also toilets for those dining in the Scottish Café and Restaurant.

Toilets and Changing Places facilities are open 10am-5pm daily at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One). All facilities are cleaned regularly.

There is metered, on-street parking near the Scottish National Gallery and both car parks at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (One and Two) are open 9.45am-5.30pm.

A £5 donation is requested for parking for up to half a day (valid whilst visiting the gallery or grounds only). Our payment meters have contactless capability.

We also have disabled parking facilities for blue badge holders. Modern One is equipped with a small number of electric car charging points.

It is not possible for us to run the bus and adhere to safe physical distancing rules. We will restart it as soon as it is safe to do so.

Normally, we would love for you to create your own artwork during your visit, however, while we are under restrictions due to Covid-19 we ask you to avoid stopping for any length of time to create your own artworks. You are of course welcome to take photos to allow you to create an artwork at home, after your visit.