Display
Painting as Spectacle
National
Until Sun 25 Apr 2021
Open daily, 10am-5pm. Thursdays until 7pm
Free
Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, the Scottish National Gallery is home to one of the best collections of fine art in the world.
Open daily, 10am-5pm. Thursdays until 7pm
Free admission | Charge for some exhibitions
The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL
The Gallery
The Scottish National Gallery displays some of the greatest art in the world, including masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Constable, Turner, Monet, Van Gogh and Gauguin, amongst many others. The most comprehensive part of the collection covers the history of Scottish painting – all the major names, including Ramsay, Raeburn, Wilkie and McTaggart, are represented.
The Scottish National Gallery comprises both the National Gallery Building and the Royal Scottish Academy Building. Both of these buildings, designed by William Henry Playfair, stand in the heart of Edinburgh. Although originally built as separate structures, their histories have long been intertwined, and, since 2004, they have been physically connected by the underground Gardens Level.
Getting here
The Scottish National Gallery can be found just off Princes Street in the city centre.
In addition to the transport options below there are bike racks at each site and Just Eat Cycle Hire stations nearby.
Gallery bus
The Gallery bus shuttles visitors between the three gallery sites, for a voluntary donation of £1, starting and returning to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern Two).
Pick-up and drop-off points
Modern One - front of building
Modern Two - rear of building
Portrait - drop-off only at west St Andrew Square. Three minutes walk from the Gallery
National - The Mound
Arrival/departure times
Please note these times are approximate.
| Modern Two depart | Modern One depart | Portrait (drop off only) | National arrive | National depart | Modern One arrive | Modern Two arrive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11am | 11:01am | 11:10am | 11:15am | 11:30am | 11:45am | 11:46am |
| 12noon | 12:01pm | 12:10pm | 12:15pm | 12:30pm | 12:45pm | 12:46pm |
| 2pm | 2:01pm | 2:10pm | 2:15pm | 2:30pm | 2:45pm | 2:46pm |
| 3pm | 3:01pm | 3:10pm | 3:15pm | 3:30pm | 3:45pm | 3:46pm |
| 4pm | 4:01pm | 4:10pm | 4:15pm | 4:30pm | 4:45pm | 4:46pm |
Accessibility & facilities
We are currently working on improving our galleries. During this time some rooms will be closed and some facilities will be temporarily removed. There will be limited disabled access to some areas.
Find out more about disabled access at the Scottish National Gallery
Admissions
Cost
Free admission | Charge for some exhibitions
Opening times
Open daily, 10am - 5pm, Thursday until 7 pm
Contact
For general enquiries regarding your visit or gallery services:
+44 (0)131 624 6200
[email protected]
Your safety
For safety reasons we kindly ask all visitors to carry rucksacks or backpacks by hand or use one of the lockers.
Groups of 10 or more
Due to ongoing work to dramatically improve the way we present Scotland's art we are only able to take one group booking to the Scottish National Gallery per day. So make sure you book early to secure your place. There is a full activity schedule at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art .
Featured exhibitions and displays
Display
Scottish Art 1670 — 1840
National
Until Sun 25 Apr 2021
Open daily, 10am-5pm. Thursdays until 7pm
Free
Display
Italian Renaissance 1470 — 1600
National
Until Sun 25 Apr 2021
Open daily, 10am-5pm. Thursdays until 7pm
Free
Display
Poussin's Sacraments
National
Until Sun 25 Apr 2021
Open daily, 10am-5pm. Thursdays until 7pm
Free
Featured events
Tour
National Gallery Highlights Tours - February 2020
National
Sat 29 Feb 2020
2 - 2:45pm & 3 - 3:45pm
Free
Lecture or talk
In Focus: Royal Volunteer Review (1860) by Samuel Bough
National
Tue 3 Mar 2020
12:45 - 1:15pm
Free
Music concert
Alina Bzhezhinska: Celebrating Women in Jazz
National
Thu 5 Mar 2020
6 - 6:30pm
Free
Our Friends
Lecture or talk
Simpson and Brown
National
Wed 11 Mar 2020
6:30 - 8:30pm
£14.00
Cafés & shops
The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant
Open Monday-Saturday, 10am-4.45pm
Thursday until 6.45pm
Sunday, 10am-4.45pm +44 (0)131 225 1550 [email protected]
Thursday until 6.45pm
Sunday, 10am-4.45pm +44 (0)131 225 1550 [email protected]
The award-winning Scottish Cafe & Restaurant is run by the Contini family and is located at the gardens level entrance to the Scottish National Gallery with incredible views across Princes Street Gardens towards Waverley Bridge. Victor and Carina Contini are committed to sustainable practices and buy direct from a trusted network of over 70 Scottish artisan suppliers. The food offer is seasonal with an emphasis on tradition and taste.
From 2 January 2020 we’ll be shifting to winter opening times at The Scottish Cafe & Restaurant with the slightly later start time of 10am, reverting to 9am from April.
Book a tableEspresso
Espresso is located in the foyer of the Mound entrance to the Scottish National Gallery, and offers hot and cold drinks, delicious homebaking and light snacks. Either relax in our informal café or take out and enjoy.
Shops
The brand new, much larger Gallery Shop is now open, and accessible through the Gardens Entrance of the Scottish National Gallery.
The new-look shop stocks Scottish gifts, books, limited edition prints, stationery, fashion, craft, design and exclusive products featuring well-loved images from Scottish artworks. There is also a souvenir shop in room 5 on the ground level of the Scottish National Gallery and a shop near the front of the Royal Scottish Academy.
Shop online
While you're here
Research Facilities
The National Galleries of Scotland offer a variety of opportunities for members of the public to access our resources and view artworks that are not on display in our gallery spaces.
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy plays host to a variety of exhibitions programmed by the National Galleries of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture, and others.
Scottish National Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is just five minutes walk from the Scottish National Gallery. Come face to face with the people who shaped Scotland’s past, present and future. The perfect compliment to your visit.
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.